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 reservoir containing a solvent;
• a first pump and a second pump for pumping the solvent, wherein the first and second pumps are coupled to the first valve and wherein a delivery flow rate of the first pump is greater than a 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;
• a transfer line connected to the second valve, wherein the injection system can deliver a sample to the transfer line via the second valve, and wherein the transfer line is also connected to the atmospheric-pressure ionization sprayer;
• and
• a voltage supply source coupled to the atmospheric-pressure ionization sprayer, wherein the first pump is used to flush the transfer line with solvent, and the second pump is used to cause solvent to push samples that have been preloaded from the injection system into the transfer line to be delivered through the transfer line for analysis.

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 buffer solution to the transfer line containing the sample, wherein the first flow of the buffer solution causes the sample to be delivered out of the transfer line;
• C. terminating the first flow;
• and
• D. rinsing the transfer line by directing a second flow of the buffer solution to the transfer line, wherein the flow rate of the second flow is greater than the flow rate of the first flow, and wherein the first flow is controlled by a first pump and the second flow is controlled by a second pump.

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

• a reservoir containing a solvent;
• a first pump and a second pump for pumping the solvent from the reservoir, wherein the first and second pumps are coupled to a first valve the first valve being connected to the reservoir, and wherein a delivery flow rate of the first pump is greater than a delivery flow rate of the second pump;
• a second valve coupled to the first valve;
• an injection system coupled to the second valve, wherein the injection system can deliver a sample to the second valve;
• a sample transfer line having two ends, the first end connected to the second valve and the second end connected to an atmospheric-pressure ionization sprayer of the atmospheric-pressure ionization source, wherein the first pump is used to flush the sample transfer line with solvent, and the second pump is used to cause solvent to push samples that have been preloaded from a sample source into the sample transfer line to be delivered through the sample transfer line for analysis.

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

• A. delivering a sample to a transfer line which is coupled to an ionization sprayer of an atmospheric-pressure ionization source;
• B. initiating a first flow of a buffer solution to the transfer line contalning the sample, wherein the first flow of the buffer solution causes the sample to be delivered out of the transfer line;
• 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;
• and
• G. rinsing the transfer line by directing a second flow of the buffer solution to the transfer line, wherein the flow rate of the second flow is greater than the flow rate of the first flow, and wherein the first flow is controlled by a first pump and the second flow is controlled by a second pump.