Abstract: A method and system include receiving a charge series spectrum having charge series peaks, determining reconstructed mass values based on the received charge series spectrum, displaying the reconstructed mass values, receiving a selection of a displayed reconstructed mass value, and displaying a plurality of icons including a marker and a corresponding charge series peak, the marker identifying a charge of the spectrum. Another method and system include receiving a charge series spectrum having charge series peaks, determining reconstructed mass values based on the received charge series spectrum, and for each reconstructed mass value, determining a plurality of markers corresponding to charges of the charge series and having a corresponding charge series peak, and determining that the reconstructed mass value is a probable artifact when a difference between one of the markers and a local maximum of the corresponding charge series peak is greater than a threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing differential mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (DMS-MIS) are provided herein. In various aspects, methods and systems described may be effective to improve the performance of a differential mobility spectrometry device and a MS device operating in tandem relative to conventional systems for DMS-MS. In certain aspects, methods and systems in accordance with the present teachings utilize an ion guide which comprises a multipole rod set and a plurality of auxiliary electrodes to which a DC voltage is applied during transmission of ions through the ion guide so as to generate an axial electric field along a longitudinal axis of the ion guide to accelerate the ions toward the outlet end of the ion guide.

Abstract: Methods and systems for mass analysis are disclosed herein. An example system includes: a sample ejector configured to eject a plurality of samples from a plurality of wells of a well plate; a capture probe configured to capture the ejected samples and dilute and transport the captured samples; a nebulizer nozzle configured to receive and ionize the transported diluted samples to produce sample ions; a mass analysis instrument configured to filter and detect ions of interest from the sample ions; a controller configured to coordinate operations of the sample ejector, the capture probe, the nebulizer nozzle, and the mass analysis instrument; and a data processing system configured to acquire data from the mass analysis instrument and conduct an automatic data processing process.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a filament of an electron emitter associated with an ion reaction cell in accordance with various aspects of the present teachings may account for inter-filament and inter-instrument variability and can provide improved reproducibility in EAD experiments and ease of use. In some aspects, a method of operating an ion reaction device of a mass spectrometer system is provided. The method comprises applying a calibration drive voltage to a filament of an electron emitter associated with an ion reaction cell and determining a value representative of the calibration electron emission current generated by the filament while having the calibration drive voltage applied thereto. A calibration saturation voltage can be determined by iteratively increasing the calibration drive voltage applied to the filament and determining the value of the calibration electron emission current at each corresponding calibration drive voltage until the filament reaches a saturation condition.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is placed in parallel with the first electrode to provide constant gap distance. The gap between the first electrode and the second electrode is at atmospheric pressure. Ions are introduced into the center of the gap and travel through the apparatus in a direction parallel to the first electrode and the second electrode. The apparatus is configured as a high-field symmetric-waveform apparatus for filtering high mobility ions or for fragmenting ions. The apparatus is also configured for three modes of operation: as a conventional DMS; as a filter high mobility ions; and as fragmentation device. A symmetric electric field is produced in the gap with a maximum density normalized field strength greater than 10 Td to filter high mobility ions and with a maximum density normalized field strength greater than 100 Td to fragment ions.

Abstract: A method of performing mass spectrometry is disclosed. which comprises introducing a plurality of ions into an ion guide of a mass spectrometer via an inlet orifice thereof. where the ion guide includes a plurality of rods arranged in a multipole configuration and spaced from one another to provide a passageway for transit of the ions therethrough. applying RF voltages to the rods so as to generate an electromagnetic field within the passageway for providing radial confinement of the ions passing through the passageway, identifying a space charge effect, which can adversely affect operation of the mass spectrometer, based on detection of a variation of an intensity of an ion detection signal associated with at least one ion population transmitted through said ion guide and having an m/z ratio greater than a threshold, and in response to said identification of the adverse space charge effect. adjusting at least one of frequency and amplitude of the RF voltages to counteract said space charge effect.

