Abstract: A system and method of analyzing a sample is described. The system includes an ion source and a deflector for producing a plurality of ion beams each of which is detected in distinct detection regions. A detection system uses the information obtained from the detection region to analyze the sample.

Abstract: A method of operating an ion trap spectrometer system having an ion trap is provided.

Abstract: There is provided a linear ion trap having an ion guide and a method of operating same. The ion guide has a first end and a second end. The method involves a) providing a first group of ions within the ion guide; b) providing a second group of ions within the ion guide, the second group of ions being opposite in polarity to the first group of ions; c) providing an RF drive voltage to the ion guide to radially confine the first group of ions and the second group of ions in the ion guide; d) providing a gas flow of an inert gas in a first axial direction away from the first end of the ion guide and toward a middle of the ion guide to repel both the first group of ions and the second group of ions from the first end of the ion guide; and, e) providing a trapping region barrier for repelling both the first group of ions and the second group of ions away from the second end of the ion guide.

Abstract: In various aspects, ion sources, mass spectrometer systems, and a power supply circuit coupled to a feedback circuit are provided. A power supply is provided that includes at least the power supply circuit and is operable to transfer charge to a load. The feedback circuit is responsive to a DC component of an output voltage supplied by the power supply in a first feedback loop and an AC component of the output voltage in a second feedback loop to produce a feedback signal representative of at least one of: a value of the output voltage before a charge transfer from a capacitor of the power supply to a load; the value of the output voltage during the charge transfer from the capacitor of the power supply to the load; or the value of the output voltage after the charge transfer from the capacitor of the power supply to the load.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer system has an elongated rod set having an entrance end, an exit end, a plurality of rods and a central longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An ion guide 24 for a mass spectrometer 30 including means for ejecting ions of different mass-to-charge ratios from the ion guide towards a detector or other object or device. The ejecting means causes the ions to be ejected in a desired sequence. The ions travel at different rates according to their mass-to-charge ratios, so that they arrive at a desired point in space in a desired sequence, for example in a detector 56 of a mass spectrometer at substantially the same time.

Abstract: A method of operating a mass spectrometer system having an ion trap is provided. The method comprises encoding a selected characteristic in at least one of the first group of precursor ions and the first plurality of fragments, wherein the encoding operation is applied to at least one of the first group of precursor ions and the first plurality of fragments without being applied to other ions such that the first plurality of fragment ions has the first selected characteristic and the other ions lack the first selected characteristic.

Abstract: An apparatus for secondary ion mass spectrometry is provided having a target surface for supporting a sample on the target surface and an ion source configured to direct a beam of primary ions toward the sample to sputter secondary ions and neutral particles from the sample, A first chamber having an inlet provides gas to maintain high pressure at the sample for cooling the secondary ions and neutral particles, the high pressure being in the range of about 10?3 to about 1000 Torr. A method of secondary ion mass spectrometry is provided having a target surface for supporting a sample, directing a beam of primary ions toward the sample to sputter secondary ions and neutral particles from the sample, and providing a high pressure at the sample for cooling the secondary ions and neutral particles, the high pressure being in the range of about 10?3 to about 1000 Torr.

Abstract: A first mass spectrum and a second mass spectrum of the same ion sample can be analyzed to determine reaction pairs. These reaction pairs are determined based on a selected neutral difference by shifting the second mass spectrum by the neutral difference relative to the first mass spectrum to provide a shifted mass spectrum. Then, the shifted mass spectrum is compared with the first mass spectrum of the ion sample to determine the reaction pairs based on the neutral difference.

Abstract: Provided is a system, apparatus and methods of use for the safe and easy handling and disposing of light bulbs. The system provides a disposal tube comprising one or more layers of puncture resistant material and a means for absorbing metals or gasses that may be released when the light bulb is broken, such as by externally striking the disposal tube and the bulb contained therein. The invention also provides a method for using the disposal tube as a means to safely handle and store the light bulbs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing background noise in a mass spectrum. The method includes the following steps of: (a) obtaining an original mass spectrum; (b) determining a noise mass spectrum corresponding to background noise in the original mass spectrum; and (c) determining a corrected mass spectrum by subtracting the noise mass spectrum from the original mass spectrum. Step (b) of the method may include the steps of: A) effecting a transformation of the original mass spectrum into the frequency domain to obtain an original frequency spectrum; B) identifying at least one dominant frequency in the original frequency spectrum; C) generating a noise frequency spectrum by selectively filtering for said dominant frequencies; and D) determining the noise mass spectrum by effecting a transformation of the noise frequency spectrum into the mass domain.

