Diathermy Knife Ionisation Source

Abstract

A method of detecting one or more compounds, chemicals or contaminants in a substrate by mass spectrometry is disclosed. A non-living substrate is analysed by contacting the substrate with a diathermy knife. An electric current is applied to the diathermy knife such that the diathermy knife vaporises a portion of the substrate. The vapour is aspirated via a sampling tube pumped by a venturi pump into a vacuum chamber of a mass spectrometer. Analyte molecules are aspirated into the vacuum chamber whereupon they impact a surface of the vacuum chamber and are ionised to form analyte ions which are then mass analysed.

Claims

1. A non-surgical method of mass spectrometry comprising: probing a substrate with a probe at atmospheric pressure to generate analyte molecules; transporting at least a portion of the generated analyte molecules into a vacuum chamber of a mass spectrometer; causing at least a portion of the generated analyte molecules to be ionised within the vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer to form analyte ions; and mass analysing at least a portion of the analyte ions.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the probe comprises an electrode and wherein the method further comprises applying an electric current to the electrode to generate the analyte molecules.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of applying the electric current to the electrode causes a portion of the substrate to vaporise and form the analyte molecules.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the probe comprises a diathermy knife or an electrosurgical RF knife.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the probe is arranged to direct a jet of fluid onto the substrate to generate the analyte molecules.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the probe comprises an ultrasonic probe or a laser probe.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising aspirating the analyte molecules via a tube or supply line into the mass spectrometer.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising using a pump to draw the analyte molecules into the mass spectrometer, wherein the pump is not directly connected to an exhaust port of a vacuum chamber.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the analyte molecules are ionised upon impacting a surface within the vacuum chamber.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the analyte molecules are ionised upon impacting an RF ion-optical component located within the vacuum chamber.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the analyte molecules are ionised by an ion source located within the vacuum chamber.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of probing the substrate with the probe generates a mixture of analyte molecules and droplets, the method comprising: transporting at least a portion of the mixture into the vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer; and mass analysing at least a portion of the analyte ions and the droplets or at least a portion of further analyte ions derived from the droplets.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising using a portable mass spectrometer to perform the step of mass analysing at least a portion of the analyte ions.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising detecting if one or more compounds, chemicals or contaminants are present in the substrate above a predetermined concentration.

15. A method as claimed in claims 14, wherein at least one of the compounds, chemicals or contaminants comprises a pesticide, a steroid or other drug.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one of the compounds, chemicals or contaminants comprises a bulking material.

17. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a pharmaceutical tablet or other pharmaceutical product and wherein the method comprises detecting one or more active ingredients or bulking agents in the substrate.

18. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a solid, gel or powder.

19. A method of mass spectrometry comprising: probing a substrate with a probe at atmospheric pressure to generate analyte molecules; transporting at least a portion of the generated analyte molecules into a vacuum chamber of a mass spectrometer; causing at least a portion of the analyte molecules to be ionised within the vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer upon impacting a surface within the vacuum chamber so as to form analyte ions; and mass analysing at least a portion of the analyte ions.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the probe is selected from the group consisting of an electrode, a diathermy knife, an electrosurgical RF knife, a laser probe, an ultrasonic probe, and a jet of fluid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0151] Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0152] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein an electrosurgical RF knife is used to cut an apple and fumes from the cutting process are extracted via a sampling tube which is aspirated by a venturi pump so that the fumes are passed into a mass spectrometer;

[0153] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show a mass spectrum obtained according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein an apple is analysed to detect various pesticides; and

[0154] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show a mass spectrum obtained according to preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein a paracetamol tablet is analysed to detect its ingredients.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0155] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 1.

[0156] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein an electrosurgical RF knife 1 is used to cut a substrate which for sake of example only may comprise an apple 2. The electrosurgical RF knife 1 is powered by an electrosurgery unit 3. The electrosurgical RF knife 1 is connected to the electrosurgery unit via a knife feed (floating) 4 and a knife return (floating) 5. The electrosurgical RE knife 1 has a sampling tube 6 which enables fumes comprising analyte molecules resulting from the cutting process to be extracted. The sampling tube 6 is preferably aspirated by a venturi pump 7 which is supplied with an air supply 8. The fumes and analyte molecules from the substrate resulting from the probing and/or cutting process pass along the sampling tube 6 and pass into an initial vacuum chamber of a mass spectrometer 9 having a rotary pump exhaust 10.

