Abstract: An apparatus including an ion injector having an inlet and an outlet and a micro-corona ionizer positioned between the inlet and the outlet of the ion injector. A drift and separation channel having a first end and a second end is positioned with the first end coupled to outlet of the ion injector, and an ion detector is coupled to the second end of the ion separation and drift channel. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A multi reflection time of flight (MRTOF) mass spectrometer (12) And method for identifying a sample is disclosed. Sample ions are generated at an ion source (15). The MRTOF is a closed mirror arrangement with first and second opposed ion mirrors (20, 20?) on an axis of reflection (XX?). The MRTOF (12) also includes a bidirectional ion deflector (50) on that axis (XX?). The deflector (50) deflects ions onto the reflection axis as a short pulse at time to <zero> where they oscillate multiple times, separating in time of flight according to ion m/z. At a later time t, ions travelling in both directions along the axis (XX?) are ejected out of the MRTOF (12) by the bidirectional deflector (50) to an ion detector arrangement (55). The separation of ions in time of flight allows a “fingerprint” of a biological sample to be produced by the detector arrangement (55) without the need to assign a mass to each peak. Comparison with a library of fingerprints permits identification.

Abstract: The invention relates to the voltage supply of mass spectrometers, particularly electrostatic Kingdon ion analyzers, requiring extremely noise-free operating voltages. The invention proposes the use of passive charge storage devices, which operate without any feedback control and display no measureable noise or ripple if they are well shielded, instead of the usual actively operating high-voltage generators. Chemical charge storage devices or capacitors with good insulation can be used for this purpose. These may display slight voltage decreases due to continuous discharge, depending on their quality, but these decreases can be mathematically compensated.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for acquiring spectrometric data from analyte ions implement transient-level data acquisition and peak correction in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Transient spectra including analyte peaks and reference mass peaks are recorded, from which a set of averaged peak centroids of the reference masses is generated. The peaks of reference masses in each transient spectrum are compared to the averaged peak centroids. From this comparison, an appropriate correction function is applied to each transient spectrum to correct the positions of the analyte peaks in each transient spectrum. The corrected transient spectra are then summed to obtain a corrected averaged spectrum.

Abstract: Gene detecting methods without using PCR are disclosed. The methods comprise forming sandwich complexes by target genes with nano-probes and capture probes, wherein nano-probes are modified with recognition molecules and magnetic microparticles modified with capture molecules; then separating the sandwich complexes; releasing the nano-probes; and detecting molecular ion peaks of encoding molecules on the surface of nano-probes by mass spectrometric detection directly, characterized in that the proportions of recognition molecules and encoding molecules on the nano-probes are 300-2000:1.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mass spectrometer for analyzing a sample that has or is suspected of having microorganisms. The disclosed mass spectrometer has been uniquely configured to include a sample platform which functions as a counter electrode or discharge electrode and a surface to provide the sample to be analyzed. The mass spectrometer also includes an ion source positioned adjacent to the sample platform for ionizing and volatizing molecules within the sample, wherein the sample platform and the ion source are positioned such that during operation of the mass spectrometer an electrical discharge takes place between the ion source and the sample platform. Also disclosed are methods for generating a mass spectrum profile/fingerprint of a sample. The methods include positioning a sample platform having a sample adjacent to an ion source.

Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) ion sensor system for monitoring an angular distribution of ion species having an ion energy and incident on a substrate includes a drift tube wherein the ion sensor system is configured to vary an angle of the drift tube with respect to a plane of the substrate. The drift tube may have a first end configured to receive a pulse of ions from the ion species wherein heavier ions and lighter ions of the pulse of ions arrive in packets at a second end of the drift tube. An ion detector may be disposed at the second end of the ion sensor, wherein the ion detector is configured to detect the packets of ions derived from the pulse of ions and corresponding to respective different ion masses.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ion collection device for an ion mobility spectrometer and an ion mobility spectrometer. The ion collection device comprises: an aperture grid for restraining influence of ion drift movement in a drift region on ion collection; and a first electrode disposed at a downstream side of the aperture grid in an ion drift direction, the first electrode is mechanically and electrically coupled with the aperture grid. With the above configuration, the aperture grid and the first electrode are at the same electric potential, and form a focusing electrical field with an ion collection part. Therefore, ions entering the collection region will not scatter into a shield cover.

