Patent ID: 8003934

Claim:
A method of generating sample ions comprising: Introducing at an injection site a liquid containing at least one sample molecule into a sample ion generating device which is operably connected to an ion analytical device; Causing the at least one sample molecule to travel generally along a first axis from the injection site to the ion analytical device; While the at least one sample molecule is traveling generally along the first axis, subjecting the at least one sample molecule to a spacially sequential gas flow that is in one instance generally axisymmetrically radially inwardly flowing in relation to the first axis and in another instance generally axisymmetrically radially outwardly flowing in relation to the first axis; and at a point at which the at least one sample molecule is subjected to the spacially sequential gas flow, subjecting the at least one sample molecule to an electrostatic field such that the electrostatic field is superposed on a pneumatic field representing the spacially sequential gas flow in a controlled manner such that the electrostatic and pneumatic fields collectively substantially determine the transport of the at least one sample molecule along the first axis.