Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Atmospheric-pressure Molecular Imaging of Biological Tissues and Biofilms by LAESI Mass Spectrometry
Published on: September 3, 2010
A pulsed pinhole atmospheric pressure interface for simplified mass spectrometry instrumentation with enhanced
Yongzheng Wei1, Cunjuan Bian1, Zheng Ouyang2
1School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China.
Rationale:
A proof-of-concept pulsed pinhole atmospheric pressure interface, namely PP-API, was developed and characterized for mass spectrometry instrumentation.
Methods:
The PP-API was analyzed and optimized theoretically with respect to gas flow rate, opening force and dimensions. A PP-API interfaced mass spectrometry system was then constructed and tested.
Results:
As a discontinuous pressure interface, the PP-API allows efficient ion transfer from atmosphere pressure ionization sources to ion traps directly. Both nano-ESI and APCI ionization sources have been successfully integrated with the PP-API interface for the detection of volatile, organic, peptide and polymer samples. The use of multiple ionization sources has also been demonstrated to enhance signal intensity, as well as avoid charge competitions in ionization sources.
Conclusions:
With simplified geometry and high ion transfer efficiency, this PP-API would enable miniaturized mass spectrometry systems with high sensitivity.
Related Concept Videos
Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP–MS): Overview
Mass Analyzers: Overview
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Mass Spectrometers
Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Instrumentation
There are three main types of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) instruments: sequential, simultaneous multichannel, and Fourier transform instruments, with the latter being less commonly used....
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS): Interferences

