Electrospray ionization mass analysis apparatus and system thereof

An electrospray ionization mass analysis apparatus wherein

• a sample solution from a chromatograph is introduced into a capillary tube, and
• an electrospray ion source arranged for generating ions under atmospheric pressure generates ions, which are led into a mass spectrometer disposed in a vacuum chamber where said ions are subjected to mass analysis;
• said electrospray ionization mass analysis apparatus further characterized in that;
• the current value or strength of the ion having a specified mass in said sample solution is measured and stored for multiple samples,
• the number of measurements where said ion current value or strength is below said threshold value is predicted based on the relationship between said multiple ion current values or strengths and the number of measurements, and
• an error state is displayed in conformity to said predicted number of measurements.

An electrospray ionization mass analysis apparatus wherein

• a sample solution separated from a micro liquid chromatograph arranged for separating a sample solution is introduced into a capillary tube,
• high voltage is applied from a high voltage power source connected to the tip of said capillary tube and a counter electrode having an aperture;
• whereby a spray ion flow is generated from the tip of said capillary tube toward said aperture by an electrospray ion source,
• said ion flow generated by said ion source is introduced throgh said aperture to a skimmer cone and ion guide disposed in a vacuum chamber, and then to ions storage type mass spectrometer, where said ion is subjected to mass sweeping and is detected by a detector to obtain mass spectrum;
• said electrospray ionization mass analysis apparatus further characterized in that
• the current value or strength of the ion having a specified mass in said sample solution is measured, and, when said current value has reduced below a threshold value, an error state is displayed.

An electrospray ionization mass analysis system wherein;

• a sample solution from a chromatograph is introduced into a capillary tube, and
• high voltage is applied to the tip of said capillary tube under atmospheric pressure, whereby spray ions are generated, and are then led into a mass spectrometer disposed in a vacuum chamber where said ions are subjected to mass analysis;
• said electrospray ionization mass analysis apparatus further characterized in that;
• the current value or strength of the ion having a specified mass in said sample solution is measured, and, when said current value has reduced below a threshold value, an error state is displayed.

An electrospray ionization mass analysis system wherein;

• a sample solution from a chromatograph is introduced into a capillary tube, and
• an electrospray ion source arranged for generating a spray ion under atmospheric pressure generates ions, which are led into a mass spectrometer disposed in a vacuum chamber where said ions are subjected to mass analysis;
• said electrospray ionization mass analysis apparatus further characterized in that;
• the current value or strength of the ion having a specified mass in said sample solution is measured and stored for multiple samples,
• the number of measurements where said ion current value or strength is below said threshold value is predicted based on the relationship between said multiple ion current values or strengths and the number of measurements, and
• an error state is displayed in conformity to said predicted number of measurements.

An electrospray ionization mass analysis system wherein;

• a sample solution from a chromatograph is introduced into a capillary tube, and
• an electrospray ion source arranged for generating ions under atmospheric pressure generates ions, which are led into an ion trap mass spectrometer disposed in a vacuum chamber where said ions are subjected to mass analysis;
• said electrospray ionization mass analysis apparatus further characterized in that;
• during the time when the current value or strength of the ion having a specific mass in said spray ion are measured, the level of the ion to be trapped is set to a level lower than that of said specific mass and, when they are not measured, the level of the ion to be trapped is set to a level higher than that of said specific mass.

An electrospray ionization mass analysis apparatus wherein;

• a sample solution from a chromatograph is introduced into a capillary tube, and
• an electrospray ion source arranged for generating ions under atmospheric pressure generates ions, which are led into a mass spectrometer disposed in a vacuum chamber where said ions are subjected to mass analysis;
• said electrospray ionization mass analysis apparatus further characterized by sequentially comprising:
• a step of introducing said sample into the injector and micro column of the chromatograph in that order,
• a step of separating the sample for each component and ionizing it after feeding into said ion source in conformity to the lapse of time,
• a step of repeating mass sweeping with said mass spectrometer and storing the collected mass spectra into the control data processor,
• a step of measuring the current value (Is) of the ion having a specific mass in the sample, and comparing between the measured Is and the threshold value (It),
• a step of continuing measurement if Is exceeds It,
• a step of completing measurement if the Is is not below the It by the time said measurement terminates, and starting measurement of the next sample,
• a step of indicating an error through the control data processor if the error has occurred where the Is is reduced below the It due to sudden reduction of the Is, and specifying the action to be taken to correct the error,
• a step of giving a command of suspending start of sweeping to the mass sweep power source of the mass spectrometer to suspend the collection of mass spectra,
• a step of recording an error in the data and displaying that warning, and
• a step of suspending transmission of the signal for starting the next sample measurement to an automatic sampler.

An electrospray ionization mass analysis system wherein;

• a sample solution from a chromatograph is introduced into a capillary tube, and
• an electrospray ion source arranged for generating ions under atmospheric pressure generates ions, which are led into a mass spectrometer disposed in a vacuum chamber where mass spectrum is given;
• said electrospray ionization mass analysis apparatus further characterized by sequentially comprising:
• a step of introducing said sample into the injector and micro column of the chromatograph in that order,
• a step of separating the sample for each component and ionizing it after feeding into said ion source in conformity to the lapse of time,
• a step of repeating mass sweeping with said mass spectrometer and storing the collected mass spectra into the control data processor,
• a step of measuring the current value (Is) of the ion containing a specific mass, and comparing between the measured Is and the threshold value (It),
• a step of having measurement if Is exceeds It,
• a step of completing measurement if the Is is not below the It by the time said measurement terminates, and starting measurement of the next sample,
• a step of suspending the collection of mass spectra due to abrupt reduction of the Is,
• a step of indicating an error without suspending the collection of mass spectra during the measurement of one sample by liquid chromatograph (LS),
• a step of recording an error of the Is having reduced below the It, and terminating the data file upon completion of the LC measurement,
• a step of instructing suspension of starting the measurement of the next sample if an error is displayed, and
• a step of instructing the automatic sampler to start the measurement of the next sample if no error is indicated.

An electrospray ionization mass analysis system wherein;

• a sample solution from a chromatograph is introduced into a capillary tube, and
• an electrospray ion source arranged for generating ions under atmospheric pressure generates ions, which are led into a mass spectrometer disposed in a vacuum chamber where mass spectrum is given;
• said electrospray ionization mass analysis apparatus further characterized by sequentially comprising:
• a step of introducing said sample into the injector and micro column of the chromatograph in that order,
• a step of separating the sample for each component and ionizing it after feeding into said ion source in conformity to the lapse of time,
• a step of repeating mass sweeping with said mass spectrometer and
• storing the collected mass spectra into the control data processor,
• a step of measuring the current value (Is) of the ion having a specific mass , and comparing between the measured Is and the threshold value (It),
• a step of continuing measurement if Is exceeds It,
• a step of completing measurement if the Is is not below the It by the time said measurement terminates, and starting measurement of the next sample,
• a step of measuring the Is at least once for each supply of the sample immediately before the column is brought into equilibrium by the solvent of the mobile phase prior to supply of the sample,
• a step of recording and displaying an error when the Is is reduced below the It,
• a step of stopping the measurement and suspending the supply of a new sample, and
• a step of continuing the measurement if the Is is above the It.