Patents Assigned to Micromass UK Limited
  • Mass spectrometer
    Patent number: 10724990
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer or separator and an ion guide arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. A plurality of axial potential wells are created in the ion guide so that ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator become confined in separate axial potential wells. The potential wells maintain the fidelity and/or composition of ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. The potential wells are translated along the length of the ion guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: MICROMASS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Harold Bateman, Kevin Giles, Steven Derek Pringle, Jason Lee Wildgoose
  • Sample mass spectrum analysis
    Patent number: 10714210
    Abstract: A method of analysing a sample mass spectrum comprises comparing a sample mass spectrum of a sample with each reference mass spectrum of plural reference mass spectra. A similarity index is assigned to each reference mass spectrum of the plural reference mass spectra based on similarity between the sample mass spectrum and the reference mass spectrum. For each group of one or more groups of the plural reference mass spectra, the similarity indexes for the reference mass spectra belonging to the group are combined so as to provide a group index for the group at a first level of a hierarchy of sample characteristics. The reference mass spectra belonging to each group are mass spectra of reference samples that have a particular characteristic in common. The method provides a way to categorise a sample as belonging to a particular group of reference samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Keith George Richardson, Steven Derek Pringle
  • Glow discharge ion source
    Patent number: 10714325
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a glow discharge device within the initial vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer. The glow discharge device may comprise a tubular electrode located within an isolation valve, which is provided in the vacuum chamber. Reagent vapour may be provided through the tubular electrode, which is then subsequently ionised by the glow discharge. The resulting reagent ions may be used for Electron Transfer Dissociation of analyte ions generated by an atmospheric pressure ion source. Other embodiments are contemplated wherein the ions generated by the glow discharge device may be used to reduce the charge state of analyte ions by Proton Transfer Reaction or may act as lock mass or reference ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Jeffery Mark Brown, Martin Raymond Green, Steven Derek Pringle
  • COMPOSITIONS, METHODS, AND KITS FOR QUANTIFYING METHOTREXATE
    Publication number: 20200216453
    Abstract: The invention relates to stable, isotopically labeled variants of methotrexate for use in mass spectrometry analysis for quantifying methotrexate in a sample. The compounds have the structure wherein each of Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5, Y6, Y7, Y8, Y9, Y10, Y11<Y12-Y13 and Y14 is independently selected from carbon or carbon-13; and wherein at least 5 of Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5, Y6, Y7, Y8, Y9, Y10, Y11, Y12, Y13 and Y14 are carbon-13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Donald Peter Cooper, Billy J. Molloy
  • Method of associating precursor and product ions
    Patent number: 10697932
    Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising selecting a modification of interest that may modify the mass to charge ratios of precursor ions of interest when said precursor ions are subjected to a fragmentation or reaction condition for producing product ions. The method then filters the product ions (or product ion data) such that only a subset of the product ions are transmitted and detected (or a subset of the data remains) and so as to exclude product ions (or product ion data) that could not have possibly resulted from the modification of interest. This significantly simplifies the product ion data, enabling the product ions to be identified or compared to precursor ion spectra more efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: MICROMASS UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Jason Lee Wildgoose
  • Ion guide
    Patent number: 10699889
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ion guide comprising a plurality of axially stacked plates, wherein at least some or all of said plates comprise: a first electrically conductive portion; and a second electrically conductive portion, wherein the second electrically conductive portion is electrically isolated from the first electrically conductive portion, the first and second electrically conductive portions being shaped and arranged relative to each other so as to define an opening through which ions are axially transmitted in use; wherein, in use, a first AC or RF voltage is applied to the first electrically conductive portion and a second AC or RF voltage is applied to the second electrically conductive portion in order to confine ions radially within said opening. The first and second electrically conductive portions (1, 2) may be separately formed and interleaved within the ion guide to define the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: MICROMASS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen Patrick Slater, John Iveson, Oliver John Malpas, Bharat Chande, David Gordon
  • Method of FT-IMS using frequency modulation
    Patent number: 10684255
    Abstract: A method of Fourier Transform ion mobility mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising determining the presence of different types of ions by determining that the different types of ions have different combinations of ion mobility and mass to charge ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Martin Raymond Green, Keith George Richardson
  • Fast method to analyse blood samples for the identification of hemoglobin variants using electron transfer dissociation
    Patent number: 10684288
    Abstract: A method of screening or testing a sample is disclosed that comprises ionising a native human hemoglobin sample to generate parent or precursor ions, subjecting the parent or precursor ions to Electron Transfer Dissociation fragmentation so as to generate a plurality of fragment ions, mass analysing the fragment ions and determining whether or not the fragment ions include fragment ions which are indicative of a variant of hemoglobin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: MICROMASS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Malcolm Anderson, Jeffery Mark Brown, Jonathan Williams
  • Miniature ion source of fixed geometry
    Patent number: 10679840
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an atmospheric pressure interface comprising a gas cone 6 having an inlet aperture, wherein the gas cone 6 has a first longitudinal axis arranged along an x-axis and an Electrospray ion source comprising a first capillary tube 2 having an outlet and having a second longitudinal axis and a second capillary tube 3 which surrounds the first capillary tube 2. The mass spectrometer further comprises a desolvation gas supply tube and a first device arranged and adapted to supply an analyte liquid via the first capillary tube 2 so that the liquid exits the outlet of the first capillary tube 2 at a flow rate >200 ?L/min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Micromass UK LImited
