Abstract: In one aspect, a method of calibrating a Fourier Transform (FT) multipole mass spectrometer is disclosed, which comprises measuring a plurality of secular frequencies of a calibrant ion in a multipole FT mass analyzer for a plurality of RF voltages (VRF) applied to at least one rod of the multipole mass analyzer, calculating Mathieu ? and q parameters for each of 5 the measured secular frequencies, and determining RF voltage amplitude (VRF) for each calculated q parameter. For each calculated q parameter, an offset RF voltage amplitude (?VRF) corresponding to a deviation of the applied VRF and the calculated VRF is determined so as to generate a ?VRFv.s. q calibration curve.

Abstract: In one aspect, an ion guide for use in a mass spectrometer is disclosed, which comprises a first plurality of conductive electrodes disposed on a first surface, a second plurality of conductive electrodes disposed on a second surface, wherein the two surfaces are positioned relative to one another and shaped so as to provide a passageway having an inlet for receiving an ion beam and an outlet through which target ions of interest exit the passageway. The ion guide further includes an orifice formed in at least one of those surfaces through which neutral species and/or large ion clusters, when present in the ion beam, exit the ion guide.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer comprises a first mass filter for receiving a plurality of ions and having a transmission bandwidth configured to allow transmission of ions having m/z ratios within a desired range, and a second mass filter that is disposed downstream of the first mass filter for selecting ions having a target m/z value within a transmission window thereof for mass analysis. The transmission bandwidth of the first mass filter encompasses at least two m/z ratios of interest such that one of said m/z ratios corresponds to said target m/z value within the transmission window of said second mass filter.

Abstract: In one aspect, an ion guide for use in a mass spectrometer is disclosed, which comprises a pair of printed circuit boards (PCBs) having an inlet for receiving a plurality of ions from an upstream ion source and outlet through which the ions exit the ion guide. The ion guide includes at least two ion paths provided in the space between the two PCBs for transmission of ions from the inlet to the outlet. The ion guide can further include at least one ion-routing device that can be coupled to the ions paths for selecting a propagation path of the ions between those ion paths. In some embodiments, the two ion paths can have at least one segment in common.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of performing mass spectrometric analysis of a sample, e.g. a food-based sample, is disclosed, which comprises ionizing the sample to generate a plurality of ions, introducing the plurality of ions into a mass filter configured to provide a high m/z cutoff greater than a maximum m/z ratio of ions associated with one or more analytes of interest in the sample so as to allow passage of the analyte ions while inhibiting passage of ions having m/z ratios above said high m/z cutoff, and performing a mass analysis of ions passing through said mass filter. In a related aspect, a mass spectrometer is disclosed, which comprises an atmospheric pressure ion source, a first mass filter, a user interface and a controller.

Abstract: In one aspect, a mass spectrometer is disclosed, which comprises an ion source for receiving a sample and ionizing at least a portion of the sample to generate a plurality of ions, and a Fourier Transform (FT) mass analyzer that is configured to receive at least a portion of said plurality of ions at an inlet thereof. The ions exiting the FT are detected by an ion detector, which generates a transient oscillating ion detection signal. The analyzer processes the ion detection signal via application of an FT thereto, where the FT window width is selected to optimize a mass signal associated with at least one target ion of interest.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein utilize an interface positioned between an ion source and an ion guide of a mass spectrometry system that can be useful to control transmission ions from an ion source to a downstream mass analyzer. In various aspects, the present disclosure provides methods of modulating an introduction of ions into an ion guide. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods of making and using disclosed interface elements and mass spectrometry systems. In some embodiments, implementations of the present disclosure are useful in mass spectrometry systems, including, for example, improving signal-to-noise and reducing contamination.

Abstract: In one aspect, a mass analyzer is disclosed, which comprises a quadrupole having an input end for receiving ions and an output end through which ions can exit the quadrupole, said quadrupole having a plurality of rods to at least some of which an RF voltage can be applied for generating a quadrupolar field for causing radial confinement of the ions as they propagate through the quadrupole and further generating fringing fields in proximity of said output end. The mass analyzer further includes at least a voltage source for applying a voltage pulse to at least one of said rods so as to excite radial oscillations of at least a portion of the ions passing through the quadrupole at secular frequencies thereof, where the radially-excited ions interact with the fringing fields as they exit the quadrupole such that their radial oscillations are converted into axial oscillations.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein utilize an interface positioned between an ion source and an ion guide of a mass spectrometry system that can be useful to control transmission ions from an ion source to a downstream mass analyzer. In various aspects, the present disclosure provides methods of modulating an introduction of ions into an ion guide. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods of making and using disclosed interface elements and mass spectrometry systems. In some embodiments, implementations of the present disclosure are useful in mass spectrometry systems, including, for example, improving signal-to-noise and reducing contamination.

