Systems and method of a gated electrospray interface with variable flow rate for high throughput mass spectrometric analysis

A system for generating ionized samples for high throughput mass spectrometric analysis, the system comprising:

• a liquid reservoir;
• a first valve coupled to the liquid reservoir;
• a first pump and a second pump for delivering the liquid, wherein the first and second pumps are coupled to the first valve and wherein the delivery flow rate of the first pump is greater than the delivery flow rate of the second pump;
• a second valve coupled to the first valve;
• an injection system having a sample injector, wherein the injection system is coupled to the second valve and can deliver a sample to the second valve;
• an atmospheric-pressure ionization chamber;
• an atmospheric-pressure ionization sprayer coupled to the second valve;
• a nebulizer gas source in fluid communication with the atmospheric-pressure ionization sprayer;
• and
• a voltage supply source coupled to the atmospheric-pressure ionization sprayer.

A method for delivering samples for high throughput mass spectrometric analysis, the method comprising:

• A. delivering a sample to a transfer line which can be coupled to an ionization sprayer of an atmospheric-pressure ionization source;
• B. initiating a first flow of a liquid to the transfer line containing the sample;
• C. terminating the first flow;
• and
• D. rinsing the transfer line by directing a second flow of a liquid to the transfer line, wherein the second flow is greater than the first flow.

A method for delivering samples for high throughput mass spectrometric analysis, the method comprising:

• A. delivering a sample to a transfer line which can be coupled to an ionization sprayer of an atmospheric-pressure ionization source;
• B. initiating a first flow of a liquid to the transfer line containing the sample;
• C. energizing the atmospheric-pressure ionization sprayer with a voltage potential and initiating the delivering of a nebulizer gas to the atmospheric-pressure ionization sprayer to generate an ionized plume within the atmospheric-pressure ionization source;
• D. conducting mass spectrometric analysis of the ionized sample;
• E. de-energizing the atmospheric-pressure ionization sprayer and terminating the delivery of the nebulizer gas to the atmospheric-pressure ionization sprayer;
• F. terminating the first flow;
• G. rinsing the transfer line by directing a second flow of a liquid to the transfer line, wherein the second flow is greater than the first flow;
• and
• H. repeating steps A through G for the next sample to be analyzed.