Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting one or more leaks in a battery enclosure (101) of a battery (100), the battery (100) including at least one electrochemical cell (102) enclosed in the battery enclosure (101), or detecting one or more leaks in the at least one electrochemical cell (102) being in the battery enclosure (101) or separate from the battery enclosure (101).

Abstract: An ion molecule reactor for generating analyte ions from analytes comprises: a) a reaction volume in which reagent ions can interact with the analytes in order to form analyte ions; b) at least one analyte inlet for introducing the analytes along an inlet path into the reaction volume whereby, preferably, the inlet path runs essentially along at least a first section of the predefined transit path in the reaction volume; c) at least one reagent ion source and/or at least one reagent ion inlet for providing reagent ions into the reaction volume; d) optionally, at least one ion guide comprising an electrode arrangement which is configured for producing an alternating electrical, magnetic and/or electromagnetic field, that allows for guiding the reagent ions and/or the analyte ions at least along a section of the predefined transit path, preferably along the whole transit path, through the reaction volume.

Abstract: An ion molecule reactor for generating analyte ions from analytes comprises: a) a reaction volume in which reagent ions can interact with the analytes in order to form analyte ions; b) at least one analyte inlet for introducing the analytes along an inlet path into the reaction volume whereby, preferably, the inlet path runs essentially along at least a first section of the predefined transit path in the reaction volume; c) at least one reagent ion source and/or at least one reagent ion inlet for providing reagent ions into the reaction volume; d) optionally, at least one ion guide comprising an electrode arrangement which is configured for producing an alternating electrical, magnetic and/or electromagnetic field, that allows for guiding the reagent ions and/or the analyte ions at least along a section of the predefined transit path, preferably along the whole transit path, through the reaction volume.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for mass analysing a sample by ionising the sample to first sample ions and to second sample ions and by obtaining mass spectra from the first sample ions and the second sample ions with a mass analyser (5). Thereby, repeatedly, a first assay is obtained from the sample and transferred past any chromatography column to a first ion source (2) and ionised by the first ion source (2) to the first sample ions, wherein the first sample ions obtained from the respective first assay are transferred to the mass analyser (5), wherein at least one first mass spectrum is obtained with the mass analyser (5) from the first sample ions obtained from the respective first assay and ionised by and transferred from the first ion source (2).

Abstract: An autosampler for obtaining mass spectra from a plurality of fluid samples, in particular gaseous samples including a plurality of containers including sample sources providing the samples, wherein each one of the containers provides a docking port for being connected with a connector for enabling access to an inside of the respective container via the connector in order to obtain the respective sample from the respective container via said connector. The autosampler further includes an ionisation source for ionising at least a part of the samples, and a mass analyser for obtaining the mass spectra from the ions. The ionisation source is moveable within the autosampler sequentially to each of the containers for connecting the connector to the docking port of the respective container for collecting the sample from the respective container for ionising at least a part of the sample and obtaining the mass spectra from the ions.

Abstract: The invention relates to an autosampler (1) for obtaining mass spectra from a plurality of fluid samples, in particular gaseous samples. This autosampler (1) comprises a plurality of containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6) comprising sample sources (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6) providing the samples, wherein each one of the containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6) provides a docking port (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6) for being connected with a connector (5) for enabling access to an inside of the respective container (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6) via the connector (5) when the connector (5) is connected to the respective docking port (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6) in order to obtain the respective sample from the respective container (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6) via said connector (5). Thereby, the connector (5) is connectable to and detachable from each docking port (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for analysing a chemical composition of aerosol particles. The apparatus comprises an extractive electrospray ionisation source for extracting components, in particular organic compounds, from the aerosol particles and for ionising the components to ions, and a mass analyser, in particular a time of flight mass analyser, for analysing the ions, the mass analyser fluidly coupled to the extractive electrospray ionisation source. The method includes the steps of extracting components, in particular organic compounds, from the aerosol particles with an extractive electrospray ionisation source and ionising the components with the extractive electrospray ionisation source to ions, transferring the ions to a mass analyser, in particular a time of flight mass analyser, the mass analyser being fluidly coupled to the extractive electrospray ionisation source, and analysing the ions with the mass analyser.

Abstract: An ion molecule reactor for generating analyte ions from analytes comprises: a) a reaction volume in which reagent ions can interact with the analytes in order to form analyte ions; b) at least one analyte inlet for introducing the analytes along an inlet path into the reaction volume whereby, preferably, the inlet path runs essentially along at least a first section of the predefined transit path in the reaction volume; c) at least one reagent ion source and/or at least one reagent ion inlet for providing reagent ions into the reaction volume; d) optionally, at least one ion guide comprising an electrode arrangement which is configured for producing an alternating electrical, magnetic and/or electromagnetic field, that allows for guiding the reagent ions and/or the analyte ions at least along a section of the predefined transit path, preferably along the whole transit path, through the reaction volume.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining a spectrum of a sample comprising one or more constituent parts on the basis of a time the one or more constituent parts require to undergo a physical process or chemical process.

