Abstract: Breathable residual-limb system that admits air and allows sweat to evaporate from the surface of the residual limb. In an embodiment, the system comprises a liner sock to be worn on the residual limb, and comprising air-permeable textile forming a substantially cylindrical portion that is closed on a distal end and open on a proximal end and comprising an internal surface and an external surface. The liner sock further comprises a friction-interface material that covers only a portion of the internal surface of the air-permeable textile, such that, when worn on the residual limb, the friction-interface material contacts a surface of the residual limb, and an uncovered portion of the air-permeable textile which the friction-interface material does not cover allows air to pass between an external environment of the liner sock and the surface of the residual limb.

Abstract: An illumination method and device has a micro-wave powered plasma source contained by a windowless plasma containment structure. When incorporated as a photo-ionization device in an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS), the resolution of the spectrometer may be improved by operation at higher pressures and through selective ionization of elements and compounds. A gas flows into a discharge gap of a micro-wave ring resonator, but is restricted from flowing away by the windowless containment structure. When microwave power is supplied, the discharge gap is energized and a plasma initiated and sustained. Photons emitted by the plasma photo-ionize a sample gas. As the containment structure is windowless, the wavelength of the emitted radiation depends on the plasma-forming gas, not on the transmission characteristics of a window material. The range of substances in the sample that are ionized may be influenced by selecting the plasma-forming gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing ions in mass spectrometry is provided. The apparatus includes an ion processing cell having segmented multipole rods and a means for admitting reactive reagent ions to the cell. Provision for timed sequence control of RF and DC voltages to the segmented multipole rods is included. Processing includes trapping analyte ions and subjecting them to selected reactions with reactive reagent ions and/or physical manipulation of the ions by changing the characteristics of the electric field and/or creating discrete regions in the field.

Abstract: A method for processing ions in mass spectrometry is provided. The method provides for processing ions in a ion processing cell having elongated segmented rods, a circuit for applying RF voltages and a circuit for applying DC voltage selectively to the segments of the segmented rods. The method comprises applying an RF field to the elongated volume, applying DC voltage selectively to the segments to form a plurality of potential regions having discrete potentials; providing analyte ions to a first potential region and processing at least a portion of the analytes in the first potential region. In one embodiment, the potential region is a potential well.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for introducing ions into the primary ion path of a mass spectrometry system. In general, the device contains an electrical lens having a primary ion passageway and a secondary ion passageway that merges with the primary ion passageway. In certain embodiments, the electrical lens contains a first part and a second part that, together, form the primary ion passageway. The first part of the lens may contain the secondary ion passageway.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for aligning components of an ion optics system particularly as applied to mass spectroscopy apparatus. An apparatus comprises a base having a front face, a rear face and at least one side face, and at least two supports. Each of the supports has at least one face. Each of the supports is affixed to the base by alignment of a portion of at least one face of the base and a portion of at least one face of the support thereby resulting in the alignment of the supports relative to one another. At least one of the supports has attached thereto a component of an ion optics system for a mass spectrometer. In a mass spectroscopy apparatus the support mating faces and the base mating faces are configured and dimensioned such that, when the support mating faces are brought together in registration with the respective base mating faces, the components are optically aligned within acceptable tolerances. Also disclosed are apparatus for making electrical in high vacuum environments.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing ions is described. The apparatus includes an ion source, an ion trap positioned to receive ions from the ion source; a time of flight mass analyzer, and a detector operatively coupled to the time of flight. The time of flight mass analyzer includes a pulser region, and the pulser region is positioned to receive ions from the ion trap. The apparatus further includes a scanning delay timing circuit in operable relation to the pulser region. The scanning delay timing circuit is adapted to triggering an extraction pulse at the pulser region. Methods of analyzing ions by mass spectrometry are also described.

Abstract: A quartz quadrupole comprises a quartz substrate, conductive strips and low-conductivity strips. The substrate includes hyperbolic inner surfaces which provide the geometry for the conformed conductive strips to produce an appropriate electric field for mass filter operation. The use of quartz as a substrate material provides the thermal and electrical characteristics required by high performance mass filtering operations, including scanning mode operation to 800 amu and above. During such operation, potential field distortions by accumulated charge in cusp sections of the substrate are minimized by the low-conductivity strips, which are arranged to overlap longitudinal edges of the conductive strips. Formation of the quartz substrate is made possible by high precision machining, grinding and polishing of a refractory metal mandrel. The actual step of forming the substrate is simplified by the low thermal coefficient of expansion of the quartz.