Patents Assigned to Micromass UK Limited
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Patent number: 11031223Abstract: A method of analysis is disclosed comprising providing a sample on an insulating substrate such as a petri dish (4) and contacting e.g. the rear surface of the insulating substrate with a first electrode (9). The method further comprises contacting the sample with a second electrode (2) and applying an AC or RF voltage to the first and second electrodes (9,2) in order to generate an aerosol from the sample.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2016Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: Steven Derek Pringle, Lajos Godorhazy, Daniel Simon, Daniel Szalay, Zoltan Takats, Tamas Karancsi
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Patent number: 11031221Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: providing an analyte; supplying a matrix compound to said analyte such that said analyte dissolves in said matrix; forming first droplets of the dissolved analyte; and colliding said first droplets with a collision surface. The use of matrix improves the analyte ion signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2016Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: Emrys Jones, Tamas Karancsi, Steven Derek Pringle, Julia Balog, Daniel Simon, Lajos Godorhazy, Daniel Szalay, Zoltan Takats
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Patent number: 11031217Abstract: Disclosed is a method of mass spectrometry comprising the steps of: providing a library of matrix data, said matrix data comprising one or more physico-chemical properties of one or more matrix components as a function of retention time; chromatographically separating a sample, said sample containing at least some of said matrix components and one or more analyte components; analysing said sample at a plurality of retention times to obtain sample data, said sample data comprising one or more physico-chemical properties of one or more sample components as a function of retention time; and calculating one or more error values as a function of retention time based on a comparison between said sample data and said matrix data.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2016Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Micromass UK LimitedInventor: Martin Raymond Green
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Patent number: 11031231Abstract: There is provided an apparatus comprising a first ion source (10) arranged and adapted to emit a spray of charged droplets (11), and a control system arranged and adapted to control one or more spatial properties of said spray of charged droplets (11) in use by automatically varying or adjusting one or more parameters of said first ion source.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2017Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: Steven Derek Pringle, Emrys Jones, Stephen O'Brien, Anthony Hesse, Mike Morris, Zoltan Takats
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Patent number: 11031220Abstract: An ion detection system is disclosed that comprises one or more first devices (11) configured to produce secondary electrons in response to incident ions. The one or more first devices (11) comprise a first ion collection region and a second ion collection region and are configured to produce first secondary electrons in response to one or more ions incident at the first ion collection region and to produce second secondary electrons in response to one or more ions incident at the second ion collection region. The ion detection system also comprises a first output device (14) configured to output a first signal in response to first secondary electrons produced by the one or more first devices (11) and a second output device (15) configured to output a second signal in response to second secondary electrons produced by the one or more first devices (11).Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2017Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: Martin Raymond Green, Jason Lee Wildgoose
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Patent number: 11031230Abstract: A method of analysing a sample is disclosed that comprises surveying a sample in a first mode of operation by directing a spray of charged droplets onto the sample, determining one or more regions of interest in the sample, and analysing the one or more regions of interest in a second different mode of operation by directing a spray of charged droplets onto the sample. The spot size of the spray of charged droplets at a point of impact with the sample may be varied.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2017Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: Emrys Jones, Richard Chapman, Steven Derek Pringle
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Publication number: 20210166929Abstract: A method of ionisation is disclosed in which a sample is heated such that analyte is released from the sample. Analyte released from the sample is accumulated, and then the accumulated analyte is passed to an ionisation region where the analyte is ionised.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2019Publication date: June 3, 2021Applicant: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: Stevan Bajic, David Douce, Scott Pritchard
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Patent number: 11017994Abstract: An ion guide is disclosed that comprises a plurality of electrodes arranged to form a multipole ion guide and one or more rigid support members. The plurality of electrodes comprises one or more groups of electrodes, and each group of electrodes comprises plural electrodes that are axially spaced apart from one another. The electrodes of one or more groups of electrodes are attached to one of the one or more rigid support members. One or more of the electrodes comprises a curved metal sheet, plate or strip.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2018Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: MICROMASS UK LIMITEDInventors: Oliver John Malpas, James Paul Harrison, Bharat Chande, John Iveson
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Patent number: 11017990Abstract: A miniature mass spectrometer includes an atmospheric pressure ionisation source and a first vacuum chamber having an atmospheric pressure sampling orifice or capillary, a second vacuum chamber downstream of the first vacuum chamber, and a third vacuum chamber downstream of the second vacuum chamber. An ion detector is located in the third vacuum chamber. A first RF ion guide is located within the first vacuum chamber and a second RF ion guide is located within the second vacuum chamber. The ion path length from the atmospheric pressure sampling orifice or capillary to an ion detecting surface of the ion detector is ?400 mm. The mass spectrometer also includes a tandem quadrupole mass analyser, 3D ion trap mass analyser, 2D or linear ion trap mass analyser, Time of Flight mass analyser, quadrupole-Time of Flight mass analyser, or electrostatic mass analyser arranged in the third vacuum chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2020Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: David Gordon, Daniel James Kenny
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Patent number: 11011363Abstract: An ambient ionisation ion source is disclosed that comprises a first device arranged and adapted to generate analyte ions from a target and an enclosure surrounding the first device. The enclosure includes one or more gas inlets and one or more gas outlets. The ambient ionisation ion source also comprises a second device arranged and adapted to supply the enclosure with a first gas via the one or more gas inlets such that the enclosure is maintained, in use, at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2017Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: Philippa J. Hart, Mark W. Towers, Paul R. Murray
