Ion source and mass spectrometer instrument using the same

A mass spectrometer comprising:

• a sample passage through which a sample solution flows towards a tip of the sample passage;
• a gas passage which produces a gas flow along the sample passage towards an orifice of the gas passage;
• a gas supplier which supplies a gas to the gas passage so that the gas flow has a velocity effective for spraying the sample solution near the tip of the sample passage;
• and
• an analyzer which analyzes a mass of gaseous ions formed from the sample solution sprayed by the gas flow;
• wherein the gas flow has a characteristic value F/S between 500 meters/second (m/s) and 600 m/s, where F is a flow rate of the gas at standard conditions (20.degree. C. 1 atmosphere), and S is a difference between a cross section of the orifice and a cross section of the sample passage at the orifice.

A mass spectrometer comprising:

• a sample passage through which a sample solution flows towards a tip of the sample passage;
• an ion source including
• an orifice which receives a tip portion of the sample passage, and
• a gas passage which extends along the sample passage to the orifice and produces a gas flow along the sample passage to wards the orifice,
• the gas flow having a characteristic value F/S between 350 meters/second (m/s) and 700 m/s, where F is a flow rate of the gas at standard conditions (20.degree. C., 1 atmosphere), and s is a difference between a cross section of the orifice, and a cross section of the sample passage at the orifice,
• the gas flow spraying the sample solution near the tip of the sample passage;
• and
• an analyzer which analyzes a mass of gaseous ions formed from the sample solution sprayed by the gas flow.

A mass spectrometer comprising:

• a sample passage through which a sample solution flows towards a tip of the sample passage;
• an ion source including
• an orifice which receives a tip portion of the sample passage, and
• a gas passage portion which extends along the sample passage to the orifice and produces a gas flow along the sample passage towards the orifice,
• the gas flow having a characteristic value F/S between 500 meters/second (m/s) and 600 m/s, where F is a flow rate of the gas at standard conditions (20.degree. C., 1 atmosphere), and S is a difference between a cross section of the orifice and a cross section of the sample passage at the orifice,
• the gas flow spraying the sample solution near the tip of the sample passage;
• and
• an analyzer which analyzes a mass of gaseous ions formed from the sample solution sprayed by the gas flow.

An ion source apparatus comprising:

• a sample passage through which a sample solution flows towards a tip of the sample passage;
• a gas passage which produces a gas flow along the sample passage towards an orifice of the gas passage;
• and
• a gas supplier which supplies a gas to the gas passage so that the gas flow has a velocity effective for spraying the sample solution near the tip of the sample passage;
• wherein gaseous ions are formed from the sample solution sprayed by the gas flow;
• wherein the gas flow has a characteristic value F/S between 350 meters/second (m/s) and 700 m/s, where F is a flow rate of the gas at standard conditions (20.degree. C., 1 atmosphere), and S is a difference between a cross section of the orifice and a cross section of the sample passage at the orifice;
• and
• wherein an exposed length of the sample passage between an external opening of the orifice and the tip of the sample passage is between -0.25 mm and 1.2 mm.

An ion source apparatus comprising:

• a sample passage through which a sample solution flows towards a tip of the sample passage;
• a gas passage which produces a gas flow along the sample passage towards an orifice of the gas passage;
• and
• a gas supplier which supplies a gas to the gas passage so that the gas flow has a velocity effective for spraying the sample solution near the tip of the sample passage;
• wherein gaseous ions are formed from the sample solution sprayed by the gas flow;
• wherein the gas flow has a characteristic value F/S between 500 meters/second (m/s) and 600 m/s, where F is a flow rate of the gas at standard conditions (20.degree. C., 1 atmosphere), and S is a difference between a cross section of the orifice and a cross section of the sample passage at the orifice;
• and
• wherein an exposed length of the sample passage between an external opening of the orifice and the tip of the sample passage is between -0.25 mm and 1.2 mm.

A mass spectrometer comprising:

• a capillary through which a sample solution flows towards a tip of the capillary;
• a gas passage which produces a gas flow along the capillary towards an orifice of the gas passage;
• a gas supplier which supplies a gas to the gas passage so that the gas flow has a velocity effective for spraying the sample solution near the tip of the capillary;
• and
• an analyzer which analyzes a mass of gaseous ions formed from the sample solution sprayed by the gas flow;
• wherein the gas flow has a characteristic value F/S between 350 meters/second (m/s) and 700 m/s, where F is a flow rate of the gas at standard conditions (20.degree. C., 1 atmosphere), and S is a difference between a cross section of the orifice and a cross section of the capillary at the orifice;
• and
• wherein an exposed length of the capillary between an external opening of the orifice and the tip of the capillary is between -0.25 mm and 1.2 mm.