Abstract: An MCP unit of the present invention has a triode structure with a structure to achieve a desired time response characteristic independent of restrictions from a channel diameter of MCP, and is provided with an MCP group, a first electrode, a second electrode, an anode, and an acceleration electrode. Particularly, the MCP unit further comprises a ring member between the acceleration electrode and the anode, as s restriction structure for confining reflected electrons emitted from the anode in response to incidence of secondary electrons from the MCP group, within a space between the acceleration electrode and the anode.

Abstract: An MCP unit of the present invention has a triode structure with a structure to achieve a desired time response characteristic independent of restrictions from a channel diameter of MCP, and is provided with an MCP group, a first electrode, a second electrode, an anode, and an acceleration electrode. Particularly, the MCP unit further comprises an electron lens structure for confining reflected electrons emitted from the anode in response to incidence of secondary electrons from the MCP group, within a space between the acceleration electrode and the anode.

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 disposed in a spaced-apart and facing arrangement relative to the inner surface of the outer electrode defining at least one annular on 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 and second positions facilitating movement of the ions through the at least one annular ion separation region and the conduit, respectively.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for transferring ions for analysis. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a system for analyzing a sample including an ionizing source for converting molecules of a sample into gas phase ions in a region at about atmospheric pressure, an ion analysis device, and an ion transfer member operably coupled to a gas flow generating device, in which the gas flow generating device produces a laminar gas flow that transfers the gas phase ions through the ion transfer member to an inlet of the ion analysis device.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry system is mounted with (1) an action planning module for determining a measurement schedule provided by a combination of an MS analysis and an MSn analysis (where n?2) according to a measuring time provided previously; and (2) a mass spectrometry unit having a tandem mass spectrometry function for outputting a mass spectrum obtained by performing each measurement action constructing the measurement schedule.

Abstract: Methods and devices for mass spectrometry are described, specifically the use of nanoparticulate implantation as a matrix for secondary ion and more generally secondary particles. A photon beam source or a nanoparticulate beam source can be used a desorption source or a primary ion/primary particle source.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a detection apparatus for detecting charged particles having a secondary particle generator for generating secondary charged particles in response to receiving incoming charged particles, a charged particle detector for receiving and detecting secondary charged particles generated by the secondary particle generator, a photon generator for generating photons in response to receiving secondary charged particles generated by the secondary particle generator, and a photon detector for detecting the photons generated by the photon generator.

Abstract: A flight-of-time mass spectrometer is offered which can provide a variable range of collisional energies that can be made wider than heretofore. Also, a method of controlling this spectrometer is offered. The spectrometer has an ion source, a first mass analyzer, an ion gate, a potential lift, a collisional cell, a second mass analyzer, a detector, and a potential control portion for controlling the potential on the potential lift. When the precursor ions selected by the ion gate enter the potential lift, the potential control portion sets the potential on the conductive box at V1. When the potential on the potential lift is varied, the potential control portion varies the potential on the potential lift from V1 to V2 while precursor ions are traveling through the potential lift.

Abstract: Methods are provided for detecting the amount of one or more CAH panel analytes (i.e., pregnenolone, 17-OH pregnenolone, progesterone, 17-OH progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, testosterone, deoxycorticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, and cortisol) in a sample by mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve ionizing one or more CAH panel analytes in a sample and quantifying the generated ions to determine the amount of one or more CAH panel analytes in the sample. In methods where amounts of multiple CAH panel analytes are detected, the amounts of multiple analytes are detected in the same sample injection.

