Abstract: An analytical instrument has a sample introduction system for generating a stream of particles from a sample. An ionization system atomizes and ionizes particles in the stream as they are received. The instrument has an ion pretreatment system and a mass analyzer. The ion pretreatment system is adapted to transport ions generated by the ionization system to the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer is adapted measure the amount of at least one element in individual particles from the stream by performing mass analysis on the ions from the atomized particles. The instrument can be adapted to measure the amount of many different tags, for example at least five different tags, at the same time to facilitate multi-parametric analysis of cells and other particles.

Abstract: An analytical instrument has a sample introduction system for generating a stream of particles from a sample. An ionization system atomizes and ionizes particles in the stream as they are received. The instrument has an ion pretreatment system and a mass analyzer. The ion pretreatment system is adapted to transport ions generated by the ionization system to the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer is adapted measure the amount of at least one element in individual particles from the stream by performing mass analysis on the ions from the atomized particles. The instrument can be adapted to measure the amount of many different tags, for example at least five different tags, at the same time to facilitate multi-parametric analysis of cells and other particles.

Abstract: An analytical instrument has a sample introduction system for generating a stream of particles from a sample. An ionization system atomizes and ionizes particles in the stream as they are received. The instrument has an ion pretreatment system and a mass analyzer. The ion pretreatment system is adapted to transport ions generated by the ionization system to the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer is adapted measure the amount of at least one element in individual particles from the stream by performing mass analysis on the ions from the atomized particles. The instrument can be adapted to measure the amount of many different tags, for example at least five different tags, at the same time to facilitate multi-parametric analysis of cells and other particles.

Abstract: A method for cellular analysis of cellular particles tagged with elemental tags, such as lanthanide-based elemental tags. Particles or element tags associated with particles can be vaporized, atomized, and ionized, such as with an inductively coupled plasma device or a glow discharge device. The vaporized, atomized, and ionized particles or element tags can be analyzed using mass spectrometry, such as using a time of flight mass spectrometer or a magnetic sector mass spectrometer. The amount of at least one element in individual particles can be measured through mass analysis. The amount of many different tags, for example at least five different tags, can be measured at the same time to facilitate multi-parametric analysis of cells and other particles. The vaporized, atomized, and ionized particles or element tags can be pretreated in an ion pretreatment system to filter out low mass ions, such as using a high-pass mass filter or a bandpass mass filter, to allow the elemental tags to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A method for cellular analysis of cellular particles tagged with elemental tags, such as lanthanide-based elemental tags. Particles or element tags associated with particles can be vaporized, atomized, and ionized, such as with an inductively coupled plasma device or a glow discharge device. The vaporized, atomized, and ionized particles or element tags can be analyzed using mass spectrometry, such as using a time of flight mass spectrometer or a magnetic sector mass spectrometer. The amount of at least one element in individual particles can be measured through mass analysis. The amount of many different tags, for example at least five different tags, can be measured at the same time to facilitate multi-parametric analysis of cells and other particles. The vaporized, atomized, and ionized particles or element tags can be pretreated in an ion pretreatment system to filter out low mass ions, such as using a high-pass mass filter or a bandpass mass filter, to allow the elemental tags to pass therethrough.

Abstract: An analytical instrument for cellular analysis of cellular particles tagged with elemental tags, such as lanthanide-based elemental tags. The analytical instrument has a sample introduction system for generating a stream of particles from the sample. An inductively coupled plasma ionization system atomizes and ionizes particles in the stream as they are received. The instrument has an ion pretreatment system and a mass analyzer. The ion pretreatment system is adapted to transport ions generated by the ionization system to the mass analyzer. The ion pretreatment system can filter out low mass ions, such as using a high-pass mass filter or a bandpass mass filter, to allow the elemental tags to pass therethrough. The mass analyzer is adapted to measure the amount of at least one element in individual particles from the stream by performing mass analysis on the ions from the atomized particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for molecular cytometry. The molecular cytometer is for use in the analysis of molecular tag labeled particles. In the molecular cytometer, volatile molecular tags attached to the particles, such as cells, are released as groups of molecular tags and ionized by the method of soft ionization to produce corresponding groups of molecular ions. The molecular cytometer has two detectors, one to detect the presence of the groups of molecular ions and the other to detect mobility separated molecular ions. The mobility separated molecular ions are synchronized to correspond with the groups of molecular ions.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for molecular cytometry. The molecular cytometer is for use in the analysis of molecular tag labeled particles. In the molecular cytometer, volatile molecular tags attached to the particles, such as cells, are released as groups of molecular tags and ionized by the method of soft ionization to produce corresponding groups of molecular ions. The molecular cytometer has two detectors, one to detect the presence of the groups of molecular ions and the other to detect mobility separated molecular ions. The mobility separated molecular ions are synchronized to correspond with the groups of molecular ions.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer of the type useful in mass cytometry includes an ion detector. A digitizing system for converting analog signals from the ion detector includes two analog-to-digital converters. The analog-to-digital converters are configured to provide an increased dynamic range for a targeted period while limiting the amount of data generated.

