Abstract: A mass spectrometry apparatus, including a mass spectrometer and a sample plate. The mass spectrometer includes: a sample plate holder configured to hold a sample plate in an engaged position. The mass spectrometer is configured to perform a mass spectrometric analysis of a sample only when the sample is located on a sample plate that is held in the engaged position by the sample plate holder. The mass spectrometer includes one or more engagement features configured to engage with a sample plate so as to prevent the sample plate from being held in the engaged position by the sample plate holder unless the sample plate includes one or more engagement features configured to limit use of the sample plate to a specific analytical technique or a range of analytical techniques to be performed using the mass spectrometer.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method of extracting oxidized lipids from a lipid solution, the method comprising (a) a derivatisation step, comprising contacting a derivatisation agent with the lipid solution such that aldehydic oxidized lipids and/or ?,?-unsaturated oxidised lipids, if present in the lipid solution, are derivatised to include an anionic group, and (b) an oxidised lipid capture step, in which nanoparticles are contacted with the lipid solution, wherein the nanoparticles capture anionic-group containing oxidised lipids. The invention also includes a method of extracting aldehydic oxidized phospholipids from a lipid solution, the method comprising (a) a derivatisation step, comprising introduction of a anionic group to aldehydic oxidized lipids and/or ?,?-unsaturated oxidised lipids in the lipid solution, and (b) an oxidised lipid capture step, in which nanoparticles are contacted with the lipid solution, wherein the nanoparticles bind anionic-group containing oxidised lipids.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method of identifying microbial strains (e.g. from a cell culture), the method comprising; i) a lipid extraction step, comprising extraction of phospholipids from the microbe, suitably with an extraction composition comprising more than 50 vol % MeOH; ii) a sample preparation step, comprising preparation of a MALDI sample incorporating the extracted lipids; iii) a data gathering step, comprising performing MALDI-based mass spectrometry on the MALDI sample, and iv) a microbe identification step, comprising analysis of the mass spectrometry data to characterise or identify the microbial strain. Suitably the method also includes extracting proteins from the microbes and analysing the extracted proteins using MALDI-based mass spectrometry so as to obtain not only lipid m/z data but also protein m/z data.

Abstract: A method of cleaning an ion source. The method includes: at a first reflective surface of a mirror, reflecting light that has a wavelength in a first wavelength band onto a surface of the ion source so that contaminant material is desorbed from the surface of the ion source; at a second reflective surface of the mirror, reflecting light that has a wavelength in a second wavelength band and that comes from the surface of the ion source towards an imaging apparatus for producing an image of the surface of the ion source, wherein the light that has a wavelength in the second wavelength band passes through the first reflective surface of the mirror before being reflected at the second reflective surface of the mirror.

Abstract: A time of flight mass spectrometer that includes a first electrode; and a second electrode that is spaced apart from the first electrode. The ion source is configured to apply voltages to the first and second electrodes to produce an electric field in a region between the first and second electrodes so as to influence ions present in the region between the first and second electrodes when the mass spectrometer is in use. A shield is formed on the first electrode and/or second electrode. The shield is configured to inhibit an electric field formed between edges of the first and second electrodes from penetrating into the region between the first and second electrodes when the mass spectrometer is in use.

Abstract: A time of flight mass spectrometer that includes a first electrode; and a second electrode that is spaced apart from the first electrode. The ion source is configured to apply voltages to the first and second electrodes to produce an electric field in a region between the first and second electrodes so as to influence ions present in the region between the first and second electrodes when the mass spectrometer is in use. A shield is formed on the first electrode and/or second electrode.