Abstract: A time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes an ion source that generates ions. A two-field ion accelerator accelerates the ions through an ion flight path. A pulsed ion accelerator focuses the ions to a first focal plane where the ion flight time is substantially independent to first order of an initial velocity of the ions prior to acceleration. An ion reflector focuses ions to a second focal plane where the ion flight time is substantially independent to first order of an initial velocity of the ions prior to acceleration. An ion detector positioned at the second focal plane detects the ions. The two-field ion accelerator and the ion reflector cause the ion flight time to the ion detector for the ion of predetermined mass-to-charge ratio to be substantially independent to first order of both the initial position and the initial velocity of the ions prior to acceleration.

Abstract: A mass spectrometric device of the present invention includes a quadrupole filter (12) located upstream of a quadrupole ion trap (13) and configured to transmit ions in a predetermined filter range, and determines the filter range of the quadrupole filter (12) such that accumulation time for the ions in the quadrupole ion trap (13) is maximized. The accumulation time for the ions is determined based on mass spectrometry data information. With this configuration, the present invention produces advantageous effects of improving analysis throughput and an S/N ratio in an analysis of a minor sample component mixed in various accompanying components by using the mass spectrometric device using the quadrupole ion trap.

Abstract: A method of reflecting ions in a multireflection time of flight mass spectrometer is disclosed. The method includes guiding ions toward an ion mirror having multiple electrodes, and applying a voltage to the ion mirror electrodes to create an electric field that causes the mean trajectory of the ions to intersect a plane of symmetry of the ion mirror and to exit the ion mirror, wherein the ion are spatially focussed by the mirror to a first location and temporally focused to a second location different from the first location. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An elemental flow cytometer includes a device to vaporize, atomize, and ionize material and an introduction system for introducing packets of discrete entities into said device to vaporize, atomize and ionize materials to vaporize, atomize and ionize the entities in the packets. A spectrometer is adapted to individually analyze elemental composition of one or more of the vaporized, atomized and excited or ionized packets.

Abstract: A detector for time of flight mass spectroscopy uses a microwave resonant cavity excited into resonance by the passage of charged particles as an ion detector. With proper configuration of the frequency of resonance of the cavity, its modes and its quality factor, nanosecond time resolution, should be possible.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide means for solving troubles. Examples of the troubles include sensitivity degradation and resolution degradation of a mass spectrometer, which are caused by an axis deviation of a component, particularly at least one orifice located between an ion source and a detector, to decrease the number of ions reaching the detector, and a variation in performance caused by exchange of components such as the orifice. For example, the invention has the following configuration in order to solve the troubles. A mass spectrometer includes: an ion source; a detector that detects an ion; an orifice and a mass separator that are disposed between the ion source and the detector; and an axis adjusting mechanism that adjusts axis positions of the orifice and/or the mass separator such that an opening of the orifice and/or an incident port of the mass separator is disposed on a line connecting the ion source and an incident port of the detector.

Abstract: Provided is a time-of-flight mass spectrometer having a reflectron which eliminates energy dependency of the flight time of ions having the same m/z while ensuring a high degree of design freedom. An electric field created by the reflectron is virtually divided into a decelerating region for decelerating ions and a reflecting region for reflecting ions. For an ion having a mass-to-charge ratio which has departed with initial energy higher than Ud, the total flight time required for the ion to travel through a free-flight region and the decelerating region into the reflecting region and return will be equal to the total flight time required for an ion of the same mass-to-charge ratio to make a round trip in which the ion turns around at a point of the reference potential value at the boundary between the decelerating region and the reflecting region or in the decelerating region.

Abstract: A High Field Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS) apparatus comprises (a) a first and a second gas inlet; (b) an expansion chamber receiving ions from an ion source and the first and second gas flows from the first and second gas inlets, respectively; (c) an outer electrode having a generally concave inner surface and comprising: (i) an ion inlet operable to receive, from the expansion chamber, the ions and a combined gas flow comprising portions of the first and second gas flows; and (ii) an ion outlet; and (d) an inner electrode 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, wherein the combined gas flow and a portion of the ions travel through the ion separation region from the ion inlet to the ion outlet.