    Inventors: Stevan Bajic, David Gordon, Daniel James Kenny, Richard Barrington Moulds, Stephen O'Brien, Ian Trivett, Kate Whyatt
  • Liquid trap or separator for electrosurgical applications
    Patent number: 10679836
    Abstract: An apparatus for mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising a first device arranged and adapted to generate aerosol, smoke or vapor from a target and one or more second devices arranged and adapted to aspirate aerosol, smoke, vapor and/or liquid to or towards an analyzer. A liquid trap or separator is provided to capture and/or discard liquid aspirated by the one or more second devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Tamas Karancsi, Lajos Godorhazy, Daniel Szalay, Zoltan Takats, Julia Balog, Steven Derek Pringle, Daniel Simon
  • MOBILITY AND MASS MEASUREMENT USING TIME-VARYING ELECTRIC FIELDS
    Publication number: 20200161119
    Abstract: A method of ion mobility and/or mass spectrometry is disclosed in which the ion mobility and/or mass to charge ratio of an ion is determined using an algorithm or relationship that relates the transit time or average ion velocity of the ion through an ion separation device in which one or more time-varying electric field is used to separate ions passing therethrough to one or more parameters for the device, the mass to charge ratio of the ion and the ion mobility of the ion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Keith George Richardson, Kevin Giles, Steven Derek Pringle, Jason Lee Wildgoose, David J. Langridge
  • Spectrometric analysis
    Patent number: 10658166
    Abstract: A method of mass or mobility spectrometry comprising obtaining one or more sample spectra for a 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 sample. Before the sample spectra are acquired, a library of background spectra, each background spectrum relating to a certain class of sample material, is constructed. The background spectra in this library are used to subtract the background from a sample spectrum during the pre-processing of this sample spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Keith George Richardson, Steven Derek Pringle
  • Ion mirror and ion-optical lens for imaging
    Patent number: 10636646
    Abstract: An ion mirror is disclosed comprising an ion entrance electrode section (62) at the ion entrance to the ion mirror, an energy focussing electrode section (66) for reflecting ions back along a longitudinal axis towards said ion entrance, and a spatial focussing electrode section (64) arranged between the ion entrance electrode section (62) and the energy focussing electrode section (66) for spatially focussing the ions. One or more DC voltage supply is provided to apply a DC potential to the ion entrance electrode section (62) that is intermediate the DC potential applied to the spatial focussing electrode section (64) and the DC potential applied to the energy focussing electrode section (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: John Brian Hoyes, Anatoly Verenchikov, Mikhail Yavor, Keith Richardson
  • Imaging mass spectrometer
    Patent number: 10629425
    Abstract: A time-of-flight mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising ion optics that map an array of ions at an ion source array (71) to a corresponding array of positions on a position sensitive ion detector (79). The ion optics include at least one gridless ion mirror (76) for reflecting ions, which may compensate for various aberrations and allows the spectrometer to have relatively high mass and spatial resolutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: MICROMASS UK LIMITED, LECO CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Brian Hoyes, Anatoly Verenchikov, Mikhail Yavor, Keith Richardson, Jason Wildgoose
  • Optimised ion mobility separation timescales for targeted ions
    Patent number: 10613054
    Abstract: An analytical device for analyzing 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Kevin Giles, Steven Derek Pringle, Jason Lee Wildgoose
  • Data dependent MS/MS analysis
    Patent number: 10615014
    Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising comparing mass spectral data so as to identify a precursor ion in the mass spectral data that has a predetermined mass difference to a product ion in the mass spectral data; and determining whether said precursor ion is a precursor ion of interest by comparing the ion signal profile for the precursor ion with the ion signal profile for the product ion. If the profiles match then the precursor ion is determined to be an ion of interest. When a precursor ion is determined to be an ion of interest, the precursor ion is isolated from other precursor ions, fragmented or reacted so as to produce product ions, and the product ions are analysed so as to obtain product ion data that can be used to identify the precursor ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Keith Richardson, Jason Lee Wildgoose
  • Coupling intermediate pressure regions
    Patent number: 10607828
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for coupling a first chamber of a mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer containing a first gas and a second chamber containing a second gas. The method comprises providing an intermediate region between the first and second chambers that is operated at a lower pressure to substantially prevent or reduce ingress of the first gas into the second chamber and/or of the second gas into the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: MICROMASS UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Kevin Giles
  • Hybrid mass spectrometer
    Patent number: 10600627
    Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising separating ions temporally in a first device and analysing the mass or mass to charge ratio of the ions or of product or fragment ions derived from the ions in a mass or mass to charge ratio analyser disposed downstream of the first device. The method further comprises obtaining a first set of drift times for the ions through the first device by measuring ion arrival times and determining the transit time of the ions and/or of the product or fragment ions through one or more intermediate regions or devices disposed between the first device and the mass to charge ratio analyser. The method further comprises obtaining a second set of drift times for the ions through the first device by correcting the first set of drift times to account for the determined transit times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Kevin Giles, David J. Langridge, Steven Derek Pringle, Keith Richardson, Jason Lee Wildgoose
  • Oversampled time of flight mass spectrometry
    Patent number: 10600630
    Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising passing ions to an oversampled Time of Flight mass analyser (4) and sequentially recording ion signals on a plurality of different channels (51, 52) to obtain a plurality of first oversampled mass spectral data sets of reduced complexity. An upstream separation device (3) may be provided to further reduce the complexity of each of the mass spectral data sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: John Brian Hoyes, Richard Denny, Jason Lee Wildgoose, Peter Nixon
  • Mass spectrometer
    Patent number: D887295
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignees: Micromass UK Limited, 257 Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Carney, Matthew J. Henderson, Haydn Murray, Arthur Blake, Andrew Pawson