Abstract: There is provided a method of automatically identifying and characterizing spectral peaks of a spectrum generated by an analytical apparatus and reporting information relating to the spectral peaks to a user, comprising the steps of receiving the spectrum generated by the analytical apparatus; automatically subtracting a baseline from the spectrum so as to generate a baseline-corrected spectrum; automatically detecting and characterizing the spectral peaks in the baseline-corrected spectrum; and reporting at least one item of information relating to each detected and characterized spectral peak to a user. In embodiments, baseline model curve parameters or peak model curve parameters are neither input by nor exposed to the user prior to the reporting step.

Abstract: A system for recycling helium carrier gas comprises: a bladder, the bladder interior fluidically configured so as to receive helium-bearing gas output from at least one of a split vent and a septum purge vent of a gas chromatograph; a compartment containing the bladder; a source of pressurized air or gas operable so as to supply pressurized air or gas into the compartment interior so as to compress the bladder containing the helium-bearing gas; a gas reservoir fluidically coupled to the bladder interior so as to receive the helium bearing gas from the compressed bladder interior; and at least one gas purification module configured so as to receive the helium-bearing gas from the gas reservoir and operable to remove contaminants from the helium-bearing gas, an output of the at least one gas purification module being fluidically coupled to a carrier gas inlet of the gas chromatograph.

Abstract: An ion transfer tube for a mass spectrometer comprises a tube member having an inlet end and an outlet end; and at least one bore extending through the tube member from the inlet end to the outlet end, the at least one bore having a non-circular cross section. A method of forming an ion transfer tube comprises the steps of providing a tube member having a length and an internal bore, the internal bore having a wall of circular cross section; and etching or eroding portions of the tube member adjacent to the wall so as to form an enlarged bore having a non-circular cross section.

Abstract: A method of calibrating ion collision energy used in a mass spectrometer, comprises: (a) obtaining fragment ion yield data for each of a plurality of precursor ion populations having respective mass-to-charge ratios at each of a plurality of settings of a fragmentation-energy-related variable; (b) locating, for each mass-to-charge ratio, reference values of the fragmentation-energy-related variable, each reference value corresponding to a respective reference feature of the ion yield data at the mass-to-charge ratio; (c) determining, from the plurality of locating steps, the variation, with mass-to-charge-ratio, of each of the reference values of the fragmentation-energy-related variable; (d) associating each of the reference values of the fragmentation-energy related variable with respective reference values of a dimensionless useable-fragmentation-energy variable; and (e) storing parameters describing the variation of each of the reference values of the fragmentation-energy-related variable with mass-to-cha

Abstract: A method for analyzing a sample comprising the steps of: generating ions from the sample within an ionization chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure; entraining the ions in a background gas; transferring the background gas and entrained ions to an evacuated chamber of a mass spectrometer system using a single-piece capillary having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein a portion of the capillary adjacent to the outlet end comprises an inner diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of an adjoining portion of the capillary; and analyzing the ions using a mass analyzer of the mass spectrometer system.

Abstract: An electrospray ion source comprises a source of analyte-bearing liquid; a source of sheath gas; a plurality of liquid conduits, each configured so as to receive a portion of the analyte-bearing liquid; at least one electrode associated with the plurality of liquid conduits for producing electrospray emission of charged droplets from an outlet of each of the liquid conduits; a power supply electrically coupled to the at least one electrode for maintaining the at least one electrodes at an electrical potential; and either one or a plurality of sheath gas conduits, each sheath gas conduit comprising an inlet configured to receive sheath gas and an outlet configured to emit a sheath gas flow that circumferentially surrounds, in at least two dimensions, a portion of the emitted charged droplets.

Abstract: An electrospray ion source apparatus comprises: a plurality of emitter capillaries, each comprising an internal bore for transporting a portion of a liquid sample from a source, an electrode portion for providing a first applied electric potential and an emitter tip for emitting charged particles generated from the liquid sample portion; a counter electrode for providing a second applied electric potential different from the first applied electric potential; and at least one shield electrode disposed at least partially between the counter electrode and the emitter tip of at least one of the emitter capillaries for providing a third applied electric potential intermediate to the first and second applied electric potentials, wherein the at least one shield electrode is configured such that provision of the third applied electric potential to the at least one shield electrode provides a uniformity of emission of charged particles from the plurality of emitter tips.

