Abstract: Correction of an angle of tilt of an ion beam front in a Time of Flight (TOF) mass spectrometer is described. In one aspect, an ion beam front tilt corrector can include an electrode that, when applied with a voltage, defines an equipotential channel of particular dimensions to allow for ions in different transverse positions along a transverse axis of the equipotential channel to have different traversal times.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is provided. The method comprises eluting a sample from a chromatography system, and calculating a desired maximum scan duration for the sample eluting from the chromatographic system based on a duration of a chromatographic peak of the sample as it elutes from the chromatography system, and a minimum number of scans per chromatographic peak to be performed. A maximum accumulation duration is calculated based on the desired maximum scan duration. The sample is ionised to produce sample ions using an ion source. The sample ions are directed along an ion path from the ion source to a mass analyser. A first set of mass analysis scans are performed. Each of the first set of mass analysis scans comprises: accumulating a portion of sample ions at a point along the ion path, wherein the portion of sample ions are accumulated for a duration not exceeding the maximum accumulation duration, and mass analysing the portion of sample ions using the mass analyser.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices to dissociate ions using one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). A mass spectrometer for ion dissociation includes an ion source for providing ions for dissociation, a mass analyzer, and a photodissociation (PD) device. The PD device includes an ion transport device. The ion transport device is configured perform one or more of: transporting the ions through the PD device, and trapping the ions within a region of the PD device. The PD device also includes one or more LEDs positioned to irradiate the ions in the PD device, resulting in fragmentation of the ions.

Abstract: A sample introduction system for a spectrometer comprises a desolvation region that receives or generates sample ions from a solvent matrix and removes at least some of the solvent matrix from the sample ions. A separation chamber downstream of the desolvation region has a separation chamber inlet communicating with the desolvation region, for receiving the desolvated sample ions along with non-ionised solvent and solvent ion vapours. The separation chamber has electrodes for generating an electric field within the separation chamber, defining a first flow path for sample ions between the separation chamber inlet and a separation chamber outlet. Unwanted solvent ions and non-ionised solvent vapours are directed away from the separation chamber outlet. The sample introduction system has a reaction chamber with an inlet communicating with the separation chamber outlet, for receiving the sample ions from the separation chamber and for decomposing the received ions into smaller products.

Abstract: A method for determining a compensation factor parameter, c, for controlling an amount of ions ionised that are injected from an ion storage unit into mass analyser, where c is an adjustment factor that is applied to optimized injection times that are based on an optimized visible charge of a reference sample, the method comprising: detecting at least one mass spectrum for at least one amount of injected ions; determining from the at least one detected mass spectrum, a slope, s(sample), of a linear correlation of a relative m/z shift with visible total charge Qv of detected mass spectra; determining the compensation factor c as c=s(reference)/s(sample) where s(reference) is the slope of a linear correlation between reference-sample relative m/z shift values and reference-sample visible charge values determined from a plurality of mass spectra detected from a plurality of respective pre-selected amounts of a clean reference sample.

Abstract: An ion transport system comprises: (I) an ion transfer tube extending between an atmospheric-pressure ionization chamber and a partially evacuated chamber; and (II) an ion funnel within the chamber comprising: (1) an exit electrode that has an exit aperture configured to deliver the gas and charged particles to a high-vacuum chamber; and (2) a funnel portion comprising a plurality of plate electrodes configured as a stack, each electrode comprising a respective aperture, wherein an aperture diameter of each of the plurality of electrodes is greater than or equal to three times an inter-electrode pitch and wherein no DC electrical potential gradient is applied between the exit electrode and an adjacent one of the plurality of plate electrodes.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometry method is described comprising: providing a sample; generating molecular ions from the sample; separating the molecular ions according to their mobility characteristics; fragmenting at least some of the separated molecular ions to form sub-molecular fragment ions in a fragmentation zone; separating at least some of the fragment ions according to their mobility characteristics; wherein the separation and fragmentation steps are performed at a pressure of at least 50 mbar; detecting at least some of the separated fragment ions; and identifying at least one molecular ion based on its mobility characteristics and/or the mobility characteristics of at least one detected fragment ion.

