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 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.

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: An apparatus and method for performing mass spectroscopy uses an ion interface to provide the function of removing undesirable particulates from an ion stream from an atmospheric pressure ion source, such as an electrospray source or a MALDI source, before the ion stream enters a vacuum chamber containing the mass spectrometer. The ion interface includes an entrance cell with a bore that may be heated for desolvating charged droplets when the ion source is an electrospray source, and a particle discrimination cell with a bore disposed downstream of the bore of the entrance cell and before an aperture leading to the vacuum chamber. The particle discrimination cell creates gas dynamic and electric field conditions that enables separation of undesirable charged particulates from the ion stream.

Abstract: A laser desorption ion source provides enhanced ion sampling efficiency and measurement sensitivity by using one or more ion guides to effectively capture ions in a plume emitted from the ion target and guide the ions through an aperture into a downstream vacuum chamber. In one configuration using two RF multipole ion guides, a first RF multipole ion guide disposed next to the ion target is selected to be sufficiently large to capture a substantial portion of the plume, while the second RF multipole ion guide disposed between the first multipole ion guide and the aperture has a smaller dimension to assist focusing of ions into the aperture. The first RF multipole ion guides the ions in the plume into the second RF multipole ion guide, which then focuses the ions so that they pass through the aperture into the downstream vacuum chamber.

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: A mass spectrometry quantitation technique enables high-throughput quantitation of small molecules using a laser-desorption (e.g., MALDI) ion source coupled to a triple-quadrupole mass analyzer. The ions generated from the ion source are collisionally damped/cooled, and then quantitatively analyzed using the triple-quadrupole analyzer operated in the multiple-reaction-monitoring (MRM) mode. Significantly improved measurement throughput is obtained by applying the laser to each sample spot on the target for an irradiation duration significantly shorter than the time required to deplete the sample material in the sample spot. The irradiation duration may be set based on a determination of the MRM peak broadening caused by the ion optics.

Abstract: A method of analyzing ions is provided having a first ion guide with first and second ends and introducing a first group of ions and a second group of ions of opposite polarity into the first ion guide, and applying an RF voltage potential to the first ion guide for confining the first and second groups of ions radially within the first ion guide. A first trapping barrier is provided to the first end of the first ion guide for trapping the first group of ions within the first ion guide and a second trapping barrier is provided to the second end of the first ion guide for trapping the second group of ions within the first ion guide and an axial field is provided for pushing the first group of ions toward the first trapping barrier and pushing the second group of ions toward the second trapping barrier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing low volumes of an analyte solution. The apparatus comprises: (a) a receiver defining an ejection cavity and an outlet downstream of and in fluid communication with the ejection cavity; (b) first and second fluid conduits coupled to the receiver and defining respective first and second fluid flow paths in fluid communication with the ejection cavity; (c) an analyte generating apparatus operatively coupled to the first fluid conduit and operable to deliver analyte solution along the first fluid flow path to the ejection cavity; and (d) a dispensing mechanism operatively coupled to the second fluid conduit and operable to deliver a fluid buffer along the second fluid flow path into the ejection cavity to displace analyte solution present therein through the outlet. The method involves filling the ejection cavity with an analyte solution at a selected rate and injecting a fluid buffer into the injection cavity to displace the analyte solution through the outlet.

Abstract: The present technology provides an Impedance Measurement System (ZMS) for measuring the complex impedance of each well of a single well or multiwell microtiter plate utilizing a novel combination of parallel impedance measurement channels, multiplexing, and reference impedance networks, allowing internal correction of impedance measurement drift, maximized measurement accuracy, and minimized system size.

Abstract: The present teachings relate to a method of filtering mass spectrometer data using a variable filter window. The width of the window can depend on the mass itself and the mass defects for a family of compounds. The teachings can be used with a plurality of compounds including but not limited to peptides and can be utilized on a brood range of mass spectrometers.

