An integrated system for liquid separation and electrospray ionization includes an emitter-enabled capillary column including an emitter portion and a column portion; and a retractable protective sleeve for covering and/or supporting the emitter portion along at least a portion of its axis. The protective sleeve is mounted around the emitter-enabled capillary column. The retractable protective sleeve is moveable to an extended position wherein a tip of the emitter portion is covered by the protective sleeve. A resilient member is provided to bias the protective sleeve towards the extended position. The protective sleeve is enclosed and moveable within an outer electrically conductive sheath adapted for insertion within a holder having a high-voltage contact point. The sheath is adapted to contact the high-voltage contact point and provide an electrical connection to enable the emitter-enabled capillary column to receive a high voltage. The sheath has a recess to receive the high-voltage contact point.

Methods and systems for delivering a liquid sample to an ion source for the generation of ions and subsequent analysis by mass spectrometry are provided herein. In accordance with various aspects of the present teachings, MS-based systems and methods are provided in which a specimen may be received within an open port of a sampling probe and continuously delivered via a jet pump assembly to an ion source for subsequent mass spectrometric analysis.

The invention generally relates to systems including nanoelectrospray ionization emitters in a movable array format in which the emitters can be loaded, singly or simultaneously, through their narrow ends using a novel dip and go method based on capillary action, taking up sample from an array. The sample solutions in each emitter can be electrophoretically cleaned, singly or simultaneously, by creating an inductive electric field that moves interfering ions away from the narrow end of the capillary. Subsequent to cleaning, the emitters are supplied with an inductive electric field that causes electrospray into a mass spectrometer allowing mass analysis of the contents of the emitter.

A mass spectrometry system having a simplified control interface includes a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that when executed cause the processor to perform the steps of providing a user interface including a plurality of adjustment elements for adjusting at least one results effective parameter and at least one sample descriptive parameter; determining a plurality of instrument control parameters based on the at least one results effective parameter and the at least one sample descriptive parameter; and analyzing a sample while operating according to the plurality of instrument control parameters.

In an ESI sprayer including a pipe connecting jig used to connect an inlet-side pipe and an ESI capillary, a through-hole having an inner diameter corresponding to an outer diameter of the inlet-side pipe at one end and an inner diameter corresponding to an outer diameter of the ESI capillary at another end is formed in an axial direction of a conductive cylindrical body in which at least both ends are plastically deformable, and a gap forming protrusion protruding inward from a circumferential wall of the through-hole is provided in the cylindrical body.

An ESI sprayer tube 10 includes: a first tube 11 having an inlet end; a second tube 12 having the inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first tube 11, the second tube 12 being located outside the first tube 11; and a tube fixation portion 14 formed to fill a space between the first tube 11 and the second tube 12, in a side close to the inlet end.

A molecular cryptographic sampling device is disclosed including at least one unique identifying indicia disposed on the molecular cryptographic sampling device, a substrate including at least one depression disposed in or protrusion disposed on a surface of the substrate, at least one polymeric sorbent coating disposed on the at least one depression or protrusion, and at least one molecular encrypted code disposed on the at least one polymeric sorbent coating. The at least one molecular encrypted code includes at least one molecular tag, wherein the at least one molecular encrypted code is uniquely associated with the at least one unique identifying indicia in a database or by a predetermined algorithm.

Sampling probes and interfaces for mass spectrometry systems and methods are described to analyze a composition of a substance. The system includes a liquid reservoir containing solvent; a gas reservoir containing nebulizer gas; a conduit that is in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir, the conduit comprising a first and second portion and a junction portion, the first and second portion being joined at the junction portion, and defining an angle therebetween at the junction and the junction portion contains an aperture that is open to the atmosphere. A nebulizer conduit that is co-axial and partially surrounds the second portion and completely surrounds an end of the second portion can also be present, the nebulizer conduit being fluidly connected to the gas reservoir and that allows a gas to flow from the gas reservoir over an external surface of the second portion and the end of the second portion.

An ionizer includes a probe having multiple coaxially aligned conduits. The conduits may carry liquids, and nebulizing and heating gases at various flow rates and temperatures, for generation of ions from a liquid source. An outermost conduit defines an entrainment region that transports and entrains ions in a gas for a defined distance along the length of the conduits. In embodiments, various voltages may be applied to the multiple conduits to aid in ionization and to guide ions. Depending on the voltages applied to the multiple conduits and electrodes, the ionizer can act as an electrospray, APCI, or APPI source. Further, the ionizer may include a source of photons or a source of corona ionization. Formed ions may be provided to a downstream mass analyser.

A spray-capillary device is configured to process ultra-low-volume samples. The spray-capillary device includes a capillary tube that includes a lumen, an inner surface, an outer surface, an inlet end for receiving a fluid, and a discharge end having a porous section. A polymer material may be applied to the inner surface to form a polymer coating thereon. A downstream connector provides an interface between the porous section of the capillary tube, a conductive fluid, and a high voltage electrical source. The application of voltage to the downstream connector causes electrospray ionization, which can be used to draw ultra-low-volume samples into the inlet end. A gas injection assembly can be used to increase the pressure on the inlet end of the capillary tube to encourage movement of the sample therethrough. The spray-capillary device may be used to provide the ultra-low-volume samples to a mass spectrometer or other suitable analytic device.