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 secondary ultrasonic nebulisation device is disclosed comprising: a liquid sample delivery capillary; a sample receiving surface arranged for receiving a liquid sample from the capillary; and an ultrasonic transducer configured for oscillating the surface so as to nebulise the liquid sample received thereon, wherein the device is configured such that the oscillations of the surface by the ultrasonic transducer cause charged droplets and/or gas phase ions to be generated from the sample.

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 mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a separation device arranged and adapted to emit an eluent over a period of time. The separation device preferably comprises a Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) separation device. The mass spectrometer further comprises a nebuliser and a target. Eluent emitted by the separation device is nebulised, in use, by the nebuliser wherein a stream of analyte droplets are directed to impact upon the target so as to ionise the analyte to form a plurality of analyte ions.

A mass spectrometry method includes a step of atomizing liquid including a sample using an ultrasonic transducer; a step of transferring the atomized liquid; a step of generating ions from the transferred liquid using a DART ion source; and a step of analyzing a mass spectrometry by introducing the generated ions into a mass spectrometer.

A method and apparatus for mixing droplets of liquid sample and droplets of a diluent and/or a standard produced by droplet-on-demand generators for use with an analysis device. Two different liquids may be introduced to an analysis device for simultaneous analysis. The method preferably comprises using a first droplet-on-demand generator to provide a first stream of droplets of a first liquid; using a second droplet-on-demand generator to provide a second stream of droplets of a second liquid; and combining the first and second streams of droplets before they enter the analysis device.

Each sample of a series of samples is ejected at an ejection time and according to a sample order. Each ejected sample of the series is ionized, producing ion beam. A list of different sets of MRM transitions is received. Each set of the list corresponds to a different sample. A group of one or more different sets is selected from the list. Initially, each set selected for the group corresponds to a different sample of one or more first samples of the series. A mass spectrometer is instructed to execute each transition of each set of the group on the ion beam until a transition of a set of the group is detected, upon which, one or more next sets are selected from the list to be monitored using the set of the detected transition and the sample order.

A method and system for correcting a measurement in a sample analyzing system, the method including receiving a first sample at an interface of the sample analyzing system, the first sample being a portion of a sample source; measuring a first signal for the received first sample to generate a measured first signal; comparing the measured first signal to an expected characteristic of the sample analyzing system to determine whether the measured first signal is valid; and when the measured first signal is determined not to be valid: taking one or more corrective actions on one of the sample analyzer and the sample source; receiving a second sample at the sampling interface, the second sample being another portion of the sample source; and measuring a second signal for the received other sample to generate a measured second signal.

Calibration of a droplet dispenser includes providing a liquid sample including a calibrant and, for each liquid level of a range of different liquid levels providing the liquid sample to a set of wells at the liquid level. Further, over a range of different droplet dispenser parameters, the droplet dispenser is used to dispense droplets from the set of wells into a flowing transport fluid. A mass of calibrant ions generated from the flowing transport fluid is measured using a mass spectrometer. Volumes of the droplets from are determined from the calibrant mass.