Abstract: An electrospray ion source for a mass spectrometer includes an electrode comprising at least a first plurality of protrusions protruding from a base, each protrusion of the at least a first plurality of protrusions having a respective tip; a conduit for delivering an analyte-bearing liquid to the electrode; and a voltage source, wherein, in operation of the electrospray ion source, the analyte-bearing liquid is caused to move, in the presence of a gas or air, from the base to each protrusion tip along a respective protrusion exterior so as to form a respective stream of charged particles emitted towards an ion inlet aperture of the mass spectrometer under application of voltage applied to the electrode from the voltage source.

Abstract: A system for analyzing ions comprises: an ion source; a FAIMS cell comprising: (a) a gas inlet; (b) an outer electrode having a generally concave inner surface and comprising: (i) an ion inlet operable to receive the ions from the ion source and a carrier gas from the gas inlet; and (ii) an ion outlet; and (c) an inner electrode having a conduit therethrough and having a generally convex outer surface that is disposed in a spaced-apart and facing arrangement relative to the inner surface of the outer electrode for defining an ion separation region therebetween; and a mass analyzer for mass analyzing ions transmitted by the FAIMS cell through the ion outlet, wherein the inner electrode is moveable between a first position and a second position, the first position facilitating movement of the ions through the ion separation region, the second position facilitating movement of the ions through the conduit.

Abstract: A method for acquiring and analyzing polypeptide mass spectra comprising: creating first and second sets of fragmented ions using first and second fragmentation techniques; obtaining mass spectra of the first and second sets of fragmented ions; searching a database of fragments of a first fragment pair type and of a second fragment pair type to respectively provide a set of M ranked and a set of N ranked best matching polypeptide sequences; subtracting synthetic spectra corresponding to each of the M and N ranked sequences from the mass spectra to provide first and second sets of modified mass spectra; searching the database of fragments of the second fragment pair type and of the first fragment pair type to provide third and fourth sets of polypeptide sequences providing best matches to the first and second sets of modified spectra, respectively; and creating a cumulative ranking of the third and fourth sets.

Abstract: A method for tracking a variable resonance condition in a plasma coil during creation of plasma from a gas flowing in a plasma torch adjacent to the plasma coil comprises: providing a radio-frequency (RF) power source comprising a power amplifier that generates a radio-frequency power signal with an adjustable operating frequency; providing a high-voltage ignition charge from said RF power source to the gas in plasma torch so as to create an electrical discharge through said gas so as to create a test sample comprising a partial plasma state within said plasma torch; and applying an RF power signal from said plasma coil to said test sample in said plasma torch, wherein said adjustable operating frequency of said power amplifier tracks said variable resonance condition of said plasma coil such that said test sample in the plasma torch achieves a full plasma state.

Abstract: An ion gate apparatus for controlling the transmission of ion pulses between an origin and a destination in a mass spectrometer is disclosed, comprising: a first split gate having a length L1, comprising a first electrode portion; and a second electrode portion electrically insulated from the first electrode portion and separated from the first electrode portion so as to form a first aperture therebetween; a second split gate disposed adjacent to the first split gate at a distance d from the first split gate and having a length L2, comprising a third electrode portion; and a fourth electrode portion electrically insulated from the third electrode portion and separated from the third electrode portion so as to form a second aperture therebetween; a first voltage source electrically connected to said first electrode portion and to said second electrode portion; a second voltage source electrically connected to said third electrode portion and to said fourth electrode portion; and a controller electrically conne

Abstract: There is provided a method of automatically identifying and characterizing spectral peaks of a spectrum generated by an analytical apparatus and reporting information relating to the spectral peaks to a user, comprising the steps of: receiving the spectrum generated by the analytical apparatus; automatically subtracting a baseline from the spectrum so as to generate a baseline-corrected spectrum; automatically detecting and characterizing the spectral peaks in the baseline-corrected spectrum; and reporting at least one item of information relating to each detected and characterized spectral peak to a user. In embodiments, baseline model curve parameters or peak model curve parameters are neither input by nor exposed to the user prior to the reporting step.