Abstract: A novel system and method for charge-monitoring mass spectrometry is provided. The mass spectrometer can be used to measure the mass of one or more analytes having masses in the range of about a few Daltons to more than about 1015 Daltons. The invention can be used for rapid mass distribution measurements. For example, the system and method can be used to distinguish cancer cells from normal cells when their mass distributions are different.

Abstract: A system for examining optical fibers uses a fixture including upper and lower jaws. The lower jaw has an upper surface with a convex arch and a groove passing over the convex arch, where the groove is adapted to receive and hold laterally in place an optical fiber. The upper jaw has a lower surface corresponding to the upper surface of the first lower jaw so that when the first upper jaw is fitted to the first lower jaw, an optical fiber within the groove of the first lower jaw is held in place against the convex arch. First and second orifices extend through the upper jaw and are positioned to intersect a corresponding tangent to an optical fiber held within the groove. A detector inserted within the first and second orifices detects the status of the optical fiber, including the direction of light travel within the fiber.