Abstract: A mass spectrometry system having a simplified control interface includes a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that when executed cause the processor to perform the steps of providing a user interface including a plurality of adjustment elements for adjusting at least one results effective parameter and at least one sample descriptive parameter; determining a plurality of instrument control parameters based on the at least one results effective parameter and the at least one sample descriptive parameter; and analyzing a sample while operating according to the plurality of instrument control parameters.

Abstract: Control of an amplitude of a signal applied to rods of a quadrupole is described. In one aspect, a mass spectrometer includes an amplifier circuit that causes a radio frequency (RF) signal to be applied to the rods of the quadrupole based on an amplifier RF input signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) can generate a digital representation of the RF signal. A controller circuit can receive the digital representation and adjust an amplitude of the amplifier RF input signal based on differences between an amplitude of a fundamental frequency of the RF signal being different than an expected amplitude.

Abstract: A signal processing assembly for a detector includes a signal amplifier, a control unit, and an offset control module. The signal amplifier is configured to receive an input signal from the detector assembly and to provide an output signal. The control unit is configured to compare a first data point from the output signal with a signal range, and to generate an input bias control signal based upon the comparison. The offset control module is coupled with the control unit and configured to receive the input bias control signal. The offset control module includes a power supply operatively coupled with an input of the signal amplifier, and the offset control module is configured to generate and apply an adaptive input offset signal at the input of the signal amplifier based upon the input bias control signal.

Abstract: A system comprises: a vacuum chamber disposed within a housing and having a vacuum port; a vacuum pump within the housing and having a gas inlet port that is fluidically coupled to the vacuum port; and a fluid circuit that comprises: one or more fluidic tubing lines, channels or conduits in thermal contact with a housing of the vacuum pump; a liquid pump fluidically coupled to an inlet of the one or more fluidic tubing lines, channels or conduits; and a heat exchanger having a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet, wherein the heat exchanger inlet is fluidically coupled to an outlet of the one or more fluidic tubing lines, channels or conduits and the heat exchanger outlet is fluidically coupled to the liquid pump. The fluid circuit may also include a portion that is in thermal contact with the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: Using ion mobility separation to improve a duty cycle of a mass spectrometer is described. In one aspect, a mass spectrometer can use an ion-mobility spectrometer to allow for more multiply-charged ions to transmit through than singly-charged ions. This results in a mass analyzer to perform a mass analysis with more multiply-charged ions.

Abstract: A tuning system may acquire, from a mass spectrometer during a batch of one or more analytical runs performed with the mass spectrometer, tune data associated with an operating characteristic of the mass spectrometer. The tuning system may determine, based on the tune data, a value of an operating parameter configured to adjust the operating characteristic of the mass spectrometer and set the operating parameter to the determined value.

Abstract: Control of an amplitude of a signal applied to rods of a quadrupole is described. In one aspect, a mass spectrometer includes an amplifier circuit that causes a radio frequency (RF) signal to be applied to the rods of the quadrupole. A controller circuit can determine that the actual amplitude of the RF signal differs than the expected amplitude and, in response, identify current and past environmental and performance parameters to adjust the amplitude.

Abstract: A connector for a gas chromatography (GC) column includes a receiving portion coupled to a ferrule receiving conical surface and a column holding portion. The column holding portion includes a column guide tube and a column retention spring to fix the axial position of the column and a compression spring to bias the column guide tube towards the ferrule receiving conical surface. When connected, a ferrule is compressed between the ferrule receiving conical surface and the column guide tube.

Abstract: A liquid chromatography monitoring system comprises a computer or electronic controller comprising computer-readable instructions operable to: (a) draw a fluid into a syringe pump; (b) configure a valve so as to fluidically couple the pump to either a fluidic pathway through a fluidic system or to a plug that prevents fluid flow; (c) cause the syringe pump to progressively compress the fluid therein or expel the fluid to the fluidic pathway, while measuring a pressure of the fluid; (d) determine a profile of the variation of the measured pressure; (e) compare the determined profile to an expected profile that depends upon the fluid; and (f) provide a notification of a sub-optimal operating condition or malfunction if the determined profile varies from the expected profile by greater than a predetermined tolerance.

Abstract: A device for a gas chromatograph (GC) system includes an injector connected to an inlet gas line and a conduit assembly. The inlet gas line is configured to pressurize an input end of a column and to deliver a split or purge flow. The conduit assembly includes a conduit surrounding the input end of the analytical column and coupled to a carrier gas line and a controller. The inlet gas line and the carrier gas line connect to a common gas source. The controller, connected to the conduit, has a first mode delivering a flow of carrier gas which is less than the column flow during an injection period to effect a sample transfer to the column and a second mode delivering a flow of carrier gas greater than the column flow following an injection period to prevent the split or purge flow from entering the column.

