Guide to Selecting an NMR probe.
Courtesy of Dr. Douglas P. Burum

It could be said that the heart of any NMR system is the probe. That is where the sample is irradiated and the signal first detected, and because the performance of the probe is so crucial it is also where the greatest degree of specialization and optional capabilities are available. The selection of an NMR probe is nearly always a trade-off between optimum performance, flexibility, convenience, and cost.

Common NMR requirements include direct 1D and 2D proton-only NMR, direct observation of 13C NMR with 1H decoupling, direct observation of other nuclei such as 19F, 31P, 29Si, 31P, 27Al, and 15N (with or without 1H decoupling), triple resonance NMR (especially inverse triple resonance such as 1H observe, 13C and 15N decouple), and inverse 2D and 3D experiments such as HMQC and HMBC. In addition, most probes include a 2H lock channel and variable temperature capability, and pulsed field gradient coils (PFG) may be added to suppress artifacts and accelerate acquisition times for multi-dimensional experiments.

Of course, no single probe can perform this full range of experiments, and probes that are designed to perform more than one type of measurement usually suffer from performance compromises. In addition, a probe represents a rather fragile “single point of failure” that can render an NMR system completely unusable if the probe is dropped or otherwise damaged by a falling or broken sample, electrical breakdown (“arcing”) or mechanical failure (e.g. in the tuning mechanism).

For all of these reasons, it makes sense to expand the capabilities of your NMR system and ensure its uninterrupted productivity by equipping it with more than one probe. However, the high cost of new probes purchased from original manufacturers often discourages this approach.

The perfect solution is to purchase one or more cost-effective remanufactured probes from MR Resources. MRR has an extensive inventory of probes from all major manufacturers in a wide variety of configurations. Chances are that your console already has capabilities such as inverse and multinuclear observation that you didn’t even know about. Let us help you put those capabilities to work with a remanufactured probe that can make full use of them.

MR Resources maintains a large inventory of probes and equipment. Not only do we market all brands of probes, we can perform modifications at very attractive prices. MR resources also repairs most major brands of probes. Let us provide you with a quote today. We maintain a large supply of probes in stock for immediate delivery.

Probes are a vital component of instrumentation. They hold the sample under study and apply radio frequency signals to the material. They then receive, in real time, the signals that the nuclei returns to the instrument for digitization, thus allowing the chemist to determine the exact structure of the molecule and its function.We frequently design and build custom probes and accessories, especially in cases when such devices are not readily available commercially. Below are references to some of the hardware we built.