Abstract: An API source for mass spectrometry which is configured such that all or a portion of its vacuum assembly, including ion focusing and transport electrostatic lenses and ion guides, and two or more vacuum stages can be removed from the source or system vacuum housing as a complete assembly. The API source may be an ES, APCI or ICP source, or any other ion source which operates at substantially atmospheric pressure. The insert assembly can be electrically isolated from the grounded vacuum housing to enable the delivery of kilovolt potential ions into a magnetic sector mass analyzer from the API source. The insert assemblies can be configured to interface to quadrupole, Time-Of-Flight, ion trap, Fourier Transform, and magnetic sector mass analyzers. Electrical connections can be configured internally to make and break automatically when said insert assembly is inserted or removed from the surrounding vacuum housing.

Abstract: An Atmospheric Pressure Ion (API) source is configured for Electrospray (ES) and Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) operating modes. The API source includes a multipurpose heater assembly mounted in the API source chamber. The multipurpose heater supplies heat to the API chamber endplate, bath gas and entrance end of the capillary orifice into vacuum as well as supplying electrical connections to the API source elements. An additional heater is configured at the exit end of the capillary orifice into vacuum. With this configuration, the bath gas, endplate and capillary entrance temperature can be set independent of gas flow rate. The capillary exit and entrance temperatures can be set independently as well. The multipurpose endplate heater combined with the capillary exit heater allows the optimization of API source performance over a wide range of operating conditions and analytical applications.

Abstract: A miniature multipole rod assembly, an apparatus and a technique for constructing such an assembly used for ion guide and mass spectrometers.

Abstract: Improvements have been made to the Electrospray and Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization source chambers interfaced to mass spectrometers to simplify source performance optimization and source operation and to improve system sensitivity. The atmospheric pressure ion source procedure for optimizing performance has been simplified by adding windows along the sides of the atmospheric pressure ionization chamber allowing direct viewing of the Electrospray and Atmospheric pressure ion sources during operation. A cylindrical lens which extends along the side walls of the atmospheric pressure chamber has been configured to be semitransparent for viewing into the chamber. This cylindrical shaped side lens is electrically isolated from the Electrospray liquid introduction needle and Electrospray chamber endplate.

Abstract: A miniature multipole rod assembly which can be operated as an ion guide or a mass analyzer is constructed by bonding individual rods directly to plates which are separated by ceramic insulators. The multipole rod assemblies are constructed by using a fixture which locates and orients all elements during the process or bonding the rods to the disks.

Abstract: Improvements have been made to the Electrospray and Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization source chambers interfaced to mass spectrometers to simplify source performance optimization and source operation and to improve system sensitivity. The atmospheric pressure ion source procedure for optimizing performance has been simplified by adding windows along the sides of the atmospheric pressure ionization chamber allowing direct viewing of the Electrospray and Atmospheric pressure ion sources during operation. A cylindrical lens which extends along the side walls of the atmospheric pressure chamber has been configured to be semitransparent for viewing into the chamber. This cylindrical shaped side lens is electrically isolated from the Electrospray liquid introduction needle and Electrospray chamber endplate.