Abstract

A mass spectrometric analysis system is disclosed. The system preferably includes a microfabricated electrospray device formed at least in part by reactive-ion etching and a mass spectrometer which includes a sampling orifice. The electrospray device preferably includes at least one nozzle integrated in a substrate for ejecting at least one analyte at the mass spectrometer and at least one electrode for applying at least one electric potential for generating and controlling an electric field at the nozzle to direct the analyte ejected from the nozzle into the sampling orifice. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is silicon. In another preferred embodiment, the system also includes an array of nozzles positioned such that an electrospray ejected from each nozzle sprays directly into the mass spectrometer sampling orifice with no translational movement of the electrospray device after initial positioning. In a third preferred embodiment, the system includes controlling circuitry which is integrated on the substrate. In yet another embodiment, the system also includes an external means of translating the microfabricated electrospray device from one position to another position. The external means positions the microfabricated device with respect to the mass spectrometer sampling orifice such that a specified nozzle is positioned to eject its electrospray from the specified nozzle into the sampling orifice. The external means also preferably positions any of the nozzles in any sequence or pattern to eject, in turn, their individual electrosprays into the sampling orifice.