Parallel fluid electrospray mass spectrometer

A method of determining the composition of each of a plurality of fluid samples, comprising:

• electrospraying a plurality of fluid samples from an electrospray needle array towards a mass spectrometer with all but one of the fluid samples being blocked by a rotating disc having an off-center aperture passing therethrough;
• rotating the disc, thereby permitting each of the fluid samples to pass through the aperture and reach the mass spectrometer one at a time;
• and
• analyzing the mass spectrum of the fluid samples with the mass spectrometer, thereby determining the composition of each of the fluid samples.

A system for analyzing each of a plurality of fluid samples, comprising:

• a mass spectrometer;
• an electrospray needle array for spraying the plurality of fluid samples towards the mass spectrometer;
• and
• a blocking device positioned between the electrospray needle array and the mass spectrometer, the blocking device dimensioned to block all but one of the plurality of fluid samples from reaching the mass spectrometer, wherein the blocking device is movable with respect to the electrospray needle array so as to sequentially block each of the fluid samples from reaching the mass spectrometer.

A system for analyzing each of a plurality of fluid samples, comprising:

• a mass spectrometer;
• an electrospray needle array for spraying the plurality of fluid samples towards the mass spectrometer;
• and
• a blocking device positioned between the electrospray needle array and the mass spectrometer, the blocking device dimensioned to block all but one of the plurality of fluid samples from reaching the mass spectrometer wherein, the blocking device comprises a rotatable disc having an off-center aperture passing therethrough.