Abstract: An apparatus for mass spectrometry comprises a portion generator (10) for creating localized analyte portions in synchronization with trigger pulses, a transfer system (20) coupled to the portion generator (10) for transporting the localized analyte portions, a plasma ionizer unit (30) coupled to the transfer system (20) for atomizing, vaporizing and ionizing received analyte portions with plasma, a mass analyzer (41) coupled to the plasma ionizer unit (30) for analyzing received analyte portions, the mass analyzer (41) comprising at least one detector, and a data acquisition electronics (50) connected to the at least one detector for acquiring signals (43) generated by the at least one detector. The apparatus further includes a signal delay device (60) for receiving the trigger pulses (11) and delivering delayed signals (61) corresponding to the trigger pulses to account for a delay experienced by the particles to be analyzed between portion generation and detection.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for analysing a chemical composition of aerosol particles. The apparatus comprises an extractive electrospray ionisation source for extracting components, in particular organic compounds, from the aerosol particles and for ionising the components to ions, and a mass analyser, in particular a time of flight mass analyser, for analysing the ions, the mass analyser fluidly coupled to the extractive electrospray ionisation source. The method includes the steps of extracting components, in particular organic compounds, from the aerosol particles with an extractive electrospray ionisation source and ionising the components with the extractive electrospray ionisation source to ions, transferring the ions to a mass analyser, in particular a time of flight mass analyser, the mass analyser being fluidly coupled to the extractive electrospray ionisation source, and analysing the ions with the mass analyser.

Abstract: A device for mass spectrometry comprises an ionization source, a mass analyzer fluidly coupled to the ionization source and an electronic data acquisition system for processing signals provided by the mass analyzer. The electronic data acquisition system comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter (10) producing digitized data from the signals obtained from the mass analyzer and a fast processing unit (47) receiving the digitized data from said analog-to-digital converter (10). The fast processing (47) unit is programmed to continuously, in real time inspect the digitized data for events of interest measured by the mass spectrometer; and the electronic data acquisition system is programmed to forward (23) the digitized data representing mass spectra relating to events of interest for further analysis and to reject the digitized data representing mass spectra not relating to events of interest.

Abstract: An apparatus for mass spectrometry comprises a portion generator (10) for creating localized analyte portions in synchronization with trigger pulses, a transfer system (20) coupled to the portion generator (10) for transporting the localized analyte portions, a plasma ionizer unit (30) coupled to the transfer system (20) for atomizing, vaporizing and ionizing received analyte portions with plasma, a mass analyzer (41) coupled to the plasma ionizer unit (30) for analyzing received analyte portions, the mass analyzer (41) comprising at least one detector, and a data acquisition electronics (50) connected to the at least one detector for acquiring signals (43) generated by the at least one detector. The apparatus further includes a signal delay device (60) for receiving the trigger pulses (11) and delivering delayed signals (61) corresponding to the trigger pulses to account for a delay experienced by the particles to be analyzed between portion generation and detection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining a spectrum of a sample comprising one or more constituent parts on the basis of a time the one or more constituent parts require to undergo a physical process or chemical process.

Abstract: A device for mass spectrometry comprises an ionization source, a mass analyzer fluidly coupled to the ionization source and an electronic data acquisition system for processing signals provided by the mass analyzer. The electronic data acquisition system comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter (10) producing digitized data from the signals obtained from the mass analyzer and a fast processing unit (47) receiving the digitized data from said analog-to-digital converter (10). The fast processing (47) unit is programmed to continuously, in real time inspect the digitized data for events of interest measured by the mass spectrometer; and the electronic data acquisition system is programmed to forward (23) the digitized data representing mass spectra relating to events of interest for further analysis and to reject the digitized data representing mass spectra not relating to events of interest.

Abstract: A method is provided for calibrating mass-to-charge ratio measurements obtained from a time-of-flight mass spectrometer used as a detector for a chromatographic system. The method can include introducing a calibrant material into the time-of-flight mass spectrometer after a sample is introduced to the chromatographic system, but before the analysis of the sample is complete, such that calibrant material and sample material are not present at the ion source of the mass spectrometer, contemporaneously, and back-flushing residual or leaking calibrant through a back-flush line and away from the mass spectrometer.

Abstract: Among other things, methods, systems, apparatus for performing on-the-fly apportionment are described. In particular, a mass spectrometry apparatus includes an ionization laser to produce a deionization laser beam. The apparatus also includes a particle beam path that receives aerosol particles and intersects the ionization laser beam at a location where aerosol particles are desorbed and ionized by the laser beam. The apparatus also includes an ion extractor located at or near the ionization location to separate positive ions and negative ions desorbed from the aerosol particles and to direct the positive ions along a first direction of an ion path and the negative ions along a second, opposite direction of the ion path. The apparatus also includes a first reflectron located at a first side of the ion extractor, on the ion path, to reflect the positive ions along a first reflection path that deviates from the ion path.

Abstract: Time-of-flight mass spectrometer instruments are disclosed for monitoring fast processes with large dynamic range using a multi-threshold TDC data acquisition method or a threshold ADC data acquisition method. Embodiments using a combination of both methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ion guide chamber comprising a gas-tight elongate chamber, at least one first electrode for generating a field for transporting ions along the elongate chamber and at least one second electrode for generating a field for focusing ions within the elongate chamber. The elongate chamber, e. g. constituted by a glass tube, comprises a resistive structure extending substantially along a main axis of the chamber, whereas the first electrode is constituted by the resistive structure. Furthermore, the second electrode is arranged outside the elongate chamber. Having the RF electrodes arranged outside the vacuum chamber, provides a mechanically simple solution as well as insuring that contamination of the RF electrodes to the analyte gas cannot occur. This allows for a cost-saving design of the RF electrodes and with the corresponding voltages outside the chamber, preferably at atmospheric pressure or high vacuum, avoids discharges within the tube.

Abstract: Time-of-flight mass spectrometer instruments are disclosed for monitoring fast processes with large dynamic range using a multi-threshold TDC data acquisition method or a threshold ADC data acquisition method. Embodiments using a combination of both methods are also disclosed.