Abstract: A method and system for detecting a signal measurement error, the method including providing a well plate including error correction wells and sample wells, each sample well including a single sample, and each error correction well including a mixture of samples from two or more sample wells. The method includes receiving an aliquot from the wells at a sample receiver, measuring a signal for the received aliquot, calculating an expected signal for each of the error correction wells, comparing the measured signal to the calculated expected signal for each error correction well, and determining whether an error exists in the signal of at least one sample well. When the error exists, the method correlates the error to one or more sample wells.

Abstract: Ion intensities measured by an ADC detector subsystem are filtered using equivalent TDC event realizations. In one embodiment, an intensity measurement is received for at least one ion made by an ADC detector subsystem for each of m extractions of an ion beam, producing m intensities for the ion. Equivalent TDC event realizations are received for the ion for each intensity of the m intensities, producing m equivalent TDC event realizations. A filtered intensity for the ion is calculated that is a combination of the m intensities and the m event realizations. In another embodiment, for the ion, an equivalent TDC event realization is accumulated for ion events up to a threshold count of event realizations, N, and the ADC intensities are accumulated for all remaining ion events. A filtered intensity for the ion is calculated that is a combination of the equivalent TDC event realization and the ADC intensities.

Abstract: Methods and systems for assessing a quality of mass analysis data generated by a mass analysis device, including collecting mass spectrometry data for a given compound, deriving a measured isotope profile based on the collected mass spectrometry data, determining a predicted isotope profile, determining a first quality score for the mass analysis data, the first quality score being based on a relationship between an intensity of the main peak and intensities of the one or more isotope peaks, determining a second quality score for the mass analysis data, the second quality score being based on a signal-to-noise ratio of the mass analysis data, determining an overall quality score as a combination of the first quality score and the second quality score, and assessing a quality of a compound library based on the determined overall quality score.

Abstract: A method for determining a convolved peak intensity in a sample trace includes ejecting a plurality of sample ejections from a sample well plate. An ejection time log is generated which includes an ejection time of each of the plurality of sample ejections from the sample well plate. The plurality of sample ejections is analyzed with a mass analyzer. The sample trace of intensity versus time values is produced for the plurality of sample ejections based on the analysis. A known peak shape is obtained. A convolved peak intensity is determined for a convolved peak of the sample trace based at least in part on the known peak shape and the ejection time log.

Abstract: A method for performing mass spectrometry (MS) comprises receiving MS data corresponding to a plurality of MS runs, wherein MS data corresponding to an MS run of the plurality of MS runs comprises detected intensities for a plurality of mass over charge ratios (MZ values) during the MS run; finding a recurrent MZ value of the plurality of MZ values, wherein a detected intensity for the recurrent MZ value appears as a recurrent peak in MS data corresponding to a subset of the plurality of MS runs; and the subset of the plurality of MS runs includes at least two MS runs of the plurality of MS runs; and identifying the recurrent MZ value as corresponding to a background ion.

Abstract: Methods and systems for spectral comparison and quality assessment are disclosed. In one example, a method for assessing quality of a mass spectrum (MS) of a sample is provided. The method comprises: predefining one or more features or attributes indicative of the sample quality with reference to a target compound; and calculating a quality score for the MS with respect to the selected features or attributes.

Abstract: A method for improved mass spectrometry by determining charge state of precursor ions from an analysis of product ions, includes receiving sample ions. A group of precursor ions is selected from the received sample ions based on mobility. A fragmentation device fragments the group of precursor ions to produce a group of product ions. A tandem mass spectrometry analysis is performed on the group of product ions to generate an intensity and mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of the group of product ions. An ionogram is generated, based on the generated intensities and mass, to charge ratios for the groups of product ions generated for each of the mobility selection. The ionogram includes a first axis representing compensation voltage value and another axis representing intensity. A product ion peak is identified in the ionogram. At least one peak characteristic is identified of the product ion peak.

Abstract: Methods for correlating a product ion in a mass spectrum to a precursor ion are disclosed herein, comprising determining a precursor ion ml z corresponding to the product ion as an m/z at which the product ion appears in a maximum amount of the series of mass spectra. Methods also can comprise obtaining a series of mass spectra for a sample across a mass range, each of the series of mass spectra having a precursor ion transmission window defined by a width (W) that overlaps with that of at least two of the series of mass spectra by a step size (S).

Abstract: A precursor ion transmission window is moved in overlapping steps across a precursor ion mass range. The precursor ions transmitted at each overlapping step by the mass filter are fragmented or transmitted. Intensities or counts are detected for each of the one or more resulting product ions or precursor ions for each overlapping window that form mass spectrum data for each overlapping window. Each unique product ion detected is encoded in real-time during data acquisition. This encoding includes sums of counts or intensities of each unique ion detected the overlapping windows and positions of the windows associated with each sum. The encoding for each unique ion is stored in a memory device rather than the mass spectral data. A deblurring algorithm or numerical method is used to determine a precursor ion of each unique ion from the encoded data.