Abstract: In various aspects, the present teaching provide systems for providing sample ions, methods for providing sample ions, and sample support handling mechanisms. The sample support handling mechanisms of the present teachings comprising a sample support transfer mechanism portion and a sample support changing mechanism portion, where the sample support changing mechanism portion is disposed in a vacuum lock chamber. In various embodiments, the sample support handling mechanism facilitates providing consistent positioning of a sample support for subsequent ion generation by MALDI.

Abstract: Methods for the detection and measurement of tagged (labeled) biologically active materials in a sample are described. The tagged biologically active materials are detected using an atomic mass or optical spectrometer having a source of atoms or atomic ions. Element-labeled biologically active materials, comprising antibodies, antibody Fab? fragments, antigens, aptamers, protein complexes, growth factors, hormones, receptors and other biologically active materials attached to a stable elemental tag, can be used in specific binding assays and measured by elemental spectroscopic detection. Also described are methods for the determination of metals in samples of interest using specific antibodies to isolate the target metals and elemental spectroscopy for detection and quantitation. Kits are provided comprising reagents to detect and measure labeled biologically active materials or labeled competition analytes.

Abstract: In various embodiments, provided are methods for focusing ions for an ion fragmentor, and methods for operating an ion optics assembly. In various embodiments, the present teachings provide methods that substantially maintain the position of the focal point of the an incoming ion beam over a wide range of collision energies, and thereby provide a collimated ion beam for a collision cell over a wide range of energies. In various embodiments, the present teachings provide methods that facilitate decreasing ion transmission losses over a wide range of collision energies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for trapping or guiding ions is provided. The ion trap or ion guide includes a first set of electrodes and a second set of electrodes, the first set of electrodes defining a first portion of an ion channel to trap or guide the introduced ions. In operation, periodic voltages are applied to electrodes in the first set of electrodes to generate a first oscillating electric potential that radially confines the ions in the ion channel, while periodic voltages are applied to electrodes in the second set of electrodes to generate a second oscillating electric potential that axially confines the ions in the ion channel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining when to calibrate a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. In various embodiments, the method comprises storing within a controller a set of parameters for the mass spectrometer; providing an updated set of parameters while retaining at least one set of previously stored parameters; computing at least one rate of change of the updated set of parameters with respect to the at least one set of previously stored parameters; and determining when to calibrate the mass spectrometer from the results of computing the rate of change of at least one of the parameters. In various embodiments, a parameter stored can be a set of temperatures derived from obtaining system temperature measurements of those components whose changing temperature is an indication of mass drift.

Abstract: A multi-device interface for use in mass spectrometry for interfacing one or more ion sources to one or more downstream devices. The multi-device interface comprises three or more multipole rod sets configured as either an input rod set or an output rod set depending on potentials applied to the multipole rod sets. The multipole rod sets configured as an input rod set are connectable to the one or more ion sources for receiving generated ions therefrom and sending the ions to at least one multipole rod set configured as an output multipole rod set. The output multipole rod sets are connectable to a downstream device for sending the generated ions thereto. At least two of the multipole rod sets are configured as input rod sets or at least two of the multipole rod sets are configured as output rod sets.

Abstract: A method of operating a mass spectrometer having an elongated rod set and a set of auxiliary electrodes is provided, the rod set having an entrance end and an exit end and a longitudinal axis. The method comprises a) admitting ions into the entrance end of the rod set; b) trapping at least some of the ions in the rod set by producing a barrier field at an exit member adjacent to the exit end of the rod set and by producing an RF field between the rods of the rod set; and, c) providing an auxiliary AC excitement voltage to the set of auxiliary electrodes to energize a first group of ions of a selected mass to charge.

Abstract: In the field of mass spectrometry, a method of obtaining a mass spectrum enriched with fragment ions while retaining the precursor ion. The technique includes varying the collision energy experienced by the precursor ion such that a range of fragmentations occur. Related methods are also disclosed for obtaining MS, MS2, MS3 and MSn spectra which are enriched with fragment ions.

Abstract: In various embodiments, provided are ion optics systems comprising an even number of ion mirrors arranged in pairs such that a trajectory of an ion exiting the ion optics system can be provided that intersects a surface substantially parallel to an image focal surface of the ion optics system at a position that is substantially independent of the kinetic energy the ion had on entering the ion optics system. In various embodiments, provided are ion optics systems comprising an even number of ion mirrors arranged in pairs where the first member and second member of each pair are disposed on opposite sides of a first plane such that the first member of the pair has a position that is substantially mirror-symmetric about the first plane relative to the position of the second member of the pair.