Abstract: A targeted quantitation system for mass spectrometry may acquire, while operating in a watch mode, a watch mode mass spectrum including mass peaks for ions produced from a plurality of internal standard variants added to a sample comprising a target analyte. Each internal standard variant included in the plurality of internal standard variants includes a unique isotopologue of the target analyte and is added to the sample in a unique amount. The targeted quantitation system may generate a calibration curve based on the watch mode mass spectrum. The targeted quantitation system may acquire, while operating in a quantitation mode, a quantitation mode mass spectrum including mass peaks for ions produced from the target analyte included in the sample. The targeted quantitation system may determine a concentration of the target analyte included in the sample based on the calibration curve and the second mass spectrum.

Abstract: An electrospray ion source for a mass spectrometer comprises: (i) a plurality of N electrospray emitters within an ionization compartment, wherein N?2; (ii) a mixing chamber; (iii) a plurality of N inlets, each inlet comprising a conduit configured to receive charged particles from a respective one of the electrospray emitters and to emit the charged particles into the mixing chamber; (iv) an outlet port either facing or within an intermediate-vacuum compartment; and (v) a heater in thermal contact with at least a portion of the mixing chamber.

Abstract: Real-time search (RTS) for mass spectrometry is described. In one aspect, a mass spectrometer can identify a candidate peptide for a product ion spectrum by searching a mass spectral database. While executing the search of the mass spectral database, a candidate peptide score representing a confidence of a match between the product ion spectrum and a theoretical mass spectrum stored in the mass spectral database is generated. A failing score can be promoted to a passing result based on attributes of the candidate peptide.

Abstract: A first multipole assembly includes a first plurality of rod electrodes arranged about an axis and configured to confine ions radially about the axis. A second multipole assembly disposed adjacent to the first multipole assembly includes a second plurality of rod electrodes arranged about the axis and configured to confine the ions radially about the axis. An orientation of the first multipole assembly about the axis is rotationally offset relative to an orientation of the second multipole assembly about the axis.

Abstract: A space-time buffer includes a plurality of discrete trapping regions and a controller. The plurality of discrete trapping regions is configured to trap ions as individual trapping regions or as combinations of trapping regions. The controller is configured to combine at least a portion of the plurality of trapping regions into a larger trap region; fill the larger trap region with a plurality of ions; split the larger trap region into individual trapping regions each containing a portion of the plurality of ions; and eject ions from the trapping regions.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a first electrospray emitter of a mass spectrometer comprises: changing an operating mode of the first electrospray emitter from a stable jet mode of operation to a dripping or pulsating mode of operation by lowering a magnitude of a voltage applied between a counter electrode and the first electrospray emitter, |V1|; moving the first electrospray emitter from a first emitter position from which electrospray ions are delivered to a mass spectrometer inlet to a second emitter position and, simultaneously, moving a second electrospray emitter from a third emitter position to a fourth emitter position; causing a cleaning solvent to flow through the first electrospray emitter at least until a droplet of the cleaning solvent forms on an exterior surface of the first electrospray emitter while operating the electrospray emitter in the dripping mode of operation; and causing the droplet to dislodge from the emitter exterior.

Abstract: An ion source assembly is described that includes an electron source configured to inject electrons into an ion volume to ionize an atom or molecule in the ion volume, wherein the electron source includes a filament. A lens electrode is positioned adjacent the electron source and includes an opening configured to pass electrons therethrough from the electron source into the ion volume. A supply voltage source is coupled to the filament and configured to supply a first voltage to the filament, wherein the first voltage is operable to ionize the molecules in the ion volume. Further, a bias voltage source is coupled to the supply voltage source and configured to supply a bias voltage to the lens electrode. Electrons striking the lens electrode are thereafter returned to the filament.

Abstract: A method comprises: aspirating a sample through a needle capillary into a chamber having first and second windows, the capillary and chamber both affixed to a moveable robotic arm; causing a light beam generated by a light source that is affixed to the robotic arm to pass through the sample between the windows; detecting, using a photodetector that is affixed to the robotic arm, a quantity of the light that passes through the sample and the windows; determining an optical absorbance of the sample and a concentration of an analyte in the sample from the detected quantity of light; determining a quantity of the sample to dispense into an analytical apparatus based on the determined concentration; moving the robotic arm so as to cause the needle capillary to mate with an inlet port of an analytical apparatus; and dispensing the determined quantity of the sample into the analytical apparatus.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices to dissociate ions using one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). A mass spectrometer for ion dissociation includes an ion source for providing ions for dissociation, a mass analyzer, and a photodissociation (PD) device. The PD device includes an ion transport device. The ion transport device is configured perform one or more of: transporting the ions through the PD device, and trapping the ions within a region of the PD device. The PD device also includes one or more LEDs positioned to irradiate the ions in the PD device, resulting in fragmentation of the ions.

Abstract: A system includes an optical measurement unit that measures an optical property of a whole blood sample deposited on a surface of a substrate, an ion source that causes ions derived from the whole blood sample, including ions formed from an analyte of interest present in the whole blood sample, to be emitted from the substrate, a mass analyzer that receives the ions emitted from the substrate and measures an abundance of at least one ion species corresponding to the analyte of interest, and at least one computing device that determines, based on the measured optical property, a hematocrit of the whole blood sample, and determines, based on the determined hematocrit of the whole blood sample and the measured abundance of the at least one ion species, a concentration of the analyte of interest per unit volume of blood plasma.