Solid-state flow generator and related systems, applications, and methods
The invention, in various embodiments, is directed to a method for analyzing a sample using a solid-state flow generator that provides a flow of effluent including the sample through an ion mobility based filter.
1 . A method for analyzing a sample comprising:
receiving an effluent including a sample,
generating a flow of the effluent using a solid state flow generator including:
a first ion source, and
an ion attractor in fluid communication with the ion source for attracting ions from the ion source, and
passing selected sample ions through a time-varying field of an ion mobility based filter, and
detecting the ions exiting the ion mobility based filter.
2 . The method of claim 1 comprising feeding the effluent from the solid state flow generator to the ion mobility based filter.
3 . The method of claim 1 comprising locating the solid state flow generator downstream of the ion mobility based filter and drawing the effluent through the ion mobility based filter using the solid state flow generator.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the flow of effluent is via a flow path having first and second ends, comprising flowing the flow of effluent in a direction from the first end toward the second end.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the flow path has a plurality of axially extending sides.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the axially extending sides is open along at least a portion of it's length.
7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the flow path has an ovular cross-sectional shape.
8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the flow path has an opening extending along at least a portion of it's length.
9 . The method of claim 4 comprising defining at least one side of a portion of the flow path using a component on an integrated circuit board.
10 . The method of claim 4 comprising defining at least one side of a portion of the flow path using a substrate.
11 . The method of claim 4 comprising introducing a fluid into the flow path for mixing with the flow of effluent.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the fluid includes a dopant.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the time-varying field includes an asymmetric field.
14 . The method of claim 1 comprising generating sample ions using a second ion source.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ion mobility based filter includes at least one of a DMS and IMS.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting is performed by at least one of a detector electrode, MS, and TOFMS.
17 . The method of claim 1 comprising flowing the effluent from a gas chromatograph in communication with the solid state flow generator.
18 . The method claim 1 comprising arranging at least one of the solid state flow generator and ion mobility based filter in housing of a hand-held size or smaller.