Abstract: A drive unit for driving an acceleration electrode of a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The drive unit includes a power converter comprising a switching element and pulsing circuitry that can form output pulses suitable for driving an acceleration electrode of a mass spectrometer. The drive unit also includes a controller that is configured to synchronise operation of the switching element with the pulsing circuitry.

Abstract: Apparatus include an atmospheric pressure glow discharge (APGD) analyte electrode defining an analyte discharge axis into an APGD volume, and a plurality of APGD counter electrodes having respective electrical discharge ends directed to the APGD volume, wherein the APGD analyte electrode and the APGD counter electrodes are configured to produce an APGD plasma in the APGD volume with a voltage difference between the APGD analyte electrode and one or more of the AGPD counter electrodes. An electrode can be integrated into an ion inlet. Apparatus can be configured to perform auto-ignition and/or provide multi-modal operation through selectively powering electrodes. Electrode holder devices are disclosed. Related methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A novel method for cross-section sample preparation has a sample oriented normal to an SEM/GFIS or other imaging column via a stage, and is operated upon by an FIB to form the cross-section pre-lamella within the sample, followed by an approximate 90° rotation with no tilt of the stage for cut out by the FIB. Asymmetric trenches are milled to have a three-dimensional depth profile to ensure that the FIB has clear line of sight to a face of the resulting pre-lamella when the sample has been rotated. The three-dimensional depth profile further minimizes overall milling time required for the preparation of the pre-lamella.

Abstract: Inside a chamber (10) evacuated by a vacuum pump, a flight tube (12) is held via a support member (11) that is of insulation. The outside of the chamber (10) is surrounded by a temperature control unit (16) including a heater. A body (10a) of the chamber (10) is made of aluminum, and a coating layer (10b) by a black nickel plating is formed on the inner wall surface of the body (10a) of the chamber (10). Due to this, the radiation factor of the chamber (10) becomes higher than that of a conventional apparatus using only aluminum, and the thermal resistance of the radiation heat transfer path between the chamber (10) and the flight tube (12) becomes low, thus improving the temperature stability of the flight tube (12). Furthermore, the time constant of the temperature change of the flight tube (12) becomes small, thus reducing the time for the flight tube (12) to stabilize to a constant temperature.

Abstract: Methods are described for measuring the amount of C peptide in a sample. More specifically, mass spectrometric methods are described for detecting and quantifying C peptide in a sample utilizing on-line extraction methods coupled with tandem mass spectrometric or high resolution/high accuracy mass spectrometric techniques.

Abstract: An appliance disinfecting device with monitoring and safety interlock system that utilizes user detection and sensors to detect touch and can provide user feedback and decorative features. The device can include a UV transmissive material that provides disinfection of hard to reach surfaces or areas safely. The appliance disinfection device can include an automatic interlock to protect a user from UV exposure. The optics used for the UV disinfection allow the device to become a human interface. The device can be connected to the appliance control system which can be connected to a network and cloud interface.

Abstract: The invention is a UV sterilizing box structure. A box body has a round chamber, an inlet, and an outlet. The round chamber is formed with an arc-shaped guiding channel. A UV light module is disposed on a side of the box body. An external fluid enters the round chamber via the inlet and spirally flows through an inside of the round chamber along the arc-shaped guiding channel so as to make the fluid in the box body generate a flow with a specific direction and stay for enough time to be sufficiently irradiated by UV rays. Thereby, a better effect of sterilization may be obtained.

Abstract: A separation device separates an unknown intact mAb or reduced mAb subunits of a known mAb class from a sample. An ion source device ionizes the mAb. A mass spectrometer fragments the ionized mAb using an ECD device and mass analyzes resulting product ions using a mass analyzer, producing one or more product ion spectra. Theoretical product ion peaks are calculated for one or more constant portions of the mAb class. The theoretical product ion peaks are removed from the one or more product ion spectra, producing one or more difference product ion spectra. De novo sequencing is applied to the one or more difference product ion spectra, producing one or more candidate sequences for one or more variable portions of the mAb. A genome database is searched for matches to the one or more candidate sequences, producing one or more matched sequences for the one or more variable portions.

Abstract: The light irradiation device includes a light source supporter having a tubular shape is closed on a side of one end, a plurality of light-emitting elements placed on an outer wall surface of the light source supporter, a tubular body extending inside the light source supporter in an axial direction of the light source supporter, a first flow channel formed between the tubular body and the light source supporter and having an annular shape when viewed from the axial direction; and a second flow channel formed inside the tubular body, wherein the first flow channel and the second flow channel communicate with each other on a side of one end of the light source supporter, and the tubular body contains a material having a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of a material constituting an outer wall of the first flow channel.

Abstract: The apparatus is for use with an electron microscope, a sample, a source of high pressure gas and a vacuum pump system. The apparatus includes a holder part a body part and a Joule-Thomson refrigerator. The holder part is adapted to receive the sample and adapted to present the sample to the microscope for inspection in use. The body part defines a cavity, the cavity being evacuated by the vacuum pump system for use. The refrigerator is disposed within the cavity and thermally-coupled to the holder part, the refrigerator being coupled in use to the source of high pressure gas to maintain the sample at about a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: The probe drive unit (21) collects a sample (8) at the tip of the probe (6) by lowering and raising the probe (6) under the control of the control unit (25). After that, the high voltage generating unit (20) applies a high voltage whose voltage value increases in a slope shape to the probe (6), and meanwhile, the mass spectrometry unit behind the capillary tube (10) performs product ion scan measurements on the two-step probe voltage, and the mass spectrum data obtained in each measurement is stored in the first and the second probe voltage corresponding data storage units (301 and 302). When the ionization efficiencies of the plurality of types of components contained in the sample (8) have a probe voltage dependence, ion peaks derived from different types of components appear in the two mass spectra.