Abstract: A temperature-controlled electronic apparatus, comprises: a circuit board; a plurality of electronic components, mounted on the circuit board in an arrangement to form at least one electronic circuit; a temperature sensor, configured to measure a temperature of the at least one electronic circuit; and a heat-generating component, configured to be controlled by a temperature control circuit, the temperature control circuit being configured to control an amount of heat generated by the heat-generating component in response to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. The plurality of electronic components are arranged on the circuit board to lie on one of one or more paths, each path of the one or more paths being defined by a respective circle having a radius.

Abstract: A method for controlling the filling of an ion trap with a predetermined quantity of ions. The method comprises generating an ion current by transmitting ions along an ion path to an ion trap, such that ions are accumulated in the ion trap over a transmission time period, wherein the magnitude of the ion current varies in time. The method further comprises detecting at an ion detector at least some ions from the source of ions during a plurality of distinct sampling time intervals interspersed within the transmission time period, and setting the duration of the transmission time period based on the detection of ions at the ion detector. The time difference between the start of a sampling time interval and the start of an immediately subsequent sampling time interval is less than a timescale for variation of the magnitude of the ion current. A controller for controlling the filling of an ion trap with a predetermined quantity of ions and a mass spectrometer comprising the controller is also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for mass spectrometry. In one example, an an isotopologue of a target analyte is added to a sample. The the sample and isotopologue are analyzed as it elutes from a chromatography system to form precursor ions. The precursor ions are mass analysed using a data independent acquisition (DIA) methodology comprising performing mass analysis scans in the MS1 domain and performing mass analysis scans in the MS2 domain. Upon identifying that the isotopologue is eluting from the chromatography system, a plurality of target scans are performed, each having a target isolation window including a mass to charge ratio representative of the target analyte over the duration of a chromatographic peak of the isotopologue for at least one of identification and quantitation of the target analyte. The target scans are configured to provide additional quantitation data for the target analyte.

Abstract: A method of operating a mass spectrometer, comprising: generating ions from a sample; mass filtering the ions using a quadrupole mass filter having a set of selection parameters to transmit ions within at least one selected range of mass-to-charge ratios narrower than an initial range, wherein the quadrupole comprises four parallel elongate electrodes arranged in opposing pairs to which are applied RF and DC, wherein an attractive DC voltage is applied to one pair of opposing electrodes and a repulsive DC voltage is applied to the other pair; mass analysing or detecting the ions transmitted by the quadrupole mass filter; repeating the steps of generating ions, mass filtering and mass analysing or detecting multiple times; switching a configuration of the pairs of opposing electrodes to which the attractive DC voltage and the repulsive DC voltage are applied multiple times over the course of repeating the steps so that over long term operation the build-up of contamination on each pair of opposing electrodes i

Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes a controller operable to: transfer first ions of a first charge into an ion trap; apply an RF pseudopotential that radially confines the first ions in an elongate ion channel of the trap; generate a first potential well that confines the first ions within a first volume; after a specified pre-cooling time, transfer second ions of a second, opposite charge into the trap; apply one or more additional DC potentials that generate a second potential well that confines the second ions within a second volume, the first potential well being within the second potential well; cause, after cooling the second ions, the first ions and the second ions to interact and generate product ions; and generate at least one third potential well that confines the product ions, that is adjacent to the second potential well and that has a same polarity as the first potential well.

Abstract: A method of analyzing molecules, comprising: generating ions from a sample of molecules; cooling the generated ions below ambient temperature; fragmenting at least some of the cooled ions by irradiating the ions with light at a plurality of different wavelengths (?) within one or more predetermined spectral intervals; recording a fragment mass spectrum of the fragmented ions comprising a detected signal (I) versus m/z over a predetermined range of m/z values for each of the plurality of different wavelengths (?), thereby recording a two-dimensional dependency of the detected signal (I) on m/z and irradiation wavelength (?); and determining from the recorded two-dimensional dependency an identity of at least one of the generated ions and/or relative abundances of different generated ions and thereby determining an identity of at least of one of the molecules and/or relative abundances of different molecules in the sample.

