US 12,283,471 B2
Mass cytometry
Paul Corkum, Markham (CA); Alexander Loboda, Markham (CA); and David M. Rayner, Markham (CA)
Assigned to Fluidigm Canada Inc., Markham (CA)
Appl. No. 17/620,049
Filed by Fluidigm Canada Inc., Markham (CA)
PCT Filed Jun. 17, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/038097
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 16, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/257258, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 24, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/862,849, filed on Jun. 18, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0310373 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 15/14 (2024.01); G01N 15/10 (2024.01); H01J 49/00 (2006.01); H01J 49/04 (2006.01); H01J 49/16 (2006.01)
CPC H01J 49/0004 (2013.01) [G01N 15/14 (2013.01); H01J 49/0463 (2013.01); H01J 49/164 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1006 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a. a sampler;
b. a laser ionisation system to receive a plume of material removed from a sample by the sampler, wherein the laser ionisation system comprises an ionisation system conduit comprising a tapered portion along which the internal diameter of the conduit is decreased, the tapered portion configured to lengthen the plume of material, the laser ionization system further comprising a pulsed laser adapted to ionise and generate elemental ions from the lengthened plume of material passing through or at the exit of the ionisation system conduit; and
c. a mass spectrometer to receive elemental ions from said ionisation system and to analyse said elemental ions.