[0157] In order to illustrate the utility of the preferred embodiment to analysing food products, apple segments were dosed with a mix of 21 pesticides at various concentrations (100, 10 and 1 ng/l). The apple segments were then analysed using a diathermy knife or RF electrode knife in combination with a modified Waters G2 QToF mass spectrometer in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 1 except that the sampling tube 6 was not utilised.

[0158] A total of 100 l of the mixture of pesticides was spread over the apple surface and was allowed to soak in and dry. A 1 cm.sup.2 area of the apple was then analysed by applying the diathermy knife or RF electrode knife to it (setting coag. 30). The apple segment was held in front of the sample cone of the mass spectrometer and in this particular experiment no attempt was made to trap or funnel the smoke plume from the apple into the mass spectrometer.

[0159] The table below shows the 21 pesticides which were used at concentrations of 100 ng/l together with an indication as to whether or not they were detected.

TABLE-US-00001 Compound name Formula M + H Detected Pirimiphos-methyl C11H20N3O3PS 306.1041 (1+) yes Profenofos C11H15BrClO3PS 372.9430 (1+) no Prometon C10H19N5O 226.1668 (1+) yes Prometryn C10H19N5S 242.1439 (1+) yes Propamocarb C9H20N2O2 189.1603 (1+) yes Propaquizafop C22H22ClN3O5 444.1326 (1+) no Pyraclostrobin C19H18ClN3O4 388.1064 (1+) no Pyrazophos C14H20N3O5PS 374.0940 (1+) yes Quinmerac C11H8ClNO2 222.0322 (1+) yes Quizalofop-ethyl C19H17ClN2O4 373.0955 (1+) no Siduron C14H20N2O 233.1654 (1+) yes Spiroxamine C18H35NO2 298.2746 (1+) yes Sulfotep C8H20O5P2S2 323.0306 (1+) no Tebufenozide 353.2229 yes Tebuthiuron C9H16N4OS 229.1123 (1+) yes Terbufos C9H21O2PS3 289.0520 (1+) no Terbumeton C10H19N5O 226.1668 (1+) yes Tetrachlorvinphos C10H9Cl4O4P 364.9071 (1+) no Thiabendazole C10H7N3S 202.0439 (1+) yes Triticonazole C17H20ClN3O 318.1373 (1+) yes Zoxamide C14H16Cl3NO2 336.0325 (1+) no

[0160] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C shows a mass spectrum which was obtained when analysing the apple contaminated with a mixture of 21 pesticides using an electric knife according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0161] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C shows a mass spectrum which was obtained when analysing one half of a paracetamol tablet which had been moistened on its surface with a few drops of a 50% mixture of methanol and water (0.1% formic acid) using an electric knife according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0162] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C shows that the active compound of the paracetamol tablet was clearly detected at m/z 152.0709 (2 ppm) and ions from the bulk of the tablet are also clearly visible in the mass spectrum.

[0163] It is apparent that the preferred method of detecting one or more compounds, chemicals or contaminants in a substrate by a method of mass spectrometry is particularly advantageous and may advantageously be implemented using a portable mass analyser.

[0164] Other less preferred embodiments of the present invention are also contemplated wherein the electrosurgical knife may be replaced with a different device which is preferably used to vaporise at least a portion of the sample. For example, according to an embodiment an ultrasonic probe may be utilised to probe a substrate and generate a plume of gas phase analyte molecules which are preferably transferred into a vacuum chamber of a mass spectrometer and ionised by impact ionisation with a surface within the vacuum chamber.

[0165] According to another embodiment a laser probe may be used to generate gas phase analyte molecules which are preferably transferred into a vacuum chamber of a mass spectrometer and ionised by impact ionisation with a surface within the vacuum chamber.

[0166] According to another embodiment a jet of fluid may be directed onto a substrate to generate gas phase analyte molecules which are preferably transferred into a vacuum chamber of a mass spectrometer and ionised by impact ionisation with a surface within the vacuum chamber.

[0167] It is should be understood that the various preferred features of the preferred embodiment relating to the electrosurgical knife also apply to the less preferred embodiments relating to using an ultrasonic probe, a laser probe of a jet of fluid. In particular, gas phase analyte molecules resulting from the substrate being probed with an ultrasonic probe, a laser probe or a jet of fluid may be aspirated via a tube into an initial or subsequent vacuum chamber of a mass spectrometer whereupon the analyte molecules are ionised by impacting a surface e.g. a wall of the vacuum chamber and/or an RF ion-optical component such as an ion guide or ion trap. The less preferred devices may be used to perform all the testing procedures which are described above in relation to using an RF surgical knife. The apparatus and method according to the present invention is not used to perform a surgical or therapeutic procedure.

[0168] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.