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: An apparatus and method for performing mass spectroscopy uses an ion interface to provide the function of removing undesirable particulates from an ion stream from an atmospheric pressure ion source, such as an electrospray source or a MALDI source, before the ion stream enters a vacuum chamber containing the mass spectrometer. The ion interface includes an entrance cell with a bore that may be heated for desolvating charged droplets when the ion source is an electrospray source, and a particle discrimination cell with a bore disposed downstream of the bore of the entrance cell and before an aperture leading to the vacuum chamber. The particle discrimination cell creates gas dynamic and electric field conditions that enables separation of undesirable charged particulates from the ion stream.

Abstract: As disclosed within, the present device is directed to a multi-well sample module having integrated impedance measuring electrodes (which allow for the generation of an electric field within each well and the measuring of the change in impedance of each of the well's contents) and an electrical connection scheme allowing simultaneous measurement of each well's change in impedance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing mass spectroscopy uses an ion interface to provide the function of removing undesirable particulates from an ion stream from an atmospheric pressure ion source, such as an electrospray source or a MALDI source, before the ion stream enters a vacuum chamber containing the mass spectrometer. The ion interface includes an entrance cell with a bore that may be heated for desolvating charged droplets when the ion source is an electrospray source, and a particle discrimination cell with a bore disposed downstream of the bore of the entrance cell and before an aperture leading to the vacuum chamber. The particle discrimination cell creates gas dynamic and electric field conditions that enables separation of undesirable charged particulates from the ion stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to prepare a sample or a plurality of samples for subsequent analysis. A single sample deposition apparatus, and a multiplexed sample deposition apparatus are shown. The apparatus allows for a system that can provide a high throughput deposition of samples to form chromatograms by discrete droplet deposition or as continuous traces. The system can achieve high resolution digitization by pulsing the fluid emanating from the chromatographs by applying a voltage to the target plate that operates at frequencies equal to or greater than about 10 Hz, and up to and including about 1 KHz. The system also allows for analogue recording (i.e., approaching infinite resolution) by nebulizing the fluid coming from multiple columns and simultaneously collecting it on a target plate as a continuous trace.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry quantitation technique enables high-throughput quantitation of small molecules using a laser-desorption (e.g., MALDI) ion source coupled to a triplequadrupole mass analyzer. The ions generated from the ion source are collisionally damped/cooled, and then quantitatively analyzed using the triple-quadrupole analyzer operated in the multiple-reaction-monitoring (MRM) mode. Significantly improved measurement sensitivity is obtained by applying laser pulses to the ion source at a high pulse rate of about SOOHz or higher. This allows the data acquisition to be performed rapidly, and the speed of about one second for each sample point on the ion source target has been achieved.

Abstract: A laser desorption ion source provides enhanced ion sampling efficiency and measurement sensitivity by using one or more ion guides to effectively capture ions in a plume emitted from the ion target and guide the ions through an aperture into a downstream vacuum chamber. In one configuration using two RF multipole ion guides, a first RF multipole ion guide disposed next to the ion target is selected to be sufficiently large to capture a substantial portion of the plume, while the second RF multipole ion guide disposed between the first multipole ion guide and the aperture has a smaller dimension to assist focusing of ions into the aperture. The first RF multipole ion guides the ions in the plume into the second RF multipole ion guide, which then focuses the ions so that they pass through the aperture into the downstream vacuum chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing mass spectroscopy uses an ion interface to provide the function of removing undesirable particulates from an ion stream from an atmospheric pressure ion source, such as an electrospray source or a MALDI source, before the ion stream enters a vacuum chamber containing the mass spectrometer. The ion interface includes an entrance cell with a bore that may be heated for desolvating charged droplets when the ion source is an electrospray source, and a particle discrimination cell with a bore disposed downstream of the bore of the entrance cell and before an aperture leading to the vacuum chamber. The particle discrimination cell creates gas dynamic and electric field conditions that enables separation of undesirable charged particulates from the ion stream.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for analyzing molecular binding events in which the formation of ligand/antiligand complexes can be directly detected in a mixture without requiring separation of the components of the mixture from each other by measuring bulk properties of the mixture (i.e., properties that have contributions from several or all of the components present in the mixture). Using these techniques, it is possible to screen libraries without labeling either the target antiligand or ligand. The invention also provides a method for determining the strength of ligand/antiligand binding by further analysis of the same signals.