Abstract: Provided are pharmaceutical compositions and methods for preparing pharmaceutical compositions comprising Ibuprofen using solventless mixing methods. Excess coating material that is not bound to coated Ibuprofen may be removed by a sieving process. Coating and dosing ratios can also be optimized to minimize the amount of excess unbound coating material. Additionally, the compositions can be formulated to preserve the functional coating of coated Ibuprofen and to minimize aeration of Ibuprofen when mixed into suspension.

Abstract: The invention relates to hybrid IMS/MS systems and provides hybrid IMS/MS system comprising an RF funnel, an ion mobility analyzer and a mass analyzer wherein the RF funnel is arranged non-collinearly to the ion mobility analyzer, preferably a TIMS analyzer (TIMS=trapped ion mobility spectrometry).

Abstract: The invention relates to hybrid IMS/MS systems and provides hybrid IMS/MS system comprising an RF funnel, an ion mobility analyzer and a mass analyzer wherein the RF funnel is arranged non-collinearly to the ion mobility analyzer, preferably a TIMS analyzer (TIMS=trapped ion mobility spectrometry).

Abstract: An Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) source interfaced to a mass spectrometer is configured with a corona discharge needle positioned inside the APCI inlet probe assembly. Liquid sample flowing into the APCI inlet probe is nebulized and vaporized prior to passing through the corona discharge region all contained in the APCI inlet probe assembly Ions produced in the corona discharge region are focused toward the APCI probe centerline to maximize ion transmission through the APCI probe exit. External electric fields penetrating into the APCI probe exit end opening providing additional centerline focusing of sample ions exiting the APCI probe. The APCI probe is configured to shield the electric field from the corona discharge region while allowing penetration of an external electric field to focus APCI generated ions into an orifice into vacuum for mass to charge analysis.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating ions includes an Electrospray ionization source configured to provide a spray of charged droplets from a sample solution during operation of the apparatus; an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source including a corona discharge needle configured to produce a corona discharge that further ionizes the spray during operation of the apparatus; and a gas delivery system configured to deliver a gas flow to the corona discharge needle during operation of the apparatus, wherein the gas flow comprises a reagent ion gas which facilitates ionization of the spray by the corona discharge.

Abstract: A multiple function atmospheric pressure ion source interfaced to a mass spectrometer comprises multiple liquid inlet probes configured such that the sprays from two or more probes intersect in a mixing region. Gas phase sample ions or neutral species generated in the spray of one probe can react with reagent gas ions generated from one or more other probes by such ionization methods as Electrospray, photoionization, corona discharge and glow discharge ionization. Reagent ions may be optimally selected to promote such processes as Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization of neutral sample molecules, or charge reduction or electron transfer dissociation of multiply charged sample ions. Selected neutral reagent species can also be introduced into the mixing region to promote charge reduction of multiply charged sample ions through ion-neutral reactions. Different operating modes can be performed alternately or simultaneously, and can be rapidly turned on and off under manual or software control.

Abstract: An Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) source interfaced to a mass spectrometer is configured with a corona discharge needle positioned inside the APCI inlet probe assembly. Liquid sample flowing into the APCI inlet probe is nebulized and vaporized prior to passing through the corona discharge region all contained in the APCI inlet probe assembly Ions produced in the corona discharge region are focused toward the APCI probe centerline to maximize ion transmission through the APCI probe exit. External electric fields penetrating into the APCI probe exit end opening providing additional centerline focusing of sample ions exiting the APCI probe. The APCI probe is configured to shield the electric field from the corona discharge region while allowing penetration of an external electric field to focus APCI generated ions into an orifice into vacuum for mass to charge analysis.

Abstract: A multiple function atmospheric pressure ion source interfaced to a mass spectrometer comprises multiple liquid inlet probes configured such that the sprays from two or more probes intersect in a mixing region. Gas phase sample ions or neutral species generated in the spray of one probe can react with reagent gas ions generated from one or more other probes by such ionization methods as Electrospray, photoionization, corona discharge and glow discharge ionization. Reagent ions may be optimally selected to promote such processes as Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization of neutral sample molecules, or charge reduction or electron transfer dissociation of multiply charged sample ions. Selected neutral reagent species can also be introduced into the mixing region to promote charge reduction of multiply charged sample ions through ion-neutral reactions. Different operating modes can be performed alternately or simultaneously, and can be rapidly turned on and off under manual or software control.

Abstract: An Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) source interfaced to a mass spectrometer is configured with a corona discharge needle positioned inside the APCI inlet probe assembly. Liquid sample flowing into the APCI inlet probe is nebulized and vaporized prior to passing through the corona discharge region all contained in the APCI inlet probe assembly Ions produced in the corona discharge region are focused toward the APCI probe centerline to maximize ion transmission through the APCI probe exit. External electric fields penetrating into the APCI probe exit end opening providing additional centerline focusing of sample ions exiting the APCI probe. The APCI probe is configured to shield the electric field from the corona discharge region while allowing penetration of an external electric field to focus APCI generated ions into an orifice into vacuum for mass to charge analysis.

Abstract: A multiple function atmospheric pressure ion source interfaced to a mass spectrometer comprises multiple liquid inlet probes configured such that the sprays from two or more probes intersect in a mixing region. Gas phase sample ions or neutral species generated in the spray of one probe can react with reagent gas ions generated from one or more other probes by such ionization methods as Electrospray, photoionization, corona discharge and glow discharge ionization. Reagent ions may be optimally selected to promote such processes as Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization of neutral sample molecules, or charge reduction or electron transfer dissociation of multiply charged sample ions. Selected neutral reagent species can also be introduced into the mixing region to promote charge reduction of multiply charged sample ions through ion-neutral reactions. Different operating modes can be performed alternately or simultaneously, and can be rapidly turned on and off under manual or software control.