Abstract: Time-to-digital converters adapted to analog and digital inputs and methods of use are described. A time-to-digital converter has an event frame latches and logic module with memory cells, an analog front-end module connected to the memory cells, and a bin increment generator module connected to the memory cells. The bin increment generator is configured to issue bin increments separated by a time increment, and the analog front end is configured to issue a start event followed by a plurality of stop events. Upon receipt of a first time increment following a start event, the event frame latches and logic module updates a first memory cell with a first bit-type; upon receipt of a second time increment following an intervening stop event, the event frame latches and logic module updates a second memory cell with a second bit-type different from the first bit-type.

Abstract: A Time of Flight mass analyser is disclosed comprising one or more devices arranged and adapted to correct for tilt in an isochronous plane of ions and to adjust the isochronous plane of the ions so as to be parallel with the plane of detection in an ion detector.

Abstract: An embodiment with a dual-stage reflectron is as follows: (1) On the assumption that a reflector has a base potential XA(U) created by uniform electric fields, its design parameters are adjusted so as to cancel the first and second order derivatives at energy E=E0 of a total time of flight T(E), and a second-order focusing position on a central axis at which the potential value becomes zero is determined (Mamyrin solution). (2) A correcting potential XC(U) to be superposed on XA(U), beginning from the second-order focusing position, is calculated so that T(E) of ions reflected in a region deeper than the second-order focusing position will be constant. (3) Voltage values of the reflector electrodes are determined so that a real potential XR(U)=XA(U)+XC(U) is created on the central axis.

Abstract: An ion mobility tube comprises an ionization source chamber having a center ionization source chamber hole, an ion door, a mobility region unit having a center mobility tube chamber, a constraining grid, and a Faraday disk, and the ionization source chamber, the ion door, the mobility region unit, the constraining grid, and the Faraday disk are laminated together in sequence in a front-rear direction, wherein the mobility region unit comprises a first insulator and first metal electrode sheets concentrically fixed to a front surface and a back surface of the first insulator respectively. The mobility region unit comprises the first insulator and the first metal electrode sheets which are integral. Therefore, the ion mobility tube is advantageous in simplified manufacturing, and convenient for detachment and assembly.

Abstract: A method of separating charged particles using an analyzer is provided, the method comprising: causing a beam of charged particles to fly through the analyzer and undergo within the analyzer at least one full oscillation in the direction of an analyzer axis (z) of the analyzer whilst orbiting about the axis (z) along a main flight path; constraining the arcuate divergence of the beam as it flies through the analyzer; and separating the charged particles according to their flight time. An analyzer for performing the method is also provided. At least one arcuate focusing lens is preferably used to constrain the divergence, which may comprise a pair of opposed electrodes located either side of the beam.

Abstract: A method of processing mass spectral data is disclosed comprising digitising a first signal output from an ion detector to produce a first digitised signal. A first set of peaks in the first digitised signal is detected and the arrival time To and peak area So of one or more peaks in the first set of peaks are determined thereby forming a first list of data pairs, each data pair comprising an arrival time value and a peak area value. One or more data pairs from the first list are then filtered out thereby forming a second reduced list, wherein a data pair is filtered out, attenuated or otherwise rejected from the first list if the peak area value of a data pair in the first list is determined to be less than a threshold peak area.

Abstract: A time of flight (TOF) spectrometer and a method for operating the same is disclosed. The spectrometer includes an event extractor, a streaming processor, and a FIFO buffer. The event extractor generates a ion event record corresponding to each detected ion, the ion event record including an intensity a plurality of aliases for that detected ion. The streaming processor includes a memory array that stores a TOF spectrum and a probability processor that provides a probability for each alias in each received ion event record and updates the TOF spectrum based on the probabilities. A FIFO buffer receives each of the ion event records after the TOF spectrum has been updated and outputs the oldest ion event record to the streaming processor when a new ion event record is processed by the streaming processor.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer or separator and an ion guide arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. A plurality of axial potential wells are created in the ion guide so that ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator become confined in separate axial potential wells. The potential wells maintain the fidelity and/or composition of ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. The potential wells are translated along the length of the ion guide.

