High speed combination multi-mode ionization source for mass spectrometers

Abstract

The present invention combines ionization modes produced by, for example, electrospray (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), and thermospray for analysis of molecules. Specifically, this invention relates to the creation of a new source apparatus combining APCI and ESI which will interface with existing mass spectrometers, as well as the creation of new mass spectrometers where the present invention would be the ionization source. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an ionization source for a mass spectrometer which features an ion chamber defining an ion path, an electrospray probe for ionizing a sample using electrospray ionization, a corona discharge needle for ionizing a sample using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, a power supply for applying an electrical potential to one of said electrospray probe and said corona discharge needle, and a solid state switch for directing the electrical potential from the power supply to one of the electrospray probe and said corona discharge needle.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
     
     
         20 . A mass spectrometer for multimode ion production, comprising: 
 (a) a multimode ionization source, comprising: 
 i. an electrospray ionization source for providing a charged aerosol;  
 ii. an atmospheric pressure ionization source downstream from said electrospray ionization source for further ionizing said charged aerosol; and  
 iii. a conduit adjacent to said atmospheric pressure ionization source and having an orifice for receiving ions from said charged aerosol;  
 wherein the multimode ionization source includes a first electrode and a second electrode, the second electrode assisting in steering ions toward the conduit; and  
   (b) a detector downstream from said multimode ionization source for detecting said ions produced by said multimode ionization source.    
     
     
         21 . A mass spectrometer as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said atmospheric pressure ionization source is an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source (APCI).  
     
     
         22 . A mass spectrometer as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the electrospray ionization source has a longitudinal axis and the conduit has a longitudinal axis and wherein the longitudinal axis of the electrospray ionization source is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the conduit.  
     
     
         23 . A method of producing ions using a multimode ionization source, comprising: 
 (a) producing a charged aerosol by electrospray ionization;    (b) guiding the charged aerosol downstream using electrodes;    (c) ionizing said charged aerosol using a second atmospheric pressure ionization source downstream from the electrodes; and    (d) detecting said ions produced from said multimode ionization source.    
     
     
         24 . A method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said second atmospheric pressure ionization source is an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source (APCI).  
     
     
         25 . A multimode ionization source, comprising: 
 (a) a first atmospheric pressure ionization source for providing a charged aerosol;    (b) a second atmospheric pressure ionization source downstream from said first atmospheric pressure ionization source for further ionizing said charged aerosol; and    (c) a conduit adjacent to said second atmospheric pressure ionization source and having an orifice for receiving ions from said charged aerosol; 
 wherein the multimode ionization source includes a first electrode and a second electrode, the second electrode assisting in steering ions toward the conduit.  
   
     
     
         26 . A method of producing ions using a multimode ionization source, comprising: 
 (a) producing a charged aerosol by a first atmospheric pressure ionization source;    (b) guiding the charged aerosol downstream from the first atmospheric pressure source using electrodes; and    (c) ionizing said charged aerosol using a second atmospheric pressure ionization source downstream from the electrodes.    
     
     
         27 . A multimode ionization source, comprising: 
 (a) an electrospray ionization source for providing a charged aerosol;    (b) an atmospheric pressure ionization source downstream from said electrospray ionization source for further ionizing said charged aerosol; and    (c) a conduit adjacent to said atmospheric pressure ionization source and having an orifice for receiving ions from said charged aerosol; 
 wherein tie atmospheric pressure ionization source includes an atmospheric photo-ionization source (APPI).  
   
     
     
         28 . A mass spectrometer for multimode ion production, comprising: 
 (a) a multimode ionization source, comprising: 
 i. an electrospray ionization source for providing a charged aerosol;  
 ii. an atmospheric pressure ionization source downstream from said electrospray ionization source for further ionizing said charged aerosol; and  
 iii. a conduit adjacent to said atmospheric pressure ionization source and having an orifice for receiving ions from said charged aerosol; 
 wherein the atmospheric pressure ionization source includes an atmospheric pressure photo-ionization source (APPI); and  
 
   (b) a detector downstream from said multimode ionization source for detecting said ions produced by said multimode ionization source.    
     
     
         29 . A method of producing ions using a multimode ionization source, comprising: 
 (a) producing a charged aerosol by electrospray ionization;    (b) ionizing said charged aerosol using a second atmospheric pressure ionization source downstream from the electrodes; and    (c) detecting said ions produced from said multimode ionization source; 
 wherein the second atmospheric pressure ionization source includes an atmospheric pressure photoionization source (APPI).