Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for the fragmentation of macromolecules, preferably biomolecules, by electron capture in RF quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometers according to Wolfgang Paul. The invention comprises steering a beam of low energy electrons through a magnetic guide field exactly into an ion cloud in the center of the ion trap.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for the fragmentation of macromolecules in linear quadrupole RF ion traps according to Wolfgang Paul. The invention consists in fragmenting the ions by the capture of low energy electrons (ECD), injected into the linear RF ion trap. One way of doing this is to inject low energy electrons through the gap between the pole rods. Another possibility is to inject the electrons through an opening in one of the pole rods carrying a RF voltage, the electron source being kept at the highest positive potential which is achieved on the center axis of the ion trap during the RF period. Both methods can be improved by pulse-shaped RF voltages, offering longer periods for electron capture. The electron beam can be guided by a magnetic field.

Abstract: An ion funnel screen ions from a gas stream flowing into a differential pump stage of a mass spectrometer, transfers them to a subsequent differential pump stage. The ion funnel uses apertured diaphragms between which gas escapes easily. Holders for the apertured diaphragms are also provided that offer little resistance to the escaping gas while, at the same time, serving to feed the RF and DC voltages.

Abstract: The invention relates to the removal of electronic noise from mass spectra which are scanned as single spectra and added together to give a sum spectrum. The invention consists in removing the noise in the single spectra and not in the sum spectrum since ion signals and electronic noise can only be distinguished in the single spectra.

Abstract: The invention relates to the mass-selective ejection of stored ions from linear ion traps. The invention consists in using nonlinear resonances to enhance the ejection speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compact time-of-flight mass spectrometer which enables very accurate mass determinations. The invention consists of a method of producing a high resolution by means of a long flight path, where the ion beam repeatedly sweeps a figure of eight in two opposed cylindrical capacitors, each of 254.56°, and the linear ion beam paths between the cylindrical capacitors are extended virtually by a change in potential so as to cause a time focusing with respect to an initial energy spread.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for moving an ion source in a magnetic field by making use of the Lorentz force. The ability of the electron source to move makes it possible to extend and retract it simply by switching the operating current on and off. In mass spectrometry, this means that the entrance of a mass spectrometric analyzer is not permanently obstructed but can be made accessible any time for other applications, such as laser beams.

Abstract: The invention relates to the structure of sample support plates for the mass spectrometric analyses of samples with ionization by matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization (MALDI). The invention consists in combining a very even substructure made from a mechanically stable material with a flush mounted cover made of plastic material of constant thickness to produce a composite sample support plate with a very even surface. The plastic cover is inexpensive to make, must only be used once and helps prevent the substance-memory problem. The surface and material of the plastic cover can be optimized for MALDI. The preferred embodiment of the composite plate has the overall dimensions of a microtiter plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to the detection of the binding of analyte molecules, for example biopolymer molecules, to immobilized capture substance molecules. The invention consists in using semiconductor wafers (chips) with electrical circuits in spatial proximity to a surface area coated with capture substance molecules and loading the binding of the analyte molecules to the capture substance molecules with co-bound electrically conductive nanoparticles so that the nanoparticles can act upon the electrical circuits either through changes in the electrical stray capacitance or by generating electric currents, thus making the binding of the analyte molecules electronically detectable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for irradiating ions in a ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) trap with photons and/or electrons. For electron irradiation a hollow electron emitter is used, through the hole of which a light beam can be sent into the ICR trap. The emitter generates a hollow, tubular electron beam. In a special application low energy ions within the tubular electron beam are irradiated with photons. The ions can be cyclotron-excited mass selectively, by which they enter the electron beam and interact with electrons.

Abstract: The invention relates to the acquisition of spectra of biopolymers, especially of proteins, in tandem mass spectrometers with ionization using matrix-assisted laser desorption (MALDI) for the examination or determination of sequence patterns. The invention consists of a method of measuring granddaughter spectra of terminal fragment ions of the bipolymers in tandem mass spectrometers, wherein a so-called in-source fragmentation to generate a first generation of fragment or daughter ions of a biopolymer is coupled with a subsequent measurement of granddaughter ions, which have been obtained by a further fragmentation of a selected type of daughter ions. The method according to the invention enables the determination of the terminal sequences which are otherwise very difficult to measure.