Abstract: A method of cleaning an ion source. The method includes: at a first reflective surface of a mirror, reflecting light that has a wavelength in a first wavelength band onto a surface of the ion source so that contaminant material is desorbed from the surface of the ion source; at a second reflective surface of the mirror, reflecting light that has a wavelength in a second wavelength band and that comes from the surface of the ion source towards an imaging apparatus for producing an image of the surface of the ion source, wherein the light that has a wavelength in the second wavelength band passes through the first reflective surface of the mirror before being reflected at the second reflective surface of the mirror.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method of extracting oxidized lipids from a lipid solution, the method comprising (a) a derivatisation step, comprising contacting a derivatisation agent with the lipid solution such that aldehydic oxidized lipids and/or ?,?-unsaturated oxidised lipids, if present in the lipid solution, are derivatised to include an anionic group, and (b) an oxidised lipid capture step, in which nanoparticles are contacted with the lipid solution, wherein the nanoparticles capture anionic-group containing oxidised lipids. The invention also includes a method of extracting aldehydic oxidized phospholipids from a lipid solution, the method comprising (a) a derivatisation step, comprising introduction of a anionic group to aldehydic oxidized lipids and/or ?,?-unsaturated oxidised lipids in the lipid solution, and (b) an oxidised lipid capture step, in which nanoparticles are contacted with the lipid solution, wherein the nanoparticles bind anionic-group containing oxidised lipids.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of generating ions from a sample, the method comprising the steps of (1) designating a plurality of sample target sites, and (2) for each of said plurality of sample target sites, generating ions from a plurality of locations associated with the sample target site, wherein said plurality of locations are selected automatically with reference to the said sample target site. Each of the plurality of sample target sites is associated with a discrete sample region, wherein the sample is part of a MALDI ion source and the plurality of discrete sample regions comprise regions of matrix, suitably formed by chemical inkjet printing. The plurality of locations can be at least 5 and preferably at least 10 locations, each of which can be selected randomly or in accordance with a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with methods and apparatus for cleaning the surface of an ion source in a mass spectrometer, for example an electrode of a MALDI ion source. The method includes directing UV light onto the surface to desorb contaminant material. The UV light source can be a laser and a moving reflecting surface can be used to direct the light on to the surface.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method of identifying microbial strains (e.g. from a cell culture), the method comprising; i) a lipid extraction step, comprising extraction of phospholipids from the microbe, suitably with an extraction composition comprising more than 50 vol % MeOH; ii) a sample preparation step, comprising preparation of a MALDI sample incorporating the extracted lipids; iii) a data gathering step, comprising performing MALDI-based mass spectrometry on the MALDI sample, and iv) a microbe identification step, comprising analysis of the mass spectrometry data to characterise or identify the microbial strain. Suitably the method also includes extracting proteins from the microbes and analysing the extracted proteins using MALDI-based mass spectrometry so as to obtain not only lipid m/z data but also protein m/z data.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method of preparing a MALDI sample, the method comprising the steps of: (a) mixing a solid sample precursor comprising sample and matrix to form a solid sample mixture; (b) applying the solid sample mixture to a sample cavity of a MALDI target; and (c) compressing the solid sample mixture in the sample cavity so as to form a MALDI sample surface for laser desorption. The present invention also provides a MALDI target comprising a sample cavity for receiving a MALDI sample, the sample cavity having (a) a desorption end portion comprising an aperture, such that a portion of the MALDI sample exposed at the aperture is in use subjected to laser desorption; and wherein the sample cavity also has (b) a compression end portion adapted to permit compression of a solid sample mixture towards the desorption end portion in the sample cavity by applying a compression force to the solid sample mixture via the compression end portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a timing device, especially a timing device for use in mass spectrometers, for example TOF mass spectrometers, for processing trigger signal data containing a trigger signal indicating the occurrence of a trigger event, the timing device having: a trigger signal deserializer configured to receive trigger signal data containing a trigger signal indicating the occurrence of a trigger event as serial data and to output the trigger signal data as parallel data, and wherein suitably the timing device has a processing means configured to process trigger signal data outputted by the trigger signal deserializer as parallel data.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with methods and apparatuses for generating mass spectrum data using a mass spectrometer by subtracting noise mass spectrum data representative of noise in the mass spectrometer from signal mass spectrum data representative of the mass/charge ratio of ions in a sample material. This produces a modified signal mass spectrum data representative of the mass/charge ratio of ions in the sample material. The method includes acquiring and subtracting noise mass spectrum data representative of noise in the mass spectrometer or alternatively subtracting noise mass spectrum data from a previously acquired or pre-stored noise spectrum data. Embodiments demonstrate reduced noise and in particular reduced systematic noise compared with the originally acquired signal mass spectrum data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a timing device, especially a timing device for use in mass spectrometers, for example TOF mass spectrometers, for processing trigger signal data containing a trigger signal indicating the occurrence of a trigger event, the timing device having: a trigger signal deserialiser configured to receive trigger signal data containing a trigger signal indicating the occurrence of a trigger event as serial data and to output the trigger signal data as parallel data, and wherein suitably the timing device has a processing means configured to process trigger signal data outputted by the trigger signal deserialiser as parallel data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a timing device, especially a timing device for use in mass spectrometers, for example TOF mass spectrometers, for processing trigger signal data containing a trigger signal indicating the occurrence of a trigger event, the timing device having: a trigger signal deserialiser configured to receive trigger signal data containing a trigger signal indicating the occurrence of a trigger event as serial data and to output the trigger signal data as parallel data, and wherein suitably the timing device has a processing means configured to process trigger signal data outputted by the trigger signal deserialiser as parallel data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a timing device, especially a timing device for use in mass spectrometers, for example TOF mass spectrometers, for processing trigger signal data containing a trigger signal indicating the occurrence of a trigger event, the timing device having: a trigger signal deserialiser configured to receive trigger signal data containing a trigger signal indicating the occurrence of a trigger event as serial data and to output the trigger signal data as parallel data, and wherein suitably the timing device has a processing means configured to process trigger signal data outputted by the trigger signal deserialiser as parallel data.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electron spectroscopy apparatus (12) comprising a high energy particle source (12) for irradiating a sample, an electron detector system (16) (e.g. including a delay line detector) for detecting electrons emitted from the sample and an ion gun (8) for delivering a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) ion beam to the sample, wherein the ion gun comprises a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon ion source, for example comprising coronene. In an embodiment, the PAH is located in a heated chamber (22) and vaporised to produce gas phase PAH. The gas phase PAH molecules are then ionised by electron impact, extracted from the ion source via an extraction field and focussed using ion optics. The PAH ion beam can be used for surface cleaning and depth analysis.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with methods and apparatuses for generating mass spectrum data using a mass spectrometer by subtracting noise mass spectrum data representative of noise in the mass spectrometer from signal mass spectrum data representative of the mass/charge ratio of ions in a sample material. This produces a modified signal mass spectrum data representative of the mass/charge ratio of ions in the sample material. The method includes acquiring and subtracting noise mass spectrum data representative of noise in the mass spectrometer or alternatively subtracting noise mass spectrum data from a previously acquired or pre-stored noise spectrum data. Embodiments demonstrate reduced noise and in particular reduced systematic noise compared with the originally acquired signal mass spectrum data.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with methods and apparatus for cleaning the surface of an ion source in a mass spectrometer, for example an electrode of a MALDI ion source. The method includes directing UV light onto the surface to desorb contaminant material. The UV light source can be a laser and a moving reflecting surface can be used to direct the light on to the surface.