Patent ID: 7473893

Claim:
A mass spectrometry system comprising: a mass spectrometer interface disposed adjacent an integrated ionization source, wherein the integrated ionization source includes an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) ionization source and an electrospray ionization (ESI) source: wherein the ICP ionization source includes an inner tube, a middle tube, and an outer tube, wherein the inner tube includes a capillary tube disposed therein for sample introduction, wherein the volume of the inner tube not occupied by the capillary tube allows a first gas to flow from a first end to a second end of the inner tube, wherein the middle tube allows a second gas to flow from a first end to a second end of the middle concentric tube, wherein the inner tube is disposed within the middle tube, wherein the outer tube allows a third gas to flow from a first end to a second end of the outer tube, wherein the middle tube is disposed within the outer tube, wherein a spiral load coil is disposed around the second end of the outer tube, wherein a radio frequency power source is in communication with to the spiral load coil; and wherein the ESI source includes the capillary tube, wherein the ESI source is operative to generate a potential difference across the capillary tube and the mass spectrometer interface.