Abstract: A method of operating an instrument which comprises a first and second ion stores, comprising determining whether a target accumulation time for the second ion store is greater than a threshold accumulation time. When the target accumulation time is less than the threshold accumulation time, ions are accumulated within the second ion store using an accumulation time that is based on the target accumulation time. When the target accumulation time is greater than the threshold accumulation time, ions are accumulated within the first ion store using a first accumulation time, the ions accumulated in the first ion store are passed to the second ion store, and further ions are accumulated within the second ion store using a second accumulation time.

Abstract: Data Dependent Acquisition (DDA) mass spectrometry methods comprise ionising a sample to produce sample ions, analysing the sample ions with one or more MS1 mass analysis scan(s) to obtain MS1 data, identifying one or more precursor ions from the MS1 data, and then analysing the sample ions with one or more MS2 mass analysis scan(s). Each MS2 scan is targeted to one of the one or more precursor ions identified from the MS1 data. For each of one or more precursor ions identified from the MS1 data, a value indicative of a collision cross section (CCS) of that precursor ion is determined from the MS1 data. Based on the CCS-indicative value(s), precursor ion(s) are selected to target by the one or more MS2 mass analysis scan(s) and/or an order in which to target precursor ions by the one or more MS2 mass analysis scan(s) is determined.

Abstract: A method of operating an instrument which comprises a first and second ion stores, comprising determining whether a target accumulation time for the second ion store is greater than a threshold accumulation time. When the target accumulation time is less than the threshold accumulation time, ions are accumulated within the second ion store using an accumulation time that is based on the target accumulation time. When the target accumulation time is greater than the threshold accumulation time, ions are accumulated within the first ion store using a first accumulation time that is based on a difference between the target accumulation time and the threshold accumulation time, the ions accumulated in the first ion store are passed to the second ion store, and further ions are accumulated within the second ion store using a second accumulation time that is based on the threshold accumulation time.

Abstract: A method of operating an analytical instrument comprises ionising a sample to produce sample ions; (i) performing a first ion separation scan by separating sample ions according to a first physico-chemical property, and analysing the separated sample ions by performing one or more MS1 mass analysis scans; and (ii) performing a second ion separation scan by separating sample ions according to the first physico-chemical property, and analysing the separated sample ions by performing a plurality of MS2 mass analysis scans. Each MS2 scan of the plurality of MS2 mass analysis scans uses one MS2 isolation window of a plurality of MS2 isolation windows. The method further comprises analysing MS1 data acquired from the one or more MS1 mass analysis scan(s), and configuring the plurality of MS2 isolation windows based on the analysis of the MS1 data.

Abstract: A method of determining a calibration for an analytical instrument comprises ionising a calibrant to produce calibrant ions, performing a sequence of ion separation scans, performing a plurality of mass analysis scans by performing one or more mass analysis scan(s) during each ion separation scan of the sequence, and using data obtained from the plurality of mass analysis scans to determine a calibration for the analytical instrument. Each ion separation scan has a duration TIMS, and each mass analysis scan has a duration TMA. Each ion separation scan has a respective start time ti0, and each mass analysis scan has a respective start time tijMA defined relative to the start time ti0 of the ion separation scan during which the mass analysis scan is performed. The start times tijMA of the plurality of mass analysis scans include start times separated by a delay time ?t, wherein ?t<min (TMA, TIMS).

Abstract: Mass spectrometry systems for performing mass analysis on ion samples include a vacuum region comprising a mass analyser configured to provide a detection signal for the ion sample. A turbomolecular pump is configured to maintain the vacuum region at a vacuum pressure and a controller is configured to control the pressure within the mass analyser to control the rate of decay over time of the detection signal for the ion sample by: controlling a pumping speed of the turbomolecular pump. The turbomolecular pump can be configured to maintain the vacuum region at a first pressure when the mass analyser is being operated in a mass analysis mode of operation and a second pressure when the mass analyser is being operated in a collision cross section analysis mode of operation, wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.

Abstract: An IMS device is provided that includes at least one surface, first and second pluralities of electrodes disposed on the surface, and an ion path having first and second accumulation regions and a separation region. The IMS device is configured to receive, guide, temporally separate, and discharge ions. Each accumulation region is configured to switch between accumulation and release states in which ions are accumulated and released therefrom, respectively. The separation region is positioned downstream of the first accumulation region and configured to temporally separate ions based on mobility. The first accumulation region is synchronized with a downstream mass filter while the second accumulation region is dependent upon the state of a gating element, which is positioned downstream of the IMS device and configured to control the flow of ions to a mass analyzer. A method in accordance with the foregoing is also provided.

Abstract: A method of operating an instrument which comprises a first and second ion stores, comprising determining whether a target accumulation time for the second ion store is greater than a threshold accumulation time. When the target accumulation time is less than the threshold accumulation time, ions are accumulated within the second ion store using an accumulation time that is based on the target accumulation time. When the target accumulation time is greater than the threshold accumulation time, ions are accumulated within the first ion store using a first accumulation time that is based on a difference between the target accumulation time and the threshold accumulation time, the ions accumulated in the first ion store are passed to the second ion store, and further ions are accumulated within the second ion store using a second accumulation time that is based on the threshold accumulation time.

Abstract: A coupling for connecting together vacuum-based analytical systems requiring to be vibrationally isolated, comprising: a tubular connector having a longitudinal axis, the connector comprising a first end for connection to a first analytical system and a flexible portion reducing transmission of vibrations and permitting displacement of the first analytical system in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the connector; and a seal longitudinally separated from the flexible portion, for vacuum sealing between the connector and a second analytical system; wherein the connector contains ion optics for transmitting ions between the first and second analytical systems.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a measure of a rate of decay of an ion sample. Specifically, the present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for determining decay constants and cross-section measurements in parallel to mass measurement and decay time correction. The disclosure particularly relates to methods and apparatus for performing Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS).

Abstract: A coupling for connecting together vacuum-based analytical systems requiring to be vibrationally isolated, comprising: a tubular connector having a longitudinal axis, the connector comprising a first end for connection to a first analytical system and a flexible portion reducing transmission of vibrations and permitting displacement of the first analytical system in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the connector; and a seal longitudinally separated from the flexible portion, for vacuum sealing between the connector and a second analytical system; wherein the connector contains ion optics for transmitting ions between the first and second analytical systems.