Abstract: A method of injecting ions into an ion storage device, comprising: providing an RF trapping field in the ion storage device that defines a trapping volume in the ion storage device by applying one or more RF voltages to one or more trapping electrodes; providing a gas in the trapping volume; injecting ions into the trapping volume through an aperture in an end electrode located at a first end of the ion storage device, the end electrode having a DC voltage applied thereto; reflecting the injected ions at a second end of the ion storage device, opposite to the first end, thereby returning the ions to the first end; and ramping the DC voltage applied to the end electrode during the period between injecting the ions through the aperture and the return of the ions to the first end, such that by the time the ions return to the first end for a first time a potential barrier is established by the ramped DC voltage that prevents returning ions from striking the end electrode.

Abstract: A gas transfer system for transferring gas into an analytical instrument for isotope ratio analysis comprises a capillary for delivering sample and/or reference gas from a gas source, a first connector for connecting the capillary to the gas source, a second connector for connecting the capillary to the analytical instrument, a crimping device, wherein the internal surface of the capillary comprises a coating material to prevent or minimize adsorption of water to the surface. Also provided is a device for regulating gas flow in a gas inlet system of an analytical instrument, comprising a body member having an internal gas flow channel, and a clamping member for attachment to the body member such that when the clamping member is tightened onto the body member, the internal gas flow channel is adjustably and reversibly crimped, to adjust gas flow therethrough.

Abstract: A data independent acquisition method of mass spectrometry for analyzing a sample within a mass range of interest as it elutes from a chromatography system. The method comprises selecting precursor ions within a mass range of interest to be analyzed, performing at least one MS1 scan of the precursor ions using a first, high-resolution mass analyzer and performing a set of MS2 scans by segmenting the precursor ions into a plurality of precursor mass segments, each precursor mass segment having a mass range of no greater than 5 amu, and for each precursor mass segment fragmenting the precursor ions within that precursor mass segment and performing an MS2 scan of the fragmented ions using a time of flight mass analyzer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a mass spectrometer vacuum interface, the vacuum interface comprising an evacuated expansion chamber downstream of a plasma ion source wherein the expansion chamber is pumped by an interface vacuum pump to provide an interface pressure in the chamber; the method comprising using a controller to automatically, or according to user input, control the throughput of the interface vacuum pump to control the interface pressure dependent on one or more operating modes of the spectrometer.

Abstract: An interface for receiving ions in a carrier gas from an atmospheric pressure ion source at a spectrometer that is configured to analyse the received ions at a lower pressure includes an interface vacuum chamber having a downstream aperture; a support assembly defining an axial bore arranged to allow a removable capillary tube to extend therethrough; ions being received from the atmospheric pressure ion source through the capillary tube and directed towards the downstream aperture; and a jet disruptor, positioned downstream from the axial bore and configured to disrupt gas flow between the axial bore and the downstream aperture only when the capillary tube is not fully inserted through the axial bore.

Abstract: A protection device for an Optical Emission Spectrometer (OES) and a method of protecting a detector to which purge gas is supplied, in an OES, are disclosed. The protection device comprises a timer, which measures a parameter, such as a humidity value, indicative of a shut down time period following cessation of application of purge gas to the detector. The protection device comprises a processor, which determines a start-up time period, based on the parameter, during which purge gas is supplied to the detector prior to cooling of the detector. The processor may selectively trigger commencing or maintaining application of purge gas to the detector or cooling of the detector in dependence on the parameter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plasma sampling interface for an inductively coupled mass spectrometer, comprising a housing having entry and exit openings for respectively introducing and releasing ions from the chamber, and a sampler mounted on the housing so as to be disposed adjacent to plasma generated by an inductively coupled plasma source, wherein the entry opening is provided in a cooling plate that is integral to the housing and that is formed from bronze. Also disclosed is a bronze cooling plate for receiving and cooling a plasma sampler in an inductively coupled mass spectrometer, and a mass spectrometer that comprises a plasma sampling interface as disclosed.