Abstract: In one aspect, a mass spectrometer is disclosed, which comprises a Fourier Transform (FT) mass analyzer having an input port for receiving ions and an exit port through which the ions exit the FT mass analyzer, a detector disposed downstream of said FT analyzer for detecting ions exiting the FT analyzer, and a multi-segment ion guide having a plurality of segments, said multi-segment ion guide being disposed upstream of said FT mass analyzer and having an input port for receiving ions and an output port through which ions exit the FT mass analyzer. The segments of the ion guide are configured to be independently activated via application of a DC offset voltage thereto so as to adjust a length through which ions passing through the ion guide experience collisional cooling.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of calibrating a Fourier Transform (FT) multipole mass spectrometer is disclosed, which comprises measuring a plurality of secular frequencies of a calibrant ion in a multipole FT mass analyzer for a plurality of RF voltages (VRF) applied to at least one rod of the multipole mass analyzer adjusted q analyzer, calculating Mathieu ? and q parameters for each of 5 the measured secular frequencies, and determining RF voltage amplitude (VRF) for each calculated q parameter. For each calculated q parameter, an offset RF voltage amplitude (?VRF) corresponding to a deviation of the applied VRF and the calculated VRF is determined so as to generate a ?VRFv.s. q calibration curve.

Abstract: In various aspects, methods and systems disclosed herein are capable of operating a Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry (FTMS) quadrupole mass analyzer in two operational modes: transmitting mode and trapping mode. In the trapping mode, ions are first trapped and cooled within the FTMS quadrupole mass analyzer prior to being subjected to an excitation pulse and ejected from the FTMS quadrupole mass analyzer for detection. However, in transmitting mode, the FTMS quadrupole mass analyzer may provide more rapid analysis because the excitation pulse is applied to the ions of an ion beam that is being continuously transmitted through the FTMS quadrupole mass analyzer.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein utilize a multipole ion guide that can receive ions from an ion source for transmission to downstream mass analyzers, while preventing unwanted/interfering/contaminating ions from being transmitted into the high-vacuum chambers of mass spectrometry systems. In various aspects, RF and/or DC signals can be provided to auxiliary electrodes interposed within a quadrupole rod set so as to control or manipulate the transmission of ions from the multipole ion guide.

Abstract: In one aspect, a mass analyzer is disclosed, which comprises a quadrupole having an input end for receiving ions and an output end through which ions can exit the quadrupole, said quadrupole having a plurality of rods to at least some of which an RF voltage can be applied for generating a quadrupolar field for causing radial confinement of the ions as they propagate through the quadrupole and further generating fringing fields in proximity of said output end. The mass analyzer further includes at least a voltage source for applying a voltage pulse to at least one of said rods so as to excite radial oscillations of at least a portion of the ions passing through the quadrupole at secular frequencies thereof, where the radially-excited ions interact with the fringing fields as they exit the quadrupole such that their radial oscillations are converted into axial oscillations.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer apparatus and method for conducting simultaneous MS/MS analysis including: a device to select a precursor ion having a specified m/z; a gas-filled collision cell; an RF-only multipole mass spectrometer, the mass spectrometer having a generator attached thereto for generating at least two auxiliary AC fields in the RF-only multipole mass spectrometer; a gate for providing a repulsive DC or AC barrier downstream to an exit of the RF-only multipole mass spectrometer; an ion detection system situated downstream from the DC or AC barrier for measuring an ion current derived from ions that overcome the repulsive barrier. The mass spectrometer may also be configured so that each of the auxiliary AC fields are generated by the introduction of individual auxiliary AC frequencies and each frequency is amplitude modulated at a unique frequency.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer apparatus and method for conducting simultaneous MS/MS analysis including: a device to select a precursor ion having a specified m/z; a gas-filled collision cell; an RF-only multipole mass spectrometer, the mass spectrometer having a generator attached thereto for generating at least two auxiliary AC fields in the RF-only multipole mass spectrometer; a gate for providing a repulsive DC or AC barrier downstream to an exit of the RF-only multipole mass spectrometer; an ion detection system situated downstream from the DC or AC barrier for measuring an ion current derived from ions that overcome the repulsive barrier. The mass spectrometer may also be configured so that each of the auxiliary AC fields are generated by the introduction of individual auxiliary AC frequencies and each frequency is amplitude modulated at a unique frequency.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a quantitative analysis of at least one ion signal associated with a sample, which is detected by a mass spectrometer having at least two tandem quadrupole instruments, is employed to select one of the following operational modes for further mass analysis of the sample: (a) utilizing both quadrupole instruments as mass resolving filters, and (b) utilizing one quadrupole instrument as a mass resolving filter and utilizing the other as a linear ion trap. In some embodiments, the quantitative analysis of the ion signal comprises comparing the ion signal intensity with a predefined threshold.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a quantitative analysis of at least one ion signal associated with a sample, which is detected by a mass spectrometer having at least two tandem quadrupole instruments, is employed to select one of the following operational modes for further mass analysis of the sample: (a) utilizing both quadrupole instruments as mass resolving filters, and (b) utilizing one quadrupole instrument as a mass resolving filter and utilizing the other as a linear ion trap. In some embodiments, the quantitative analysis of the ion signal comprises comparing the ion signal intensity with a predefined threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating a region for ion-ion reactions within a mass spectrometer are described. In various aspects, the methods and systems can confine a first group of ions in a sub-volume of a multipole ion trap, and introduce a second group of oppositely-charged ions into the multipole ion trap while maintaining the first group of ions within the sub-volume. In various embodiments, the methods and systems can operated at reduced pressures.

Abstract: A multipole mass filter having improved mass resolution. The multipole mass filer having a first electrode set coupled to at least a RF voltage source and a second electrode set interposed and parallel to the first electrode set. The second electrode set having a variable AC voltage coupled to two radially opposing electrodes of the second electrode set.