Combined electrospray/particle beam liquid chromatography/mass spectrometer

Abstract

A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system that can be configured as either a particle beam or an electrospray interface is provided. The device incorporates structural elements that are common to both interfaces thereby eliminating the need to have two completely separate ES and PB LC/MS systems. The LC/MS device according to the present invention generally comprises a momentum separator, nozzle housing, mass spectrometer, and a vacuum subsystem. A mass spectrometer housing encloses a quadrupole mass analyzer. When used in the ES mode, and ES source module is coupled into the inventive device. Similarly, when used in the PB mode, a PB source module is coupled into the inventive device along with a separate source PB probe. The mass analyzer chamber can accommodate a particle beam source probe for generating ions from analyte particles. In either mode, the modules can consist of commercially available interfaces modified for use with the inventive device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.