Abstract: A method for identifying peaks in a mass spectrum is provided. The method includes: accessing a mass spectrum (300), having an intensity signal, generated for analysis of a sample; performing a wavelet transformation on the intensity signal to generate a wavelet space representation (310) of the intensity signal; generating a scale-space-processing (SSP) response signal (412, 414, 416) from the wavelet space representation of the intensity signal, wherein the SSP response signal (412, 414, 416) represents the SSP response from the wavelet scale representation (310) at different wavelet scales for a particular m/z starting position (312, 314, 316); identifying a first wavelet scale for a first local maximum in the SSP response signal; based on the first wavelet scale, detect a first baseline intensity signal; subtracting the first baseline intensity signal from the intensity signal to generate a first adjusted intensity signal; and detecting one or more peaks in the first adjusted intensity signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for timed introduction of samples into a mass spectrometer may include receiving a plurality of sample ion pulses in a mass spectrometer from a sampling interface, where the sample ion pulses are received at a pre-determined time pattern; detecting the received sample ion pulses to generate a signal; isolating an analyte signal by signal conditioning the generated signal based on the pre-determined time pattern; and identifying a presence of an analyte based on the isolated analyte signal. The signal conditioning may include pulse-based averaging based on the pre-determined time pattern or may include converting the generated signal to a frequency-domain signal and calculating a modulus to isolate the analyte signal. The pre-determined time pattern may be periodic where the signal conditioning comprises performing a Fourier Transform on the signal to convert it to a frequency-domain signal.

Abstract: A precursor ion transmission window is moved in overlapping steps across a precursor ion mass range. The precursor ions transmitted at each overlapping step by the mass filter are fragmented or transmitted. Intensities or counts are detected for each of the one or more resulting product ions or precursor ions for each overlapping window that form mass spectrum data for each overlapping window. Each unique product ion detected is encoded in real-time during data acquisition. This encoding includes sums of counts or intensities of each unique ion detected the overlapping windows and positions of the windows associated with each sum. The encoding for each unique ion is stored in a memory device rather than the mass spectral data. A deblurring algorithm or numerical method is used to determine a precursor ion of each unique ion from the encoded data.

Abstract: An uncertainty weighted average of the equalized amounts of two or more quantifier ions is calculated from a quantitation experiment itself. n known i ions of a compound are mass analyzed over time in each of m different samples, producing n XIC peaks for each of the m samples. A reference ion j is selected that is a j ion of the n i ions or a hypothetical ion j. A ratio r(j,i) of a peak area of the j ion to a peak area of each ion of the n i ions is calculated for each of the m samples, producing m r(j,i) ratios for each of the n i ions. An expected ratio rq(j,i) is calculated for each ion of the n i ions from the m r(j,i) ratios for each of the n i ions. For each sample, the uncertainty weighted average is calculated using rq(j,i).

Abstract: The disclosed signal quality assessment is particularly useful for mass spectrometry. In an embodiment of the disclosed system, a processor utilizes a wavelet-based feature extraction for the signal quality assessment of a chromatogram signal. The signal quality assessment may be used to control operational parameters, such as a flowrate of a pump that moves liquid droplets toward an ionization device of a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described for assigning charge state to detected ions from a mass analysis instrument. In one of the methods, the charge state may be assigned, for instance, by evaluation a detector response signal including information related to individual ion responses generated by an ion detector for each ion arrival event captured by the detector. The detector response signal may then be evaluated in combination with one or more additional features corresponding to the ion arrival event to assign a charge state for that ion arrival event.

Abstract: A method for assigning charge state in mass spectrometry includes receiving a detector response signal corresponding to a plurality of ion arrival events. The detector response signal includes information related to individual ion responses generated by a detector for each ion arrival event. Detector response profiles are generated for mass-to-charge (m/z) bins of a mass spectrum generated from the ion arrival events based on the detector response signal. The m/z bins are grouped into a plurality of groups based on a similarity of the detector response profiles of the m/z bins. A charge state is assigned to one or more features based on the groups of m/z bins.

Abstract: A trace of intensity versus time values is received for a series of samples produced by a mass spectrometer. Also, a series of ejections times corresponding to the series of samples produced by a sample introduction system is received. A series of expected peak times corresponding to the series of ejection times are calculated using a known delay time from ejection to mass analysis. At least one isolated peak of the trace is identified using the series of expected peak times. A peak profile is calculated by fitting a mixture of at least two different distribution functions to the at least one isolated peak. For at least one time of the series of expected peak times, an area of a peak at the one time is calculated by fitting the peak profile to the trace at the one time and calculating an area of the fitted peak profile.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying actual XIC peaks of compounds of interest from samples so that more accurate expected retention times and more accurate expected retention time windows can be calculated. In one system, an actual XIC peak is identified using standard samples. The ratio of the quantity of the compound of interest in any two different samples is known, so this ratios is compared to the intensities of the XIC peak calculated in the two samples to identify an actual XIC peak. In another system, an actual XIC peak is identified using information about other compounds of interest in a plurality of samples. It is known that the XIC peaks of compounds of interest in the same samples have a similar distribution of retention times across those samples, so the distributions of retention times of XIC peaks are compared to identify actual XIC peaks.

Abstract: A precursor ion transmission window is moved in overlapping steps across a precursor ion mass range. The precursor ions transmitted at each overlapping step by the mass filter are fragmented or transmitted. Intensities or counts are detected for each of the one or more resulting product ions or precursor ions for each overlapping window that form mass spectrum data for each overlapping window. Each unique product ion detected is encoded in real-time during data acquisition. This encoding includes sums of counts or intensities of each unique ion detected the overlapping windows and positions of the windows associated with each sum. The encoding for each unique ion is stored in a memory device rather than the mass spectral data. A deblurring algorithm or numerical method is used to determine a precursor ion of each unique ion from the encoded data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for determining if the dynamic range of quantitation in mass spectrometry can be extended. A DIA method is performed on a sample for a compound of interest at each acquisition time of a plurality of acquisition times. A plurality of product ion spectra are produced for each window of two or more precursor ion mass selection windows. A known product ion of the compound of interest is selected. Two or more XICs are calculated from two or more different precursor ion windows for the known product ion. A ratio of one XIC of the two or more XICs to at least one other XIC of the two or more XICs is calculated. If the ratio is above a threshold, the XIC is used in the quantitation. If not, two or more XICs can be combined into a single XIC that is used for the quantitation.