Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising a first device for generating aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of a target, an inlet conduit to an ion analyser or mass spectrometer, the inlet conduit having an inlet through which the aerosol, smoke or vapour passes, and a Venturi pump arrangement arranged and adapted to direct the aerosol, smoke or vapour towards the inlet.

Abstract: A sprayer assembly for an ion source is disclosed. The sprayer includes a capillary having an outlet, a sheath for the capillary, and an elastic member. The sheath can move relative to the capillary between a first position in which the sheath covers the outlet of the capillary and a second position in which the outlet of the capillary is exposed. When the sheath moves from the first position to or towards the second position, the elastic member provides a restoring force that acts to restore the position of the sheath to or towards the first position.

Abstract: An instrument for analysing ions is disclosed comprising: a first device (4) configured to onwardly transmit ions having a restricted range of physicochemical property values at any given time, and to change said range with time such that the first device (4) is capable of transmitting ions having different physicochemical property values at different times; and an ion mobility separator (6) arranged to receive ions transmitted by the first device (4); wherein the instrument is configured such that the time that any given ion enters the ion mobility separator (6) and begins to be separated from other ions is defined by its time of transmission by the first device.

Abstract: A sprayer assembly for an ion source is disclosed. The sprayer includes a capillary having an outlet, a sheath for the capillary, and an elastic member. The sheath can move relative to the capillary between a first position in which the sheath covers the outlet of the capillary and a second position in which the outlet of the capillary is exposed. When the sheath moves from the first position to or towards the second position, the elastic member provides a restoring force that acts to restore the position of the sheath to or towards the first position.

Abstract: A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.

Abstract: A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: (a) using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target in vitro or ex vivo cell population; (b) mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and (c) analysing said spectrometric data in order to identify and/or characterise said target cell population or one or more cells and/or compounds present in said target cell population.

Abstract: A method of producing ions from a sample is disclosed. The method comprises directing a spray of droplets onto a sample, and causing droplets comprising analyte from the sample to impact upon a surface so as to generate analyte ions.

Abstract: A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.

Abstract: A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.

Abstract: A method of ion mobility and/or mass spectrometry is disclosed in which the ion mobility and/or mass to charge ratio of an ion is determined using an algorithm or relationship that relates the transit time or average ion velocity of the ion through an ion separation device in which one or more time-varying electric field is used to separate ions passing therethrough to one or more parameters for the device, the mass to charge ratio of the ion and the ion mobility of the ion.

Abstract: A method of spectrometric analysis comprises obtaining one or more sample spectra for an aerosol, smoke or vapour sample. The one or more sample spectra are subjected to pre-processing and then multivariate and/or library based analysis so as to classify the aerosol, smoke or vapour sample. The results of the analysis are used for various surgical or non-surgical applications.

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: trapping ions in an ion trap (40); applying a first force on the ions within the ion trap in a first direction, said force having a magnitude that is dependent upon the value of a physicochemical property of the ions; applying a second force on these ions in the opposite direction so that the ions separate according to the physicochemical property value as a result of the first and second forces; and then pulsing or driving ions out of one or more regions of the ion trap.

Abstract: A method of mass and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed that comprises accumulating ions for a first period of time (T1) one or more times so as to form one or more first groups of ions, accumulating ions for a second period of time (T2) one or more times so as to form one or more second groups of ions, wherein the second period of time (T2) is less that the first period of time (T1), analysing the one or more first groups of ions to generate one or more first data sets, analysing the one or more second groups of ions to generate one or more second data sets, and determining whether the one or more first data sets comprise saturated and/or distorted data. If it is determined that the one or more first data sets comprise saturated and/or distorted data, then the method further comprises replacing the saturated and/or distorted data from the one or more first data sets with corresponding data from the one or more second data sets.

Abstract: A method of mass and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed that includes ionising analyte from a sample so as to generate a plurality of ions, separating precursor ions from first fragment and/or other ions of the plurality of ions, fragmenting or reacting at least some of the precursor ions using a fragmentation, reaction or collision device so as to generate second fragment ions, and then analysing at least some ions that emerge from the fragmentation, reaction or collision device. The sample is classified and/or identified based on the analysis of the second fragment ions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising: trapping ions in an ion trap (40); applying a first force on the ions within the ion trap in a first direction, said force having a magnitude that is dependent upon the value of a physicochemical property of the ions; applying a second force on these ions in the opposite direction so that the ions separate according to the physicochemical property value as a result of the first and second forces; and then pulsing or driving ions out of one or more regions of the ion trap.

Abstract: A method of filtering ions according to their ion mobility using a device is disclosed, the method comprising a plurality of electrodes and one or more voltage source(s) arranged and adapted to apply voltages to the plurality of electrodes, the method comprising, generating using the one or more voltage source(s) one or more local separation region(s), wherein ions can be separated within each local separation region according to their ion mobility, and moving each local separation region axially along the device with a certain velocity such that, for each local separation region, ions having a value of their ion mobility falling within a selected range are transmitted axially along the device with that local separation region whereas ions having higher and/or lower ion mobility falling outside that range escape the local separation region, wherein any ions that escape the local separation region(s) are removed from within the device and/or otherwise kept apart from those ions falling within the selected rang

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer or separator and an ion guide arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. A plurality of axial potential wells are created in the ion guide so that ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator become confined in separate axial potential wells. The potential wells maintain the fidelity and/or composition of ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. The potential wells are translated along the length of the ion guide.

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 of ion imaging is disclosed that includes automatically sampling a plurality of different locations on a sample using a front device which is arranged and adapted to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from the sample. Mass spectral data and/or ion mobility data corresponding to each location is obtained and the obtained mass spectral data and/or ion mobility data is used to construct, train or improved a sample classification model.