Abstract: An elemental flow cytometer includes a device to vaporize, atomize, and ionize material and an introduction system for introducing packets of discrete entities into said device to vaporize, atomize and ionize materials to vaporize, atomize and ionize the entities in the packets. A spectrometer is adapted to individually analyze elemental composition of one or more of the vaporized, atomized and excited or ionized packets.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer of the type useful in mass cytometry includes an ion detector. A digitizing system for converting analog signals from the ion detector includes two analog-to-digital converters. The analog-to-digital converters are configured to provide an increased dynamic range for a targeted period while limiting the amount of data generated.

Abstract: An elemental flow cytometer includes a device to vaporize, atomize, and ionize material and an introduction system for introducing packets of discrete entities into said device to vaporize, atomize and ionize materials to vaporize, atomize and ionize the entities in the packets. A spectrometer is adapted to individually analyze elemental composition of one or more of the vaporized, atomized and excited or ionized packets.

Abstract: An analytical instrument has a sample introduction system for generating a stream of particles from a sample and an ionization system for receiving the particles. The ionization system is operable to atomize the particles received from the sample introduction system and ionize atoms from the atomized particles. The instrument has an ion pretreatment system and a magnetic sector mass analyzer comprising an array detector. The ion pretreatment system is adapted to transport ions generated by the ionization system to the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer is adapted to detect a transient signal of at least one element from individual particles from said stream by performing mass analysis on the ions from the atomized particles. The magnetic sector mass analyzer is adapted determine an amount of said at least one element from an individual particle using the transient signal detected during mass analysis of the ions from said individual particle.

Abstract: An analytical instrument has a sample introduction system for generating a stream of particles from a sample and an ionization system for receiving the particles. The ionization system is operable to atomize the particles received from the sample introduction system and ionize atoms from the atomized particles. The instrument has an ion pretreatment system and a magnetic sector mass analyzer comprising an array detector. The ion pretreatment system is adapted to transport ions generated by the ionization system to the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer is adapted to detect a transient signal of at least one element from individual particles from said stream by performing mass analysis on the ions from the atomized particles. The magnetic sector mass analyzer is adapted determine an amount of said at least one element from an individual particle using the transient signal detected during mass analysis of the ions from said individual particle.

Abstract: An analytical instrument has a sample introduction system for generating a stream of particles from a sample. An ionization system atomizes and ionizes particles in the stream as they are received. The instrument has an ion pretreatment system and a mass analyzer. The ion pretreatment system is adapted to transport ions generated by the ionization system to the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer is adapted measure the amount of at least one element in individual particles from the stream by performing mass analysis on the ions from the atomized particles. The instrument can be adapted to measure the amount of many different tags, for example at least five different tags, at the same time to facilitate multi-parametric analysis of cells and other particles.

Abstract: A flow cytometer instrument and method for use thereof is described. The cell injector can receive particles from a sample slurry of particles associated with a biological material, and the cell injector can select particles from the sample slurry for injection into a mass spectrometer detector for the analysis of the individual particle. The spectrometer can have a plasma torch having a center tube being connected to the cell injector to receive the particles, a radio frequency power source and a load coil coupled to the plasma torch to generate and maintain a plasma in the plasma torch for ionizing the received particles, and a mass detector disposed downstream of the plasma torch for receiving ionized particles from the plasma torch and operative for detecting the particles in the sample slurry.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for sequentially analyzing particles such as single cells or single beads, by spectrometry. The apparatus, an elemental flow cytometer, includes means (102) for sequential particle introduction, means (104) to vaporize, atomize and excite or ionize the particles, or an elemental tag associated with an analyte on the particles, and means (106) to analyze the elemental composition of the vaporized, atomized and excited or ionized particles, or an elemental tag associated with the particles. Methods for sequentially analyzing particles such as singe cells or single beads by spectrometry are also described.

Abstract: A method of detecting and measuring phosphorus in samples is disclosed. The measurement of phosphorylation is made with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), coupled to a reactive collision cell. The reactive collision cell is employed to ensure interference-free detection of phosphorus ions, by the formation of product ions with a different mass to charge ratio. Accurate measurement of phosphorylation in samples is important in proteomics.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer has an ion source for producing sample ions. The ions pass through an ion interface, to a reaction/collision cell section. An inn-neutral decoupling device is provided between the ion interface and the reaction/collision cell section, to provide substantial separation between ions and neutral particles, whereby only ions pass on to the reaction/collision cell section. The supersonic jet entering the spectrometer can have sufficient energy to cause the plasma gases, such as argon, to overcome the pressure differential between the reaction/collision cell and an upstream section of the spectrometer so as to penetrate into the reaction/collision cell; the decoupling device prevents this. The decoupling device can have offset apertures provided by plates or rods or other comparable arrangements, or can comprise a quadrupolar electrostatic deflector, an electrostatic sector deflector or a magnetic sector deflector.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer has an ion source for producing sample ions. The ions pass through an ion interface, to a reaction/collision cell section. An ion-neutral decoupling device is provided between the ion interface and the reaction/collision cell section, to provide substantial separation between ions and neutral particles. The supersonic jet entering the spectrometer can have sufficient energy to cause the plasma gases, such as argon, to overcome the pressure differential between the reaction/collision cell and an upstream section of the spectrometer so as to penetrate into the reaction/collision cell; the decoupling device prevents this. The decoupling device can have offset apertures provided by plates or rods or other comparable arrangements, or can comprise a quadrupolar electrostatic deflector, an electrostatic sector deflector or a magnetic sector deflector.