Abstract: Leak detection systems and methods in accordance with various aspects of the present teachings can, in various embodiments, sequester fluid leaking from the interface between a sample source and the inlet of the ion source, alert an operator as to a leak condition, and/or automatically terminate the experiment. In various aspects, a liquid leak detection system is accordance with the present teachings comprises a collection basin configured to couple to a proximal end of a conduit in fluid communication with a discharge end of an ion source of a mass spectrometer such that the proximal end of the conduit extends through the internal volume of the basin.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting a signal measurement error, the method including providing a well plate including error correction wells and sample wells, each sample well including a single sample, and each error correction well including a mixture of samples from two or more sample wells. The method includes receiving an aliquot from the wells at a sample receiver, measuring a signal for the received aliquot, calculating an expected signal for each of the error correction wells, comparing the measured signal to the calculated expected signal for each error correction well, and determining whether an error exists in the signal of at least one sample well. When the error exists, the method correlates the error to one or more sample wells.

Abstract: MS-based methods and systems are provided herein in which a desorption solvent desorbs one or more analyte species from an SPME device within a sampling interface that is fluidly coupled to an ion source for subsequent mass spectrometric analysis. In accordance with various aspects of the applicants teachings, the sampling interface includes an internal sampling conduit that provides increased interaction between the desorption solvent and the sampling substrate, thereby improving mass transfer (e.g., increased extraction or desorption speed).

Abstract: Methods and systems for mass spectrometry are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises: receiving, by a mass spectrometer via a sampling system operably connected thereto, at least one sample containing at least one known compound; modulat-ing at least one instrument parameter of the mass spectrometer through a plurality of instrument parameter values; analyzing the at least one sample while applying each of the plurality of instrument parameter values; acquiring a plurality of mass spectral (MS) datasets each corresponding to one of the applied plurality of instrument parameter values; encoding each of the plurality of MS datasets to generate a corresponding plurality of MS results each corresponding to one of the applied instrument parameter values; and compiling and storing the MS datasets and MS results in a spectral library in association with the applied instrument parameter values.

Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting instrument setting, improving fidelity of isotope pattern for mass spectra, and/or determining molecular mass with improved accuracy are disclosed. In one example, a method for determining Mmono of a compound of interest in a sample using a mass spectrometer is provided. The method comprises: (1) tuning or adjusting instrument setting of the mass spectrometer using at least one known compound, wherein the instrument setting comprises at least one parameter for improving accuracy; (2) analyzing the compound of interest using the adjusted instrument setting to obtain a mass spectrum thereof, wherein the mass spectrum comprises an isotope pattern thereof; and determining the Mmono of the compound of interest from the mass spectrum thereof.

Abstract: Methods and system that determines disulfide and trisulfide linkages within analytes (e.g., polypeptides) is described. In certain aspects. a sample comprising polypeptides (such as an antibody) may be subjected to dissociation using an electron activated dissociation (which can include electron capture dissociation and electron transfer dissociation) and the fragmentated portions are analyzed using a mass spectrometer to produce a spectrum. The spectrum is analyzed by a processor to identify peaks from the spectrum that are related to one another in the spectra by a separation of 32 mass units. In identifying an antibody comprising peptide segments linked via a trisulfide bond. for example, four different peaks representing two different peptides are searched for and identified representing a first peptide portion having mass/charge of A and A+32 and a second peptide having mass/charge of B and B+32.

Abstract: A method for determining a convolved peak intensity in a sample trace includes ejecting a plurality of sample ejections from a sample well plate. An ejection time log is generated which includes an ejection time of each of the plurality of sample ejections from the sample well plate. The plurality of sample ejections is analyzed with a mass analyzer. The sample trace of intensity versus time values is produced for the plurality of sample ejections based on the analysis. A known peak shape is obtained. A convolved peak intensity is determined for a convolved peak of the sample trace based at least in part on the known peak shape and the ejection time log.

