Multimode ionization source

Claim 1

A system comprising: chamber means for confining an analyte-bearing fluid about a predetermined path; inlet means for admitting analyte into said chamber, said inlet means providing for the introduction of analyte along said path, said analyte being in a form included in the set consisting of thermospray form and vapor form; outlet means for permitting ions traveling along said path to exit said chamber, said outlet means having an orifice permitting fluid communication between said chamber means and an ion analyzer, said orifice having an orifice axis, said orifice also having a projection along said axis, said projection having a projection segment within one centimeter of said orifice, said outlet means being coupled to said chamber to permit ions to exit said chamber and enter said ion analyzer; pressure regulation means for regulating pressure within said chamber; electron source means for generating free electrons within one centimeter of said projection segment and directing them toward said projection segment; and a controller for determining the operating mode of said system, said controller alternatively providing for a thermospray ionization mode and an electron impact ionization mode, said controller being coupled to said inlet means so as to determine when analyte-bearing fluid is injected into said chamber in thermospray form and when analyte-bearing fluid is injected into said chamber in gaseous form, said controller being coupled to said pressure regulation means, said controller when providing for said thermospray ionization mode, causing said pressure regulation means to maintain a relatively high pressure in said chamber and causing said inlet means to introduce analytebearing fluid onto said path in thermospray form, and when providing for said electron impact ionization mode, causing said pressure regulation means to establish a relatively low pressure in said chamber and causing said inlet means to introduce analyte-bearing fluid onto said path in gaseous form.

Claim 2

A system comprising: chamber means for confining an analyte-bearing fluid about a predetermined path; inlet means for admitting analyte into said chamber, said inlet means providing for the introduction of analyte along said path, said analyte being in a form included in the set consisting of thermospray form and vapor form; outlet means for permitting ions traveling along said path to exit said chamber, said outlet means having an orifice permitting fluid communication between said chamber means and an ion analyzer, said orifice having an orifice axis, said orifice also having a projection along said axis, said projection having a projection segment within one centimeter of said orifice, said outlet means being coupled to said chamber to permit ions to exit said chamber and enter said ion analyzer; pressure regulation means for regulating pressure within said chamber; electron source means for generating free electrons within one centimeter of said projection segment and directing them toward said projection segment; and a controller for determining the operating mode of said system, said controller alternatively providing for a thermospray ionization mode and an electron impact ionization mode, said controller being coupled to said inlet means so as to determine when analyte-bearing fluid is injected into said chamber in thermospray form and when analyte-bearing fluid is injected into said chamber in gaseous form, said controller being coupled to said pressure regulation means, said controller when providing for said thermospray ionization mode, causing said pressure regulation means to maintain a relatively high pressure in said chamber and causing said inlet means to introduce analytebearing fluid onto said path in thermospray form, and when providing for said electron impact ionization mode, causing said pressure regulation means to establish a relatively low pressure in said chamber and causing said inlet means to introduce analyte-bearing fluid onto said path in gaseous form.

Claim 8

A method of ionizing an analyte-bearing fluid moving through an inlet means of an ionization chamber into said chamber and exiting said chamber through an orifice of an outlet means, said method comprising the following steps: (1) selecting between a thermospray ionization mode and an electron impact ionization mode for ionizing an analyte-bearing fluid; (2) if said thermospray ionization mode is selected, continuing with steps 4a and 4b, otherwise continuing with steps 3a to 3c; (3a) selecting a relatively low pressure in said ionization chamber; (3b) generating free electrons within one centimeter of a projection segment, said projection segment being the intersection of said chamber and a projection of said orifice along its axis, said projection segment being disposed within one centimeter of said orifice; and (3c) introducing said analyte-bearing fluid in vapor form into said chamber through said inlet means; whereby said free electrons bombard said analyte-bearing fluid so that ions are formed sufficiently close to said orifice that ions so produced can diffuse through said orifice and out of said chamber; (4a) selecting a relatively high pressure in said ionization chamber; and (4b) introducing analyte-bearing fluid in thermospray for into said chamber so that ions so formed can exit said chamber through said orifice.

Claim 9

A method of ionizing an analyte-bearing fluid moving through an inlet means of an ionization chamber into said chamber and exiting said chamber through an orifice of an outlet means, said method comprising the following steps: (1) selecting between a thermospray ionization mode and an electron impact ionization mode for ionizing an analyte-bearing fluid; (2) if said thermospray ionization mode is selected, continuing with steps 4a and 4b, otherwise continuing with steps 3a to 3c; (3a) selecting a relatively low pressure in said ionization chamber; (3b) generating free electrons within one centimeter of a projection segment, said projection segment being the intersection of said chamber and a projection of said orifice along its axis, said projection segment being disposed within one centimeter of said orifice; and (3c) introducing said analyte-bearing fluid in vapor form into said chamber through said inlet means; whereby said free electrons bombard said analyte-bearing fluid so that ions are formed sufficiently close to said orifice that ions so produced can diffuse through said orifice and out of said chamber; (4a) selecting a relatively high pressure in said ionization chamber; and (4b) introducing analyte-bearing fluid in thermospray for into said chamber so that ions so formed can exit said chamber through said orifice.