Abstract: In order to provide an analysis method that is capable of determining a glycan structure with high detection sensitivity, a method of the present invention includes the steps of: carrying out triple quadrupole mass spectrometry at various values of CID energy; creating an energy-resolved profile including yield curves representing relationships between (i) a value of the CID energy and (ii) measured amounts of specific types of product ions; preparing a reference profile, and identifying a glycan structure of a test material by comparing the energy-resolved profile with the reference profile.

Abstract: A flight-of-time mass spectrometer and method of flight-of-time mass spectrometry. The spectrometer includes a storage portion, a parameter adjusting portion, a parameter setting portion, and a flight time measuring portion. The parameter adjusting portion calculates values of an adjustment parameter correlated with any specified m/z value based on an adjustment table. The parameter setting portion sets the delayed extraction parameters of the ion source based on the values of the adjustment parameters calculated by the parameter adjusting portion.

Abstract: A method is provided increasing the useful dynamic range of an ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) or an IMS-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) device. The method includes accumulating a first sample of ions over a first time interval; providing the first sample of ions to an ion detector to provide a first frame, accumulating a second sample of ions over a second time interval, where the second time interval is different than the first time interval, and providing the second sample of ions to the ion detector to provide a second frame. First data points of the first frame are selectively combined with second data points of the second frame to provide an accumulation frame of the first and second samples of ions.

Abstract: When an SIM measurement for ions originating from a target component separated by a chromatograph is performed, the measurement is performed while the mass-resolving power is switched among a plurality of levels of resolving power, with the mass-to-charge ratio fixed at a target value (S2), and an extracted ion chromatogram is created based on each of data obtained corresponding to respective mass-resolving powers (S3). After the extracted ion chromatograms are obtained, an S/N ratio is calculated for a peak of the target component on each of the chromatograms (S4), and a mass-resolving power which yields the highest S/N ratio is selected (S5). The selected mass-resolving power is set as the mass-resolving power in the subsequent measurements of the same target component in the same kind of sample (S6), and the quantitative determination of the target component is performed using the extracted ion chromatogram obtained with the selected mass-resolving power (S7).

Abstract: There is provided a pulser, a time of flight mass spectrometer system comprising the same, and a method of analyzing the ions using the pulser. The pulser comprises a first positive switch for coupling and decoupling a first electrode of the accelerator assembly to a first positive voltage; a first negative switch for coupling and decoupling the first electrode to a first negative voltage; and, a first bipolar switch for alternately coupling and decoupling the first electrode to a third voltage.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising separating ions according to one or more physico-chemical properties. Ions which are onwardly transmitted to a Time of Flight mass analyser are controlled by attenuating ions which would otherwise be transmitted to the Time of Flight mass analyser and cause saturation of an ion detector and which have been determined or which are predicted to have a relatively high intensity.

Abstract: Among other things, methods, systems, apparatus for performing on-the-fly apportionment are described. In particular, a mass spectrometry apparatus includes an ionization laser to produce a deionization laser beam. The apparatus also includes a particle beam path that receives aerosol particles and intersects the ionization laser beam at a location where aerosol particles are desorbed and ionized by the laser beam. The apparatus also includes an ion extractor located at or near the ionization location to separate positive ions and negative ions desorbed from the aerosol particles and to direct the positive ions along a first direction of an ion path and the negative ions along a second, opposite direction of the ion path. The apparatus also includes a first reflectron located at a first side of the ion extractor, on the ion path, to reflect the positive ions along a first reflection path that deviates from the ion path.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer has several electrodes spaced along its ion source region. Voltages are applied to the electrodes to produce a voltage gradient along the length of the ion source region. By varying the voltage gradient, the residence time of ions in the ion source region can be selectively varied. Typically, the spectrometer is arranged to reduce the residence time in response to a decrease in the amplitude of an ion peak detected at the far end of the drift region.

