A liquid sample introduction system for a plasma spectrometer includes a sample container for holding a liquid sample, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) nebulizer, arranged to receive a liquid sample from the sample container, an electronic controller for supplying electrical power to the SAW nebulizer so as to produce a surface acoustic wave on a surface of the SAW nebulizer, for generating an aerosol from the supplied sample liquid, and an aerosol transport arrangement for receiving the aerosol from the SAW nebulizer and carrying it into a plasma or flame of a spectrometer. The electronic controller is further configured to control the electrical power to the SAW nebulizer so as to permit adjustment of the aerosol parameters, and to control the aerosol transport arrangement so as to permit adjustment of the aerosol delivery into the plasma or flame of the spectrometer.

Focused acoustic radiation, referred to as tonebursts, are applied to a volume of liquid to generate a set of droplets. The droplets generated are substantially smaller in scale than the focal spot size of the acoustic beam (e.g., the frequency at which the acoustic transducer operates). Further, the droplets have trajectories that are substantially in the direction of the acoustic beam propagation direction. In one embodiment, a first toneburst is applied to temporarily raise a protuberance on a free surface of the fluid. After the protuberance has reached a certain state, a second toneburst is applied to the protuberance to break it into very small droplets. In one embodiment, the state of the protuberance at which the second toneburst is supplied is the time period shortly after the protuberance reaches its maximum height but before the protuberance recedes back into the volume of fluid.

A system and method are provided for loading a sample into an analytical instrument using acoustic droplet ejection (“ADE”) in combination with a continuous flow sampling probe. An acoustic droplet ejector is used to eject small droplets of a fluid sample containing an analyte into the sampling tip of a continuous flow sampling probe, where the acoustically ejected droplet combines with a continuous, circulating flow stream of solvent within the flow probe. Fluid circulation within the probe transports the sample through a sample transport capillary to an outlet that directs the analyte away from the probe to an analytical instrument, e.g., a device that detects the presence, concentration quantity, and/or identity of the analyte. When the analytical instrument is a mass spectrometer or other type of device requiring the analyte to be in ionized form, the exiting droplets pass through an ionization region, e.g., an electrospray ion source, prior to entering the mass spectrometer or other analytical instrument. The method employs active flow control and enables real-time kinetic measurements.

A system for sampling a liquid includes a sample fluid conduit including a membrane having pores. The membrane prevents the passage of the sample liquid through the pores at a first pressure of the sample liquid in the sample fluid conduit. A surface sampling capture probe has a distal end. The capture probe includes a solvent supply conduit and a solvent exhaust conduit. A solvent composition flowing at the distal end of the capture probe establishes a liquid junction with the membrane and establishes a second pressure within the liquid junction at the membrane. The second pressure is lower than the first pressure. Sample liquid will be drawn through the pores of the membrane by the second pressure at the liquid junction. A method for sampling a liquid and for performing chemical analysis on a liquid are also disclosed.

Focused acoustic radiation, referred to as tonebursts, are applied to a volume of liquid to generate a set of droplets. The droplets generated are substantially smaller in scale than the focal spot size of the acoustic beam (e.g., the frequency at which the acoustic transducer operates). Further, the droplets have trajectories that are substantially in the direction of the acoustic beam propagation direction. In one embodiment, a first toneburst is applied to temporarily raise a protuberance on a free surface of the fluid. After the protuberance has reached a certain state, a second toneburst is applied to the protuberance to break it into very small droplets. In one embodiment, the state of the protuberance at which the second toneburst is supplied is the time period shortly after the protuberance reaches its maximum height but before the protuberance recedes back into the volume of fluid.

An ion source for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ultrasonic transducer which focuses ultrasonic energy onto a surface of a sample fluid without directly contacting the sample fluid.

A liquid sample introduction system for a plasma spectrometer includes a sample container for holding a liquid sample, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) nebulizer, arranged to receive a liquid sample from the sample container, an electronic controller for supplying electrical power to the SAW nebulizer so as to produce a surface acoustic wave on a surface of the SAW nebulizer, for generating an aerosol from the supplied sample liquid, and an aerosol transport arrangement for receiving the aerosol from the SAW nebulizer and carrying it into a plasma or flame of a spectrometer. The electronic controller is further configured to control the electrical power to the SAW nebulizer so as to permit adjustment of the aerosol parameters, and to control the aerosol transport arrangement so as to permit adjustment of the aerosol delivery into the plasma or flame of the spectrometer.

A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising repeatedly or continuously causing first analyte sample to be released or ejected from a first sample. A determination is made as to whether or not a quality threshold such as an intensity threshold has been met or exceeded, wherein if the quality threshold has been met or exceeded then the method further comprises repeatedly or continuously causing second analyte sample to be released or ejected from a second sample.

A system and method are provided for loading a sample into an analytical instrument using acoustic droplet ejection (ADE) in combination with a continuous flow sampling probe. An acoustic droplet ejector is used to eject small droplets of a fluid sample containing an analyte into the sampling tip of a continuous flow sampling probe, where the acoustically ejected droplet combines with a continuous, circulating flow stream of solvent within the flow probe. Fluid circulation within the probe transports the sample through a sample transport capillary to an outlet that directs the analyte away from the probe to an analytical instrument, e.g., a device that detects the presence, concentration quantity, and/or identity of the analyte. When the analytical instrument is a mass spectrometer or other type of device requiring the analyte to be in ionized form, the exiting droplets pass through an ionization region, e.g., an electrospray ion source, prior to entering the mass spectrometer or other analytical instrument. The method employs active flow control and enables real-time kinetic measurements.

In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, the disclosure, in one aspect, relates to a vibrating sharp edge spray ionization (VSSI) method suitable for coupling with a mass spectrometer, a VSSI method modified with a capillary suitable for use with continuous-flow separation methods such as liquid chromatography, and a VSSI method suitable for coupling with a capillary electrophoresis (CE) device in order to introduce the CE sample flow into a mass spectrometer. Also disclosed herein are devices for carrying out these methods and methods of making the same. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.