IonSense Issued Three Patents Related to Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry

Saugus, MA, May 20, 2010 --(PR.com)-- IonSense, Inc. is pleased to announce that the U.S. Patent Office has awarded three patents supporting its Direct Analysis in Real Time (or DART®) mass spectrometry products. The company’s DART ion sources and application accessories enable the fast, simple analysis of materials in food safety, pharmaceutical development, and forensics. These patents cover some of the essential developments of the latest DART-SVP source.

The first patent, number 7,700,913 “Sampling System for Use with Surface Ionization Spectroscopy,” describes a gas ion separator which permits more efficient collection and transmission of ions. The company has commercialized the technology in its VAPUR® API Interface, a device which enables the DART source to be used with most commercial LC/MS systems sold by AB SCIEX®, Agilent® Technologies, Bruker, Thermo and Waters®. The VAPUR greatly increases the sensitivity of those systems by facilitating collection of ions at ambient pressure and transferring them to the API inlet.

The second patent, number 7,705,297 “Flexible Open Tube Sampling System for Use with Surface Ionization Technology,” describes a DART system utilizing a long open tube to transmit ions from the sample surface to the analyzer. The company has developed several prototype systems for this technology for use in process monitoring and remote sampling for homeland security applications.

The third patent, number 7,714,281 “Apparatus for Holding Solids for Use with Surface Ionization Technology” enables more precise location of the desorption ionization region in order to improve the spatial resolution available for determination of chemicals present on surfaces.

“We are pleased to be awarded these patents as they secure our ability to use these critical technologies as our product portfolio evolves. The science in these patents is being validated everyday by customers” according to Brian Musselman, IonSense CEO. “Additionally we continue to innovate and expand the application of DART to new challenges, ultimately speeding and simplifying the analysis of complex samples.”

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