Intermittent/discontinuous sample introduction to an inductively coupled plasma torch

A method comprising:

• causing a sample pump to supply a first aliquot of a sample to a nebulizer during a first time interval, the nebulizer configured to receive a fluid sample and a nebulizer gas and aerosolize the fluid sample with the nebulizer gas;
• causing the sample pump to stop supplying the first aliquot of the sample at the end of the first time interval;
• causing the sample pump to supply at least substantially no sample to the nebulizer during a second time interval subsequent to the first time interval;
• causing the sample pump to supply a second aliquot of a sample to the nebulizer during a third time interval subsequent to the second time interval;
• causing a carrier syringe pump to supply a volume of carrier to be combined with the fluid sample in at least one of the first time interval or the third time interval;
• and
• causing a diluent syringe pump to supply a diluent to be combined with at least one of the fluid sample or the carrier in the at least one of the first time interval or the third time interval.

A method comprising:

• receiving a specified dilution for a fluid sample;
• causing a calculation of a volume of carrier to be combined with the fluid sample to furnish the specified dilution;
• causing a sample pump to supply a first aliquot of a sample to a nebulizer during a first time interval, the nebulizer configured to receive a fluid sample and a nebulizer gas and aerosolize the fluid sample with the nebulizer gas;
• causing the sample pump to stop supplying the first aliquot of the sample at the end of the first time interval;
• causing the sample pump to supply at least substantially no sample to the nebulizer during a second time interval subsequent to the first time interval;
• causing the sample pump to supply a second aliquot of a sample to the nebulizer during a third time interval subsequent to the second time interval;
• causing a carrier syringe pump to supply the volume of carrier to be combined with the fluid sample in at least one of the first time interval or the third time interval;
• automatically selectively adjusting the volume of carrier supplied by the carrier syringe pump in the at least one of the first time interval or the third time interval to furnish the specified dilution for the fluid sample;
• causing the carrier syringe pump to supply at least substantially no carrier during the second time interval;
• and
• causing a diluent syringe pump to supply a diluent to be combined with at least one of the fluid sample or the carrier in the at least one of the first time interval or the third time interval.

A system comprising:

• a nebulizer configured to receive a fluid sample and a nebulizer gas and aerosolize the fluid sample with the nebulizer gas;
• a sample pump configured to supply a first aliquot of a sample to the nebulizer during a first time interval, stop supplying the first aliquot of the sample at the end of the first time interval, supply at least substantially no sample to the nebulizer during a second time interval subsequent to the first time interval, and supply a second aliquot of a sample to the nebulizer during a third time interval subsequent to the second time interval;
• a carrier syringe pump configured to supply a volume of carrier to be combined with the fluid sample in at least one of the first time interval or the third time interval;
• and
• a diluent syringe pump configured to supply a diluent to be combined with at least one of the fluid sample or the carrier in the at least one of the first time interval or the third time interval.