A mass spectrometer comprising:

• a capillary through which a sample solution flows towards a tip of the capillary;
• a gas passage which produces a gas flow along the capillary towards an orifice of the gas passage;
• a gas supplier which supplies a gas to the gas passage so that the gas flow has a velocity effective for spraying the sample solution near the tip of the capillary;
• and
• an analyzer which analyzes a mass of gaseous ions formed from the sample solution sprayed by the gas flow;
• wherein the gas flow has a characteristic value F/S between 500 meters/second (m/s) and 600 m/s, where F is a flow rate of the gas at standard conditions (20.degree. C., 1 atmosphere), and S is a difference between a cross section of the orifice and a cross section of the capillary at the orifice;
• and
• wherein an exposed length of the capillary between an external opening of the orifice and the tip of the capillary is between -0.25 mm and 1.2 mm.

An ion source apparatus, comprising:

• a capillary for feeding a sample solution into a gas outside of said ion source apparatus;
• and
• an ion source having formed therein an orifice for receiving the tip of said capillary, said ion source including a portion which extends along the outer circumference of said capillary to said orifice to cause gas flow along the outer circumference of said capillary to the tip of said capillary;
• wherein said portion of said ion source that extends to said orifice is constructed according to a characteristic value F/S defining said gas flow as being within a predetermined range which includes a lower limit and an upper limit, where F is a flow rate of said gas at standard state (20.degree. C., 1 atm) and S is a cross section of a volume between said portion of said ion source and said capillary;
• wherein said sample solution fed into the gas outside of said ion source apparatus by said capillary is ionized by said gas flow, thereby generating ions;
• and
• wherein said ion source apparatus generates said ions without any other ion generating apparatus.

A method of generating ions, comprising the steps of:

• feeding, through a capillary, a sample solution into a gas;
• forming a gas flow along the outer circumference of said capillary to the tip of said capillary;
• and
• generating ions from said sample solution fed into the gas as a result of said gas flow;
• wherein said generating of ions is performed by an ion source, said ion source including
• an orifice which receives the tip of said capillary, and
• a portion which extends along the outer circumference of said capillary to said orifice to cause gas flow along the outer circumference of said capillary to the tip of said capillary;
• wherein the gas into which said sample solution is fed through said capillary is outside of said ion source;
• wherein said sample solution fed into the gas outside of said ion source through said capillary is ionized by said gas flow, thereby generating ions;
• wherein said ions are generated by said ion source without any other ion generating apparatus;
• and
• wherein said ion source is constructed such that said gas flow has a Mach number of at least 1 in the vicinity of the tip of said capillary.

A method of generating ions, comprising the steps of:

• feeding, through a capillary, a sample solution into a gas;
• forming a gas flow along the outer circumference of said capillary to the tip of said capillary;
• and
• generating ions from said sample solution fed into the gas as a result of said gas flow;
• wherein said generating of ions is performed by an ion source, said ion source including
• an orifice which receives the tip of said capillary, and
• a portion which extends along the outer circumference of said capillary to said orifice to cause gas flow along the outer circumference of said capillary to the tip of said capillary;
• wherein the gas into which said sample solution is fed through said capillary is outside of said ion source;
• wherein said sample solution fed into the gas outside of said ion source through said capillary is ionized by said gas flow, thereby generating ions;
• wherein said ions are generated by said ion source without any other ion generating apparatus;
• wherein said portion of said ion source that extends to said orifice is constructed according to a characteristic value F/S defining said gas flow as being within a predetermined range which includes a lower limit and an upper limit, where F is a flow rate of said gas at standard state (20.degree. C. 1 atm) and S is a cross section of a volume between said portion of said ion source and said capillary;
• and
• wherein said ion source is constructed such that said lower limit of said predetermined range of said characteristic value F/S is 200 meters/second (m/s) and said upper limit of said predetermined range of said characteristic value F/S is 1000 m/s.

An ion source apparatus comprising:

• a capillary through which a sample solution flows towards a tip of the capillary;
• a gas passage which produces a gas flow along the capillary towards an orifice of the gas passage, the orifice receiving the tip of the capillary;
• a gas supplier which supplies a gas to the gas passage so that the gas flow has a velocity effective for spraying the sample solution near the tip of the capillary;
• and
• a flow controller which adjusts a flow rate of the gas supplied by the gas supplier to the gas passage;
• wherein gaseous ions are produced from the sample solution sprayed by the gas flow;
• and
• wherein the gas flow has a characteristic value F/S between 350 meters/second (m/s) and 750 m/s, where F is a flow rate of the gas at standard conditions (20.degree. C., 1 atmosphere), and S is a cross section of a small volume which is formed between an inner circumference of the orifice and an outer circumference of the capillary.

