Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising obtaining or acquiring image or other data from one or more regions of a target using an imaging sensor. The image or other data may then be used to determine one or more regions of interest of the target. An ambient ionisation ion source may then be used to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of the target.

Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising obtaining physical or other non-mass spectrometric data from one or more regions of a target using a probe. The physical or other non-mass spectrometric data may be used to determine one or more regions of interest of the target. An ambient ionisation ion source may then used to generate an aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of the target.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed in which analyte ions of a desired charge state are isolated. The method comprises: separating analytes according to their electrophoretic mobility; ionising the analytes; and mass filtering the resulting analyte ions, wherein the mass to charge ratios of the ions transmitted by a mass filter are varied as a function of the electrophoretic mobility and according to a predetermined relationship such that substantially only ions having said desired charge state are transmitted by the mass filter.

Abstract: A method of mass or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: providing an ion source for generating analyte ions and reference ions; providing a mass analyser or ion mobility separator (IMS); providing an ion trap between the ion source and the mass analyser or IMS; guiding reference ions from the ion source into the ion trap and trapping the reference ions in the ion trap; guiding the analyte ions from the ion source into the mass analyser or IMS, wherein the analyte ions bypass the ion trap; and releasing reference ions from the ion trap into the mass analyser or IMS for analysis.

Abstract: A method of analyzing ions is disclosed comprising: (i) separating ions according to a physico-chemical property in a separator; (ii) transmitting ions which emerge from the separator through a transfer device with a first transit time t1, energizing a pusher electrode or orthogonal acceleration electrode and obtaining first data; (iii) transmitting ions which subsequently emerge from the separator through the transfer device with a second greater transit time t2, energizing the pusher electrode or orthogonal acceleration electrode and obtaining second data; and (iv) repeating steps (ii) and (iii) one or more times. The pusher electrode or orthogonal acceleration electrode is energized with a period t3, wherein t2?t1 is arranged to equal t3/2. The first and second data are combined to form a composite data set.

Abstract: An ion detector system for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a first device arranged and adapted to receive ions and emit or output first electrons and a microwave cavity resonator arranged and adapted to deflect the first electrons onto a first detector.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed in which analyte ions of a desired charge state are isolated. The method comprises: separating analytes according to their electrophoretic mobility; ionizing the analytes; and mass filtering the resulting analyte ions, wherein the mass to charge ratios of the ions transmitted by a mass filter are varied as a function of the electrophoretic mobility and according to a predetermined relationship such that substantially only ions having said desired charge state are transmitted by the mass filter.

Abstract: An ion source for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ultrasonic transducer which focuses ultrasonic energy onto a surface of a sample fluid without directly contacting the sample fluid.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising calculating an ion mobility value, collision cross section or interaction cross section of a plurality of different analyte ions under one or more different analytical conditions, and setting one or more operational parameters of a mass spectrometer in response to the calculated ion mobility values, collision cross sections or the calculated interaction cross sections so as to maximise or enhance a subsequent ion mobility separation of a plurality of different analyte ions.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising experimentally determining or measuring one or more first ion mobility values, collision cross sections or interaction cross sections collision cross sections or first ion mobility parameters and one or more mass or mass to charge ratios of one or more analyte ions, generating a first list of possible candidate compounds which correspond to said one or more analyte ions on the basis of the one or more determined or measured masses or mass to charge ratios, and calculating, estimating or determining one or more second ion mobility values, collision cross sections or interaction cross sections collision cross sections or second ion mobility parameters of at least some of the candidate compounds in the first list.

Abstract: A device for the transmission of electromagnetic signals, the device comprising: a conductive element at least one inducer, for inducing charge in said conductive element; a transmission circuit, for generation and transmission of electromagnetic signals; wherein said conductive element and said at least one inducer are movable, with respect to each other, between a plurality of relative positions; in a first position of said relative positions, said at least one inducer is arranged to induce a charge in said conductive element; in a second position of said relative positions, said conductive element is arranged to discharge; the conductive element is arranged to couple with the transmission circuit, in said first position and/or said second position, such that charging and/or discharging of said conductive element causes the transmission circuit to generate and transmit an electromagnetic signal; and the device is arranged such that movement of said device causes relative movement of said conductive element

Abstract: A method of mass or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: providing an ion source for generating analyte ions and reference ions; providing a mass analyzer or ion mobility separator (IMS); providing an ion trap between the ion source and the mass analyzer or IMS; guiding reference ions from the ion source into the ion trap and trapping the reference ions in the ion trap; guiding the analyte ions from the ion source into the mass analyzer or IMS, wherein the analyte ions bypass the ion trap; and releasing reference ions from the ion trap into the mass analyzer or IMS for analysis.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising separating ions according to one or more physico-chemical properties. Ions which are onwardly transmitted to a Time of Flight mass analyzer are controlled by attenuating ions which would otherwise be transmitted to the Time of Flight mass analyzer and cause saturation of an ion detector and which have been determined or which are predicted to have a relatively high intensity.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a first device, a second device and a switch arranged and adapted: (i) to direct ions at a first time T1 to the first device and to substantially prevent ions from entering the second device; and (ii) to direct ions at a second later time T2 to the second device and to substantially prevent ions from entering the first device. At the first time T1 the second device may not be in an operational state to potentially optimally fragment, react, mass filter or otherwise process ions since the second device may be in a process of equilibration, changing state, re-filling, recharging, transition, replenishing, switching voltage or altering an operational parameter.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising setting an attenuation factor of an attenuation device to a first value and then separating or filtering ions according to a first physico-chemical property and separating or filtering ions according to a second physico-chemical property and obtaining a multi-dimensional array of data. The most intense ion peak within one or more subsets of the multi-dimensional array of data is determined. If it is determined that the most intense ion peak would cause saturation of an ion detector or ion detection system then the method further comprises adjusting the attenuation factor of the attenuation device to a second value and obtaining mass spectral data wherein the adjustment of the attenuation factor substantially alters the intensity of all ions which are detected by the ion detector or ion detection system equally and irrespective of the mass to charge ratio of the ions.

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.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising: performing a survey scan of a plurality of different types of parent or precursor ions, wherein the survey scan comprises analyzing the ion mobilities of the ions and mass analyzing the ions; determining the charge states of parent or precursor ions analyzed in the survey scan based on their determined combinations of ion mobility and mass to charge ratio; selecting a parent or precursor ion for fragmentation or reaction; and fragmenting or reacting the selected ion, wherein the fragmentation or reaction conditions are selected from a plurality of different fragmentation or reaction conditions based upon the determined charge state of the selected ion.

Abstract: An ion source for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ultrasonic transducer which focuses ultrasonic energy onto a surface of a sample fluid without directly contacting the sample fluid.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising directing first photons from a laser onto ions located within a 2D or linear ion guide or ion trap. The frequency of the first photons is scanned and first photons and/or second photons emitted by the ions are detected. The ions are then mass analysed using a Time of Flight mass analyser.