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Patent number: 11004668Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a first device, a second device and a switch arranged and adapted: (i) to direct ions at a first time T1 to the first device and to substantially prevent ions from entering the second device; and (ii) to direct ions at a second later time T2 to the second device and to substantially prevent ions from entering the first device. At the first time T1 the second device may not be in an operational state to potentially optimally fragment, react, mass filter or otherwise process ions since the second device may be in a process of equilibration, changing state, re-filling, recharging, transition, replenishing, switching voltage or altering an operational parameter.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: Martin Raymond Green, David J. Langridge, Keith Richardson, Jason Lee Wildgoose
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Publication number: 20210134582Abstract: A mass spectrometer comprising: an ion energy filter 14 arranged and configured to filter ions according to their kinetic energy and so as to only transmit ions having a component of kinetic energy in a first dimension (z-dimension) that is within a selected range; and a multi-reflecting time of flight mass analyser or mass separator 1 having an ion accelerator 6, and two gridless ion mirrors 2 that are elongated in the first dimension (z-dimension) and configured to reflect ions multiple times in a second orthogonal dimension (x-dimension), wherein the ion accelerator 6 is arranged to receive ions from the energy filter 14 and accelerate the ions into one of the ion mirrors 2.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2019Publication date: May 6, 2021Applicant: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: Boris Kozlov, Irina Vasileva
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Publication number: 20210134581Abstract: A multi-pass time-of-flight mass spectrometer is disclosed having an elongated orthogonal accelerator (30). The orthogonal accelerator (30) has electrodes (31) that are transparent to the ions so that ions that are reflected or turned back towards it are able to pass through the orthogonal accelerator (30). The electrodes (31) of the orthogonal accelerator (30) may be pulsed from ground potential in order to avoid the reflected or turned ion packets being defocused. The spectrometer has a high duty cycle and/or space charge capacity of pulsed conversion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2019Publication date: May 6, 2021Applicant: Micromass UK LimitedInventor: Anatoly Verenchikov
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Publication number: 20210125818Abstract: A method of introducing and ejecting ions from an ion entry/exit device (4) is disclosed. The ion entry/exit device (4) has at least two arrays of electrodes (20,22). The device is operated in a first mode wherein DC potentials are successively applied to successive electrodes of at least one of the electrode arrays ((20,22) in a first direction such that a potential barrier moves along the at least one array in the first direction and drives ions into and/or out of the device in the first direction. The device is also operated in a second mode, wherein DC potentials are successively applied to successive electrodes of at least one of the electrode arrays (20,22) in a second, different direction such that a potential barrier moves along the array in the second direction and drives ions into and/or out of the device in the second direction. The device provides a single, relatively simple device for manipulating ions in multiple directions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2020Publication date: April 29, 2021Applicant: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: Kevin Giles, David J. Langridge, Jason Lee Wildgoose
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Patent number: 10991560Abstract: A method of mass or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed that uses the Leidenfrost effect to cause a liquid to be repelled away from a heated surface so as to levitate above there-above. The repelled liquid is urged so as to move along the surface in a predetermined direction, for example, by the geometric configuration of the heated surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: Jeffery Mark Brown, Steve Bajic, Steven Derek Pringle
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Patent number: 10991567Abstract: A method of operating a quadrupole device is disclosed that comprises operating the quadrupole device in a first mode of operation, passing ions into the quadrupole device while the quadrupole device is operated in the first mode of operation, and then operating the quadrupole device in a second mode of operation. Operating the quadrupole device in the second mode of operation comprises applying one or more drive voltages to the quadrupole device, and operating the quadrupole device in the first mode of operation comprises applying one or more reduced drive voltages or not applying one or more drive voltages to the quadrupole device.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2017Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: MICROMASS UK LIMITEDInventors: David J. Langridge, Martin Raymond Green
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Patent number: 10991562Abstract: An ion source for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ultrasonic transducer which focuses ultrasonic energy onto a surface of a sample fluid without directly contacting the sample fluid.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: Michael Raymond Morris, Steven Derek Pringle, Keith Richardson, Ian Sinclair
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Publication number: 20210109069Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising repeatedly or continuously causing first analyte sample to be released or ejected from a first sample. A determination is made as to whether or not a quality threshold such as an intensity threshold has been met or exceeded, wherein if the quality threshold has been met or exceeded then the method further comprises repeatedly or continuously causing second analyte sample to be released or ejected from a second sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: Gareth Rhys Jones, Michael McCullagh, Alastair Murray Booth
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Patent number: 10978288Abstract: A miniature mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an atmospheric pressure ionisation source 701, a first vacuum chamber having an atmospheric pressure sampling orifice or capillary, a second vacuum chamber located downstream of the first vacuum chamber and a third vacuum chamber located downstream of the second vacuum chamber. A first vacuum pump 707 is arranged and adapted to pump the first vacuum chamber, wherein the first vacuum pump is arranged and adapted to maintain the first vacuum chamber at a pressure <10 mbar. A first RF ion guide 702 is located within the first vacuum chamber and an ion detector 705 is located in the third vacuum chamber. The ion path length from the atmospheric pressure sampling orifice or capillary to an ion detecting surface of the ion detector 705 is ?400 mm.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: David Gordon, Daniel James Kenny
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Patent number: 10978284Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising obtaining or acquiring image or other data from one or more regions of a target using an imaging sensor. The image or other data may then be used to determine one or more regions of interest of the target. An ambient ionisation ion source may then be used to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of the target.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2016Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Micromass UK LimitedInventors: Steven Derek Pringle, Michael Raymond Morris, Julia Balog, Emrys Jones, Keith Richardson, James Ian Langridge, Daniel Simon, Lajos Godorhazy, Daniel Szalay, Zoltan Takats