Abstract: A combined distance-of-flight mass spectrometry (DOFMS) and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) instrument includes an ion source configured to produce ions having varying mass-to-charge ratios, a first detector configured to determine when each of the ions travels a predetermined distance, a second detector configured to determine how far each of the ions travels in a predetermined time, and a detector extraction region operable to direct portions of the ions either to the first detector or to the second detector.

Abstract: A mass spectrum is acquired by accumulating parent ions in an ion trap, ejecting parent ions of a selected m/z ratio into a collision cell, producing fragment ions from the parent ions, and analyzing the fragment ions in a mass analyzer. The other parent ions remain stored in the ion trap, and thus the process may be repeated by mass-selectively scanning parent ions from the ion trap. In this manner, the full mass range of parent ions or any desired subset of the full mass range may be analyzed without significant ion loss or undue time expenditure. The collision cell may provide a large ion acceptance aperture and relatively smaller ion emission aperture. The collision cell may pulse ions out to the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer may be a time-of-flight analyzer. The timing of pulsing of ions out from the collision cell may be matched with the timing of pulsing of ions into the time-of-flight analyzer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a detection apparatus for detecting charged particles having a charged particle detector for receiving and detecting either incoming charged particles or secondary charged particles generated from the incoming charged particles, a photon generator for generating photons in response to receiving at least some of the same incoming charged particles or secondary charged particles generated from the incoming charged particles as are received and detected by the charged particle detector, and a photon detector for detecting photons generated by the photon generator.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a quadrupole rod set ion trap wherein a potential field is created at the exit of the ion trap which decreases with increasing radius in one radial direction. Ions within the ion trap are mass selectively excited in a radial direction. Ions which have been excited in the radial direction experience a potential field which no longer confines the ions axially within the ion trap but which instead acts to extract the ions and hence causes the ions to be ejected axially from the ion trap.

Abstract: Devices and systems for reflecting ions are provided. In general, the devices and systems include a plurality of curved lens plates adapted for connection to at least one voltage source and having a passage therein to allow the ions to pass therethrough. The plurality of curved lens plates generates electric fields having elliptic equipotential surfaces that reflect and focus the ions as they pass through the passage. Reflectron time-of-flight (RE-TOF) spectrometers are also provided that include an ion source, ion detector, and such a reflectron as described above. Mass spectrometer systems are provided that comprise an ion source that generates ions and a reflectron TOF spectrometer such as described above.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a device which is operable in a first mode of operation to separate ions temporally according to their ion mobility by applying a continuous axial electric field. The device is also operable in a second mode of operation wherein ions are separated temporally according to the their mass to charge ratio by pulsing an applied axial electric field ON and OFF.

Abstract: A device for use in a mass spectrometer allows an ion-optical assembly to be removed, cleaned and reinserted with relatively high positioning accuracy. In particular, the device obviates the need for complex adjustments requiring special knowledge after the reinsertion. The objective is achieved by an arrangement comprising a receptacle and a mount for a removable ion-optical assembly in a mass spectrometer. Favorable implementations provide a mount and a receptacle with three pairs of complementary support elements, the three support elements on the receptacle form a support plane, and, when the mount is inserted into the receptacle, at least two pairs of support elements are engaged and the mount is aligned with respect to the support plane with the aid of the third pair of support elements.

Abstract: A novel system and methods for accelerating analytes including, without limitation, molecular ions, biomolecules, polymers, nano- and microparticles, is provided. The invention can be useful for increasing detection sensitivity in applications such as mass spectrometry, performing collision-induced dissociation molecular structure analysis, and probing surfaces and samples using accelerated analyte.

Abstract: Methods and analysers useful for time of flight mass spectrometry are provided.