Claim 12

A system comprising: separation means for separating analytes containing components of interest, in the alternative, separated components in liquid form and in gaseous form; an ion analyzer for analyzing ionized analytes; and an ion source including: a chamber; inlet means for admitting analytes from said separation means into said chamber, said inlet means being coupled to said separation means and said chamber; orifice means for permitting ions in said chamber to exit said chamber and enter said ion analyzer, said orifice means being coupled to said chamber means and said ion analyzer, said orifice means having an orifice axis, said orifice having a projection along its axis, said projection having a projection segment, said projection segment being the intersection of said projection and said chamber, said projection segment being disposed within one centimeter of said orifice; a pressure regulator for regulating pressure within said chamber; electron source means for generating free electrons within one centimeter of said orifice and directing them toward said projection segment; and a controller for setting the operating mode of said system, said controller alternatively providing for a thermospray ionization mode and an electron impact ionization mode, said controller being coupled to said inlet means, said pressure regulator and said electron source means, said controller when said thermospray ionization mode is selected, causing said inlet means to admit liquid analyte into said chamber and causing said pressure regulator to establish a relatively high pressure within said chamber, when said electron impact ionization mode is selected, causing said inlet means to admit gaseous analyte into said chamber and causing said pressure regulator to establish a relatively low pressure within said chamber, said controller also activating said electron source means so as to bombard said gaseous analyte.

Claim 13

A system comprising: separation means for separating analytes containing components of interest, in the alternative, separated components in liquid form and in gaseous form; an ion analyzer for analyzing ionized analytes; and an ion source including: a chamber; inlet means for admitting analytes from said separation means into said chamber, said inlet means being coupled to said separation means and said chamber; orifice means for permitting ions in said chamber to exit said chamber and enter said ion analyzer, said orifice means being coupled to said chamber means and said ion analyzer, said orifice means having an orifice axis, said orifice having a projection along its axis, said projection having a projection segment, said projection segment being the intersection of said projection and said chamber, said projection segment being disposed within one centimeter of said orifice; a pressure regulator for regulating pressure within said chamber; electron source means for generating free electrons within one centimeter of said orifice and directing them toward said projection segment; and a controller for setting the operating mode of said system, said controller alternatively providing for a thermospray ionization mode and an electron impact ionization mode, said controller being coupled to said inlet means, said pressure regulator and said electron source means, said controller when said thermospray ionization mode is selected, causing said inlet means to admit liquid analyte into said chamber and causing said pressure regulator to establish a relatively high pressure within said chamber, when said electron impact ionization mode is selected, causing said inlet means to admit gaseous analyte into said chamber and causing said pressure regulator to establish a relatively low pressure within said chamber, said controller also activating said electron source means so as to bombard said gaseous analyte.

Claim 17

A system comprising: separation means for separating analytes containing components of interest, in the alternative, separated components in liquid form and in gaseous form; an ion analyzer for analyzing ionized analytes; and an ion source including: a chamber; inlet means for admitting analytes from said separation means into said chamber, said inlet means being coupled to said separation means and said chamber; orifice means for permitting ions in said chamber to exit said chamber and enter said ion analyzer, said orifice means being coupled to said chamber means and said ion analyzer, said orifice means having an orifice axis, said orifice having a projection along its axis, said projection having a projection segment, said projection segment being the intersection of said projection and said chamber, said projection segment being disposed within one centimeter of said orifice; a pressure regulator for regulating pressure within said chamber; electron source means for generating free electrons within one centimeter of said orifice and directing them toward said projection segment; and a controller for setting the operating mode of said system, said controller alternatively providing for a thermospray ionization mode and an chemical ionization mode, said controller being coupled to said inlet means, said pressure regulator and said electron source means, said controller when said thermospray ionization mode is selected, causing said inlet means to admit liquid analyte into said chamber and causing said pressure regulator to establish a relatively high pressure within said chamber, and when said chemical ionization mode is selected, causing said inlet means to admit reagent gas into said chamber and activating said electron source so as to ionize said reagent gas, said controller causing said pressure regulator to establish a relatively intermediate pressure within said chamber, said controller causing said inlet means to admit gaseous analyte into said chamber.

Claim 18

A system comprising: separation means for separating analytes containing components of interest, in the alternative, separated components in liquid form and in gaseous form; an ion analyzer for analyzing ionized analytes; and an ion source including: a chamber; inlet means for admitting analytes from said separation means into said chamber, said inlet means being coupled to said separation means and said chamber; orifice means for permitting ions in said chamber to exit said chamber and enter said ion analyzer, said orifice means being coupled to said chamber means and said ion analyzer, said orifice means having an orifice axis, said orifice having a projection along its axis, said projection having a projection segment, said projection segment being the intersection of said projection and said chamber, said projection segment being disposed within one centimeter of said orifice; a pressure regulator for regulating pressure within said chamber; electron source means for generating free electrons within one centimeter of said orifice and directing them toward said projection segment; and a controller for setting the operating mode of said system, said controller alternatively providing for a thermospray ionization mode and an chemical ionization mode, said controller being coupled to said inlet means, said pressure regulator and said electron source means, said controller when said thermospray ionization mode is selected, causing said inlet means to admit liquid analyte into said chamber and causing said pressure regulator to establish a relatively high pressure within said chamber, and when said chemical ionization mode is selected, causing said inlet means to admit reagent gas into said chamber and activating said electron source so as to ionize said reagent gas, said controller causing said pressure regulator to establish a relatively intermediate pressure within said chamber, said controller causing said inlet means to admit gaseous analyte into said chamber.