Abstract: A mass spectrometric system comprises an RF-device for transversely confining ions in an ion region using: (a) a first set of electrodes arranged parallel to one another along a direction of ion travel to define a first transverse boundary of the ion region, and that are supplied with a first RF-voltage such that opposite phases of the first RF-voltage are applied to adjacent electrodes of the first set; and (b) a second set of electrodes arranged parallel to one another along said direction of ion travel to define a second transverse boundary of the ion region, and that are supplied with a second RF-voltage such that opposite phases of the second RF-voltage are applied to adjacent electrodes of the second set, the first and second transverse boundaries being opposite each other in a transverse direction of the ion region and the first and second RF voltages having different frequencies.

Abstract: An example system includes an ion detector and a signal processing apparatus in communication with the ion detector. The ion detector is arranged to detect ions during operation of the system and to generate a signal pulse in response to the detection of an ion. The signal pulse has a peak amplitude related to at least one operational parameter of the system. The signal processing apparatus is configured to analyze signal pulses from the ion detector and determine information about the detected ions during operation of the system based on the signal pulses. The signal processing apparatus includes a discriminator circuit. The signal processing apparatus is programmed to vary a threshold of the discriminator circuit based on the at least one operational parameter of the system during operation of the system.

Abstract: A metrology method for use in determining one or more parameters of a three-dimensional patterned structure, the method including performing a fitting procedure between measured TEM image data of the patterned structure and simulated TEM image data of the patterned structure, determining a measured Lamellae position of at least one measured TEM image in the TEM image data from a best fit condition between the measured and simulated data, and generating output data indicative of the simulated TEM image data corresponding to the best fit condition to thereby enable determination therefrom of the one or more parameters of the structure.

Abstract: The improved mobile robot utilizes a cooperative wheeled support arrangement having a unique axle design that preferably cooperates with a base support module. A tri-axle is preferably used to support at least one omni-wheel on each axle section. Multiple omni-wheels on each section can be used for higher load applications. The tri-axle is of a fixed design and each wheel pivots on the individual axle section. Preferably, the axle sections are welded to each other.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a self-contained system that contains a plurality of target cartridges, automatically inserts a selected target cartridge into position for irradiation, advances a foil to facilitate irradiation over the target chamber, replaces the foil for additional irradiation (if desired), serves as a dissolution cell for retrieval of the irradiated material, removes the used target cartridge and inserts a new cartridge for subsequent cycles of operation. Consequently, only the dissolved target material and dissolution medium are transferred between the target system and any post processing cells/labs. Accordingly, a system is disclosed for processing a target material without disturbance to irradiated material (thereby eliminating risk of impurities) and without requiring manual access/intervention (thereby eliminating risk of exposure).

Abstract: An electron beam apparatus includes an electron optics system to generate an electron beam, an object table to hold the specimen at a target position so that a target portion of the specimen is irradiated by the electron beam, and a positioning device to displace the object table relative to the electron beam. The positioning device includes a stage actuator and a balance mass. The stage actuator exerts a force onto the object table to cause an acceleration of the object table. The force onto the object table results in a reaction force onto the balance mass. The balance mass moves in response to the reaction force. The positioning device enables the balance mass to move in a first direction in response to a component of the reaction force in the first direction.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a method for carrying out a time-resolved interferometric measurement comprising the steps of generating at least two coherent waves, overlapping said at least two coherent waves and producing an interference pattern, measuring the interference pattern for a given exposure time, thereby forming measured interference values, and analyzing the measured interference values and extracting amplitude and/or phase information from the measured interference values. In at least one time segment, hereinafter referred to as disturbed time segment, of the expo-sure time, the interference pattern is intentionally disturbed or destroyed such that the corresponding measured interference values describe a disturbed or destroyed interference pattern.

Abstract: A sample preparation method includes disposing a microcrystal on an electrically conductive grid, coating the microcrystal with an electrically conductive material to yield a coated microcrystal, milling the coated microcrystal with a first ion beam to yield a milled microcrystal, and polishing the milled microcrystal with a second ion beam to yield a polished microcrystal. A length of a side of the milled microcrystal is between about 250 nm and about 500 nm, and a length of the corresponding side of the polished microcrystal is between about 150 nm and about 250 nm. Assessing the crystal structure of the polished microcrystal includes rotating the polished microcrystal while accelerating electrons toward the polished microcrystal, diffracting the electrons from the polished microcrystal to yield a multiplicity of diffraction patterns, and assessing, from the multiplicity of diffraction patterns, the crystal structure of the polished microcrystal.

Abstract: The invention provides a mass spectrometry analysis method and a mass spectrometry system. During implementation of the mass spectrometry analysis method, intensity data of the daughter ions, a first parameter of the daughter ions associated with the first physicochemical property, and a second parameter of the daughter ions associated with the second physicochemical property are all recorded to form a spectrogram data set. In a deconvolution step, the spectrogram data set is deconvoluted to categorize the daughter ions from the same parent ion according to two-dimensional features including the first parameter and the second parameter. In the above manner, the mass spectrometry analysis method and the mass spectrometry system provided by the invention can detect ions that partially overlap spectral peaks of other ions significantly, thereby improving the qualitative and quantitative ability of data analysis for data independent acquisition.