Abstract: Charged droplet spray is formed from a solution with all or a portion of the charged droplet spray current generated from reduction or oxidation (redox) reactions occurring on surfaces removed from the first or sample solution flow path. In one embodiment of the invention, two solution flow channels are separated by a semipermeable membrane. A first or sample solution flowing through the first solution flow channel exchanges cation or anion charged species through the semipermeable membrane with a second solution or gas flowing through the second flow channel. Charge exchange is driven by the electric field applied at the charged droplet sprayer sample solution outlet. Redox reactions occur at an electrode surface in contact with the second solution. The invention increases the control and range of the Electrospray ionization process during ES/MS operation.

Abstract: An improved sample introduction probe is disclosed for the production of ions from liquid sample solutions in an electrospray ion source. Nebulization of a liquid sample emerging from the end of an inner flow tube is pneumatically assisted by gas flowing from the end of an outer gas flow tube essentially coaxial with the inner sample flow tube. The disclosed probe provides for adjustment of the relative axial positions of the ends of the liquid and gas flow tubes without degrading the precise concentricity between the inner and outer tubes. Additionally, the terminal portion of the outer gas flow tube may be fabricated either from a conductive or dielectric material, thereby allowing the pneumatic nebulization and electrospray processes to be optimized separately and independently. Hence, the disclosed invention provides a pneumatically-assisted electrospray probe with improved mechanical and operational stability, reliability, reproducibility, and ease of use compared to prior art probes.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for trapping, manipulation and transferring ions along RF and DC potential surfaces and through RF ion guides. Potential wells are formed near RF-field generating surfaces due to the overlap of the radio-frequency (RF) fields and electrostatic fields created by static potentials applied to surrounding electrodes. Ions can be constrained and accumulated over time in such wells. During confinement, ions may be subjected to various processes, such as accumulation, fragmentation, collisional cooling, focusing, mass-to-charge filtering, spatial separation ion mobility and chemical interactions, leading to improved performance in subsequent processing and analysis steps, such as mass analysis. Alternatively, the motion of ions may be better manipulated during confinement to improve the efficiency of their transport to specific locations, such as an entrance aperture into vacuum from atmospheric pressure or into a subsequent vacuum stage.

Abstract: Atmospheric pressure, intermediate pressure and vacuum laser desorption ionization methods and ion sources are configured to increase ionization efficiency and the efficiency of transmitting ions to a mass to charge analyzer or ion mobility analyzer. An electric field is applied in the region of a sample target to accumulate ions generated from a local ion source on a solid or liquid phase sample prior to applying a laser desorption pulse. The electric field is changed just prior to or during the desorption laser pulse to promote the desorption of charged species and improve the ionization efficiency of desorbed sample species. After a delay, the electric field may be further changed to optimize focusing and transmission of ions into a mass spectrometer or ion mobility analyzer.

Abstract: A Time-Of-Flight mass spectrometer is configured with a pulsing region and electronic controls that generate a potential well for ions in the pulsing region, due to the repelling effect of a high-frequency electric field that is created in the space immediately proximate to a surface, and an additional static electric field that accelerates ions toward the surface. Ions can be constrained and accumulated over time in the potential well prior to acceleration into the Time-Of-Flight tube for mass analysis. Ions can also be directed to collide with the surface with high energy to cause Surface Induced Dissociation (SID) fragmentation, or with low energy to effect collisional cooling, hence, better spatial focusing, prior to mass analysis. The apparatus and methods described in the invention result in refined control of ion fragmentation energy and improved Time-Of-Flight mass analysis performance.

Abstract: A Time-Of-Flight mass spectrometer is configured with a pulsing region and electronic controls that generate a potential well for ions in the pulsing region, due to the repelling effect of a high-frequency electric field that is created in the space immediately proximate to a surface, and an additional static electric field that accelerates ions toward the surface. Ions can be constrained and accumulated over time in the potential well prior to acceleration into the Time-Of-Flight tube for mass analysis. Ions can also be directed to collide with the surface with high energy to cause Surface Induced Dissociation (SID) fragmentation, or with low energy to effect collisional cooling, hence, better spatial focusing, prior to mass analysis. The apparatus and methods described in the invention result in refined control of ion fragmentation energy and improved Time-Of-Flight mass analysis performance.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus which combines at least one linear two dimensional ion guide or a two dimensional ion storage device in tandem with a time-of-flight mass analyzer to analyze ionic chemical species generated by an ion source. The method improves the duty cycle, and therefore, the overall instrument sensitivity with respect to the analyzed chemical species.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus which combines a linear two dimensional ion guide or a two dimensional ion storage device in tandem with a time-of-flight mass analyzer to analyze ionic chemical species generated by an ion source. The method improves the duty cycle, and therefore, the overall instrument sensitivity with respect to the analyzed chemical species.

Abstract: A method of changing the energy of charged particles contained in a gas comprises allowing the gas to flow into a region of reduced pressure through a tube like member so that viscous forces exerted on the charged particles by the flowing gas molecules determine the kinetic energy of the charged particles. A potential gradient is maintained along the length of the tube so that the potential energy of the charged particles is changed as they pass through the tube. At the end of the tube a free jet expansion occurs so that the kinetic energy of the charged particles is no longer determined by the flowing gas, so that they can be accelerated to any desired kinetic energy by means of another potential gradient.The invention can be used to interface any high pressure ion source to a magnetic sector mass spectrometer, or to permit the operation of an electrospray ion source with an earthed inlet capillary with either a quadrupole or a magnetic sector mass spectrometer.