Abstract: A method of ionising a sample is provided, comprising providing a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample contains an analyte, applying one or more pulses of acoustic energy to the fluid sample to cause a spray of the fluid sample to eject from the surface of the fluid sample, and applying an AC, RF or alternating voltage to the fluid sample using an electrode.

Abstract: A method of ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: transmitting a plurality of ions to an ion mobility separator 6; modulating the introduction of the ions into the ion mobility separator 6 at a first modulation frequency; separating the ions that enter the ion mobility separator 6 according to ion mobility; detecting ions that have exited the ion mobility separator with a detector of a time of flight mass analyser 8; varying the first modulation frequency with time; recording the intensity of the ion signal output from the detector to produce recorded data; modulating the recorded data as a function of the time that the data was recorded and at a second modulation frequency, wherein the second modulation frequency is varied as a function of the time that the data was recorded; and determining, from the variation in intensity of the ion signal in the modulated data as a function of the second modulation frequency, the ion mobilities of the ions that have been detected.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising obtaining first data at a first time and/or location and second data at a second subsequent time and/or location. A future trend or rate of change in the data is predicted from the first and second data. An attenuation factor of an attenuation device is adjusted in response to the predicted future trend or rate of change in the data so as to maintain operation of a detector or detector system within the dynamic range of the detector or detector system and/or to prevent saturation of the detector or detector system.

Abstract: A mass filter is disclosed having at least one electrode (42-48) comprising an aperture (43) or recess. Voltages are applied to the electrodes (42-48) of the mass filter such that ions having mass to charge ratios in a desired range are confined by the electrodes and are transmitted along and through the mass filter, whereas ions (47,49) having mass to charge ratios outside of said desired range are unstable and pass into the aperture (43) or recess such that they are filtered out by the mass filter. The aperture (43) or recess reduces or eliminates the number of ions that would otherwise impact the electrode surface facing the ion transmission axis and hence reduces degradation of the ion transmission properties of the mass filter.

Abstract: A mass and/or ion mobility spectrometer 100 comprises a sample plate 102 that supports a target sample 104. The spectrometer 100 further comprises a laser source 110 that generates a series of laser pulses 112 and a control system 118 that moves a focal point of the laser source 110 substantially continuously across the sample plate 102 such that respective packets of ions are generated by respective laser pulses 112 impinging upon respective locations on the target sample 104. The control system 118 performs plural cycles of ion analysis that each produce a set of spectral data corresponding to one or more of the packets of ions. The spectrometer 100 can provide mass and/or ion mobility spectrometry having increased speed and efficiency.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising digitising a signal output from a detector to provide a first digitised signal. A finite impulse response (“FIR”) filter, a digital filter or an echo cancellation filter is applied to the first digitised signal in order to reduce the effect of baseline perturbations, echoes or ringing effects. Alternatively, an analogue signal output from a detector is passed to one or more first power splitters or dividers, wherein one or more first transmission lines are attached to one or more ports of one more said first power splitters or dividers in order to reduce the effect of baseline perturbations, echoes or ringing effects.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising: applying voltages to a mass filter or ion trap such that it is capable of transmitting or ejecting ions having mass to charge ratios within separate first and second mass to charge ratio windows; varying said voltages with time such that the first and second windows are moved simultaneously across different ranges of mass to charge ratio; detecting ions transmitted or ejected in the windows, or ions derived therefrom, with an ion detector; and deconvolving the resulting ion signal, wherein said deconvolving comprises: a) modelling an ion signal expected to be detected at the detector; b) comparing the model signal to the ion signal from the detector; and c) determining if the model signal matches the ion signal from the detector.

Abstract: A GC fitting for an inner tube of a heated transfer line of a gas chromatography interface probe, the fitting comprising a first section comprising a substantially cylindrical projection for fluid connection to a GC source in use, and a second section having a larger radius than the first section in at least one direction, the second section being provided with at least one flat.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a method of separating ions according to their ion mobility, comprising (i) accumulating a first population of ions in a first region of an ion mobility separator, (ii) separating said first population of ions according to their ion mobility in said first region of said ion mobility separator, and (iii) accumulating a second population of ions in said first region of said ion mobility separator whilst said first population of ions are being separated according to their ion mobility in said ion mobility separator.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed in which analyte ions of a desired charge state are isolated. The method comprises: separating analytes according to their electrophoretic mobility; ionising the analytes; and mass filtering the resulting analyte ions, wherein the mass to charge ratios of the ions transmitted by a mass filter are varied as a function of the electrophoretic mobility and according to a predetermined relationship such that substantially only ions having said desired charge state are transmitted by the mass filter.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising a first device for generating aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of a target, an inlet conduit to an ion analyser or mass spectrometer, the inlet conduit having an inlet through which the aerosol, smoke or vapour passes, and a Venturi pump arrangement arranged and adapted to direct the aerosol, smoke or vapour towards the inlet.

Abstract: A method of spectrometric analysis comprises obtaining one or more sample spectra for an aerosol, smoke or vapour sample. The one or more sample spectra are subjected to pre-processing and then multivariate and/or library based analysis so as to classify the aerosol, smoke or vapour sample. The results of the analysis are used for various surgical or non-surgical applications.

Abstract: A miniature mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an atmospheric pressure ionization source and 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. 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 further comprises a tandem quadrupole mass analyzer, a 3D ion trap mass analyzer, a 2D or linear ion trap mass analyzer, a Time of Flight mass analyzer, a quadrupole-Time of Flight mass analyzer or an electrostatic mass analyzer arranged in the third vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A method of time-of-flight mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising: providing two ion mirrors (42) that are spaced apart in a first dimension (X-dimension) and that are each elongated in a second dimension (Z-dimension) orthogonal to the first dimension; introducing packets of ions (47) into the space between the mirrors using an ion introduction mechanism (43) such that the ions repeatedly oscillate in the first dimension (X-dimension) between the mirrors (42) as they drift through said space in the second dimension (Z-dimension); oscillating the ions in a third dimension (Y-dimension) orthogonal to both the first and second dimensions as the ions drift through said space in the second dimension (Z-dimension); and receiving the ions in or on an ion receiving mechanism (44) after the ions have oscillated multiple times in the first dimension (X-dimension); wherein at least part of the ion introduction mechanism (43) and/or at least part of the ion receiving mechanism (44) is arranged between the mirrors (42

Abstract: An analytical device for analysing ions is provided comprising a separator 2 for separating ions according to a physico-chemical property and an interface 3 comprising one or more ion guides. A quadrupole rod set mass filter 4 is arranged downstream of the interface 3. A control system is arranged and adapted: (i) to transmit a first group of ions which emerges from the separator 2 through the interface 3 with a first transit time t1; and (ii) to transmit a second group of ions which subsequently emerges from the separator 2 through the interface 3 with a second different transit time t2.