Abstract: A method of ejecting a sample from a nebulizer nozzle fluidically coupled to a port via a transfer conduit includes receiving at the port a transport liquid and the sample. The transport liquid and the sample in the transfer conduit is transported from the port to a transfer conduit exit comprising an electrode tip. The transport liquid is ejected from the transfer conduit exit. The sample is ejected from the transfer conduit exit substantially simultaneously with ejecting the transport liquid. During ejection of the transport liquid and the sample from the transfer conduit exit, a pressure is generated at the transfer conduit exit substantially similar to a vapor pressure of the transport liquid.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for loading a sample into an analytical instrument using acoustic droplet ejection (“ADE”) in combination with a continuous flow sampling probe. An acoustic droplet ejector is used to eject small droplets of a fluid sample containing an analyte into the sampling tip of a continuous flow sampling probe, where the acoustically ejected droplet combines with a continuous, circulating flow stream of solvent within the flow probe. Fluid circulation within the probe transports the sample through a sample transport capillary to an outlet that directs the analyte away from the probe to an analytical instrument, e.g., a device that detects the presence, concentration quantity, and/or identity of the analyte. When the analytical instrument is a mass spectrometer or other type of device requiring the analyte to be in ionized form, the exiting droplets pass through an ionization region, e.g.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying analytes in a sample using mass spectrometry are provided. A method for identifying analytes in mass spectrometry data comprises: introducing a sample to a mass spectrometer; analyzing the sample with the mass spectrometer in a plurality of cycles; generating, for each cycle, a mass spectrum comprising at least one peak; annotating peaks in the mass spectrum based on their relationships; assigning best ion types to each peak; processing each cycle of the mass spectrum to assign a score to each of the at least one peak thereof with respect to the likely neutral mass related to the peak; grouping peaks that share a common neutral mass; and outputting the analyte neutral mass.

Abstract: A fluid processing system that can include a sample container having a sample chamber for containing a fluid and a plurality of magnetic particles and at least one movable magnetic assembly configured to be movably inserted into or out of the sample chamber. The movable magnetic assembly can include a plurality of electromagnets that generate a magnetic field within at least a portion of the sample chamber when the assembly is inserted at least partially into the sample chamber. The fluid processing system can also include a signal generator that applies electrical signals, e.g., AC electrical signals, to the electromagnets of the magnetic assembly and a controller coupled to the signal generator that is configured to control phases of the electrical signals applied to the electromagnets to generate magnetic field gradients within the portion of the sample chamber effective to magnetically influence the plurality of the magnetic particles.

Abstract: Methods and systems for building and using an analyte library are provided. One aspect is a method for building an analyte library, the method comprising receiving mass spectrum data from analysis of a sample using mass spectrometry, mass spectrum data including a mass spectrum and a sample matrix, and the sample including an analyte, identifying peaks in the mass spectrum, assigning at least one ion type to the peaks, annotating the peaks for the analyte based on the sample matrix, extracting an ion fingerprint for the analyte based on the annotated peaks and storing an analyte identification entry including the ion fingerprint for the analyte.

Abstract: Electromagnetic systems and corresponding methods for assembling the electromagnetic systems are described. The electromagnetic systems can be used in fluid processing systems that include a plurality of fluid containers, each configured to define a fluid chamber that receives a fluid and a plurality of magnetic particles, and a plurality of electromagnets configured to generate a magnetic field within at least one of the plurality of the fluid containers. The fluid processing system can also include a PCB board that supplies the electromagnets with electrical current by establishing an electrical connection between electrical contact terminals included on the PCB board and spring loaded connections included on each electromagnet.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for analyzing a sample using overlapping precursor isolation windows. A mass analyzer of a tandem mass spectrometer is instructed to select and fragment at least two overlapping precursor isolation windows across a precursor ion mass range of a sample using a processor. The tandem mass spectrometer includes a mass analyzer that allows overlapping precursor isolation windows across the mass range of the sample.