Abstract: The invention relates to sample support plates with hydrophilic anchors in a strongly hydrophobic environment for mass spectroscopic analysis of biosubstances with ionization by matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization (MALDI), procedures for manufacturing these sample supports, and connected procedures for loading these sample supports with biomolecular samples. The invention provides areas with affinity adsorbents adjacent to the hydrophilic anchors for purifying biosubstances and, if wanted, for performing an affinity selection of biosubstances, whereby the finally prepared matrix sample crystals with the biosubstances for the MALDI analysis are well localized on the hydrophilic anchors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ion fragmentation techniques by electron-ion reactions in multipolar radiofrequency fields like those in quadrupole ion traps or in ion guides, and devices to perform ion fragmentation by such techniques. The fragmentation techniques are useful for tandem mass spectrometry. The invention consists of the application of a magnetic field essentially parallel to the axis of the radiofrequency field to confine the electrons in the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field.

Abstract: The invention relates to the cleaning of contaminated accelerating or guiding electrodes of ion sources used for ion generation by desorption. A cleaning plate is used that has an outer contour similar to that of a standard sample support plate, and may be equipped with cleaning scrubbers that can be moved out when necessary to contact the electrodes. The scrubbers may include soft covers, and can carry out the cleaning by dry rubbing or with the help of high-boiling solvents for the matrix substances. The moving out of the cleaning scrubbers can be controlled by external light pulses from a laser or video camera spot light. Alternatively, the cleaning plate may be equipped with spray nozzles connected to a reservoir of cleaning fluid which is sprayed onto the electrodes, and the evacuation of the ventilated ion source chamber may be used to initiate the spraying.

Abstract: The invention relates to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer in which a fine beam of ions is injected orthogonally into a fast pulser that pulses the ions from the fine ion beam into the spectrometer's drift region for precise determination of mass. The invention consists in increasing the duty cycle of the ions through the use of a high pulser frequency, recording the data cyclically at the same frequency, and assigning slow ions that are only measured in one of the subsequent cycles to the correct initiating pulse through the form of their lines or line patterns.

Abstract: Methods and equipment are provided for the mass spectrometric measurement of a large number of genotyping profiles, each formed by several tens to several hundreds of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms). A multitude of chips each carrying an array of surface-bound oligonucleotide probes for mutations are synchronously processed. The chips are attached to plates such that they can be immersed in a multitude of wells with DNA samples requiring analysis while also serving directly as sample carriers in mass spectrometers. The multitude of wells can, for instance, take the form of microtitre plates. Primers may be used which possess a photolytically or chemically cleavable linker that bridges one base pair and does not hinder either the possibility of hybridization or enzymatic extension. Light or chemicals can then be used to cleave short chains particularly suitable for ionization by matrix assisted laser desorption and mass spectrometric analysis using time-of-flight mass spectrometers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compact time-of-flight mass spectrometer which enables very accurate mass determinations. The invention consists of a method of producing a high resolution by means of a long flight path, where the ion beam repeatedly sweeps a figure of eight in two opposed cylindrical capacitors, each of 254.56°, and the linear ion beam paths between the cylindrical capacitors are extended virtually by a change in potential so as to cause a time focusing with respect to an initial energy spread.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and instrumentation for two or multidimensional separations of biosubstance mixtures, especially protein mixtures, for mass spectrometric analysis. The invention consists in utilizing the separating effects which are attainable through the selective binding of biosubstances from solutions on solid surfaces with suitable binding characteristics or through the dissolution in fractions of surface-bound biosubstances by means of specially formulated solvent mixtures. According to the invention, these separating effects can be applied for the separation into multiple fractions, and two or more generations of such separations with different separating dimensions can be used in succession to separate the respective fractions into several sub-fractions. These separations can be carried out automatically using pipetting robots without the need for chromatographs and require far less time than multidimensional chromatography or electrophoresis.

Abstract: The invention relates to the feeding of analyte ions, generated at atmospheric pressure, efficiently into the mass spectrometer. The invention provides a lengthy ion mobility drift tube with a focusing electric field inside to guide the ions from an ionization cloud generated at atmospheric pressure towards the entrance opening of the mass spectrometer, and to dry droplets which might occur in the ionization cloud by a hot drying gas flowing through the ion mobility drift tube towards the ionization cloud.

Abstract: The invention concerns mass spectrometric analysis of known mutation sites in the genome, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The invention uses minor amounts of primers with photocleavable linkers, intermixed with a major amounts of primers without linkers, to produce short mutation-containing DNA sequences by enzymatic amplification procedures such as polymerase chain reactions (PCR). After this single amplification procedure, the linker-containing PCR by-products are extracted, washed and photolytically cleaved. Short oligonucleotides are produced which facilitate mass spectrometric analysis. Additionally to the use of linkers, some types of primers may contain blockers which stop the polymerase copying process to achieve even shorter oligonucleotides for analysis.