An ion source apparatus comprising:

• a capillary through which a sample solution flows towards a tip of the capillary;
• a gas passage which produces a gas flow along the capillary towards an orifice of the gas passage, the orifice receiving the tip of the capillary;
• a gas supplier which supplies a gas to the gas passage so that the gas flow has a velocity effective for spraying the sample solution near the tip of the capillary;
• and
• a flow controller which adjusts a flow rate of the gas supplied by the gas supplier to the gas passage;
• wherein gaseous ions are produced from the sample solution sprayed by the gas flow;
• and
• wherein the gas flow has a characteristic value F/S between 400 meters/second (m/s) and 800 m/s, where F is a flow rate of the gas at standard conditions (20.degree. C., 1 atmosphere), and S is a cross section of a small volume which is formed between an inner circumference of the orifice and an outer circumference of the capillary.

An ion source apparatus comprising:

• a capillary through which a sample solution flows towards a tip of the capillary;
• a gas passage which produces a gas flow along the capillary towards an orifice of the gas passage, the orifice receiving the tip of the capillary;
• a gas supplier which supplies a gas to the gas passage so that the gas flow has a velocity effective for spraying the sample solution near the tip of the capillary;
• and
• a flow controller which adjusts a flow rate of the gas supplied by the gas supplier to the gas passage;
• wherein gaseous ions are produced from the sample solution sprayed by the gas flow;
• and
• wherein the gas flow has a characteristic value F/S between 500 meters/second (m/s) and 600 m/s, where F is a flow rate of the gas at standard conditions (20.degree. C., 1 atmosphere), and S is a cross section of a small volume which is formed between an inner circumference of the orifice and an outer circumference of the capillary.

A mass spectrometer comprising:

• a capillary through which a sample solution flows towards a tip of the capillary;
• a gas passage which produces a gas flow along the capillary towards an orifice of the gas passage, the orifice receiving the tip of the capillary;
• a gas supplier which supplies a gas to the gas passage so that the gas flow has a velocity effective for spraying the sample solution near the tip of the capillary;
• a flow controller which adjusts a flow rate of the gas supplied by the gas supplier to the gas passage;
• and
• an analyzer which analyzes a mass of gaseous ions produced from the sample solution sprayed by the gas flow;
• wherein the gas flow has a characteristic value F/S between 350 meters/second (m/s) and 750 m/s, where F is a flow rate of the gas at standard conditions (20.degree. C., 1 atmosphere), and S is a cross section of a small volume which is formed between an inner circumference of the orifice and an outer circumference of the capillary.

A mass spectrometer comprising:

• a capillary through which a sample solution flows towards a tip of the capillary;
• a gas passage which produces a gas flow along the capillary towards an orifice of the gas passage, the orifice receiving the tip of the capillary;
• a gas supplier which supplies a gas to the gas passage so that the gas flow has a velocity effective for spraying the sample solution near the tip of the capillary;
• a flow controller which adjusts a flow rate of the gas supplied by the gas supplier to the gas passage;
• and
• an analyzer which analyzes a mass of gaseous ions produced from the sample solution sprayed by the gas flow;
• wherein the gas flow has a characteristic value F/S between 400 meters/second (m/s) and 800 m/s, where F is a flow rate of the gas at standard conditions (20.degree. C., 1 atmosphere), and S is a cross section of a small volume which is formed between an inner circumference of the orifice and an outer circumference of the capillary.

A mass spectrometer comprising:

• a capillary through which a sample solution flows towards a tip of the capillary;
• a gas passage which produces a gas flow along the capillary towards an orifice of the gas passage, the orifice receiving the tip of the capillary;
• a gas supplier which supplies a gas to the gas passage so that the gas flow has a velocity effective for spraying the sample solution near the tip of the capillary;
• a flow controller which adjusts a flow rate of the gas supplied by the gas supplier to the gas passage;
• and
• an analyzer which analyzes a mass of gaseous ions produced from the sample solution sprayed by the gas flow;
• wherein the gas flow has a characteristic value F/S between 500 meters/second (m/s) and 600 m/s, where F is a flow rate of the gas at standard conditions (20.degree. C., 1 atmosphere), and S is a cross section of a small volume which is formed between an inner circumference of the orifice and an outer circumference of the capillary.