Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility separator 4 for separating ions according to their ion mobility, one or more first devices or stages arranged upstream of the ion mobility separator and a control system. The control system is arranged and adapted to monitor directly or indirectly the operating environment within the ion mobility separator 4, and to control the operating environment within the ion mobility separator 4 based on the monitoring by controlling one or more gas flows to or within one or more of the one or more first devices or stages.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising isolating a group of different ions derived from chemical compounds in the same class, wherein the different ions have different mass to charge ratios and ion mobilities. The step of isolating comprises temporally separating the ions according to their ion mobility in an ion mobility separator; and mass filtering the ions according to mass to charge ratio with a mass filter. The mass to charge ratios transmitted by the mass filter are varied as a function of time such that said different ions derived from chemical compounds in the same class are transmitted by the mass filter and other ions are not transmitted by the mass filter.

Abstract: A method of ionising a sample is provided, comprising providing a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample contains an analyte, applying one or more pulses of acoustic energy to the fluid sample to cause a spray of the fluid sample to eject from the surface of the fluid sample, and applying an AC, RF or alternating voltage to the fluid sample using an electrode.

Abstract: An ion source for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ultrasonic transducer which focuses ultrasonic energy onto a surface of a sample fluid without directly contacting the sample fluid.

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: An apparatus for mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising a first device arranged and adapted to generate aerosol, smoke or vapor from a target and one or more second devices arranged and adapted to aspirate aerosol, smoke, vapor and/or liquid to or towards an analyzer. A liquid trap or separator is provided to capture and/or discard liquid aspirated by the one or more second devices.

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: An ambient or atmospheric pressure ion source is disclosed that comprises a laser source (1) that generates ions and/or neutral particles from a target (2). A transfer device (10) causes the ions and/or neutral particles to pass along a first path or axis within the transfer device (10), while a secondary activation device (6) directs laser radiation or photons along, across or over at least a portion of the first path or axis to cause secondary activation of the ions and/or neutral particles.

Abstract: A method of analysing a sample is disclosed that comprises surveying a sample in a first mode of operation by directing a spray of charged droplets onto the sample, determining one or more regions of interest in the sample, and analysing the one or more regions of interest in a second different mode of operation by directing a spray of charged droplets onto the sample. The spot size of the spray of charged droplets at a point of impact with the sample may be varied.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus comprising a first ion source (10) arranged and adapted to emit a spray of charged droplets (11), and a control system arranged and adapted to control one or more spatial properties of said spray of charged droplets (11) in use by automatically varying or adjusting one or more parameters of said first ion source.

Abstract: A method of mass or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed that uses the Leidenfrost effect to cause a liquid to be repelled away from a heated surface so as to levitate above there-above. The repelled liquid is urged so as to move along the surface in a predetermined direction, for example, by the geometric configuration of the heated surface.

Abstract: An ion source for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ultrasonic transducer which focuses ultrasonic energy onto a surface of a sample fluid without directly contacting the sample fluid.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility separator for separating ions according to their ion mobility, one or more first devices or stages arranged upstream of the ion mobility separator and a control system. The control system is arranged and adapted to monitor directly or indirectly the operating environment within the ion mobility separator, and to control the operating environment within the ion mobility separator based on the monitoring by controlling one or more gas flows to or within one or more of the one or more first devices or stages.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising digitizing a plurality of individual signals or transients and summing the plurality of digitized signals or transients or data relating to the plurality of digitized signals or transients to generate a composite mass spectral data set. The method further comprises determining in relation to the composite mass spectral data set an indication of the proportion of instances that intensity values relating to the individual digitized signals or transients either: (i) exceeded or approached a threshold value; (ii) suffered from saturation or approached saturation; or (iii) resulted from the dynamic range of an ion detector system being exceeded or approached.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer and an ion gate. A collision cell is arranged downstream of the ion gate. The operation of the ion mobility spectrometer and the ion gate are synchronized so that only ions having a particular mass to charge ration and a desired charge state are onwardly transmitted to the collision cell.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising liberating analyte material from a sample and transferring the liberated analyte material towards an inlet of an ion analyser via a sampling or transfer tube (202). The presence of the analyte material is detected at a first position by a detector (203), and this detection may be used to determine a transit time for the analyte material through at least a part of said sampling or transfer tube (202). The detector (203) may be disposed within the sampling or transfer tube (202).

Abstract: An analytical device for analysing ions is provided comprising a separator 2 for separating ions according to a physico-chemical property and an interface 3 comprising one or more ion guides. A quadrupole rod set mass filter 4 is arranged downstream of the interface 3. A control system is arranged and adapted: (i) to transmit a first group of ions which emerges from the separator 2 through the interface 3 with a first transit time t1; and (ii) to transmit a second group of ions which subsequently emerges from the separator 2 through the interface 3 with a second different transit time t2.

Abstract: A method of mass or mobility spectrometry comprising obtaining one or more sample spectra for a 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 sample. Before the sample spectra are acquired, a library of background spectra, each background spectrum relating to a certain class of sample material, is constructed. The background spectra in this library are used to subtract the background from a sample spectrum during the pre-processing of this sample spectrum.

Abstract: A method of spectrometric analysis comprises obtaining one or more sample spectra for a 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 sample. The pre-processing involves deisotoping the sample spectra.

Abstract: A feedback apparatus (22) is provided for use with a system (10) that comprises an analyser (16) and a sampling device (12). The feedback apparatus (22) comprises a receiver (20) that receives from the analyser 16 information relating to a sample obtained using the sampling device (12). The feedback apparatus (22) comprises a feedback device that provides an indication based on the information to an operator (14) of the sampling device (2) whilst the sampling device (12) is within the operator's visual field.