Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for dispersive energy imaging are disclosed. The full three-dimensional velocity distribution function of a flowing particle stream may be measured and properties of the particle stream characterized. In some devices, an aperture system controls the entry of a stream of particles into the sensor where an electrostatic deflector separates the stream of particles into different species, and a detector system senses the separated species.

Abstract: Systems and methods are used to analyze a sample using variable mass selection window widths. A tandem mass spectrometer is instructed to perform at least two fragmentation scans of a sample with different mass selection window widths using a processor. The tandem mass spectrometer includes a mass analyzer that allows variable mass selection window widths. The selection of the different mass selection window widths can be based on one or more properties of sample compounds. The properties may include a sample compound molecular weight distribution that is calculated from a molecular weight distribution of expected compounds or is determined from a list of molecular weights for one or more known compounds. The tandem mass spectrometer can also be instructed to perform an analysis of the sample before instructing the tandem mass spectrometer to perform the at least two fragmentation scans of the sample.

Abstract: A Time of Flight mass analyser is disclosed comprising an ion detector comprising an Analogue to Digital Converter. Output signals from the ion detector are digitised and the arrival times and intensity values relating to ion arrival events are determined. If the determined arrival times from two signals fall within the same time window then the arrival times are added together in a weighted manner and the intensity values are combined.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a mixture of components includes forming precursor ions from the components, alternately causing the precursor ions to pass to and to by-pass a fragmentation device, to form product ions from the precursor ions that pass to the device and to form substantially fewer product ions from precursor ions that by-pass the device, and obtaining mass spectra from product ions received from the device and from precursor ions that by-passed the device. An apparatus for analyzing a sample includes an ion source for forming precursor ions from the components of the sample, a fragmentation device for forming product ions from the precursor ions, a by-pass device disposed upstream of the fragmentation device for switchable by-pass of the fragmentation device, and a mass analyzer.

Abstract: A curtain-gas filter for a mass- or mobility-spectrometer that bars gases or vapors of a high-flux atmospheric pressure ion source, as we ions of high mobility and charged droplets, from entering an evacuated mass spectrometer or a mobility spectrometer that is at a lower pressure than the main filter volume of the curtain-gas filter. A portion of the ion-source buffer gas in the ion-source plume is sucked through an ion-source buffer gas inlet into the main filter volume of the curtain-gas filter, from where this ion-source gas is exhausted after a properly shaped electric field has pushed a large portion of the embedded ions into an externally provided stream of a clean buffer gas, which is sucked through a passage into a mass- or mobility-spectrometer that is at a lower pressure.

Abstract: The field of the invention is atmospheric pressure mass spectrometry (MS), and more specifically a process and apparatus which combine infrared laser ablation with electrospray ionization (ESI).

Abstract: The disclosed method and apparatus couple a membrane interface directly to a mass spectrometer at atmospheric pressure. The membrane may be in capillary or sheet form and allows the introduction of a liquid or gaseous sample to one side of the membrane while the other side of the membrane is bathed with a solution that can easily be used in an atmospheric pressure ionization source. Volatile molecules permeate through a suitable membrane such as poly-dimethyl silicone (PDMS), mix into the appropriate solvent, and are ionized. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used in construing the claims.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry using helium as cooling gas is performed to obtain a first mass spectrum (S1), and another mass spectrometry using argon, which is heavier than helium, as cooling gas is performed to obtain a second mass spectrum for the same sample (S2). Due to the difference between the two gases in terms of the effect of promoting dissociation of modifications, an ion peak originating from a target compound from which all the modifications have been dissociated will appear with a higher intensity on the second mass spectrum. The peak patterns of the two mass spectra are compared to locate the all-dissociated ion peak while excluding unnecessary peaks (S3). Based on that peak, the assignment of each peak is determined (S4).

Abstract: The present invention provides a mass distribution spectrometry which reduces an influence of the dispersion in the times at which ionizing beams irradiate a sample, on a mass spectrometry result, and can measure the mass distribution with high reliability. The mass distribution spectrometry is a mass spectrometry which includes irradiating the sample with a primary ion beam and detecting generated secondary ions, wherein this primary ion beam has a spread toward a direction perpendicular to a travelling direction, has a path length of each primary ion contained in the primary ion beam between a primary ion source and a surface of the sample adjusted by deflecting a trajectory, and is obliquely incident on the surface of the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus including an ion injector having an inlet and an outlet and a micro-corona ionizer positioned between the inlet and the outlet of the ion injector. The micro-corona ionizer includes a planar electrode and a sharp knife-edged electrode spaced apart from the planar electrode and positioned with the sharp knife edge pointing toward the planar electrode. A drift and separation channel having a first end and a second end is positioned with the first end coupled to outlet of the ion injector, and an ion detector is coupled to the second end of the ion separation and drift channel. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

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: The invention relates to the detection of fatty acids. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for detecting very long chain fatty acids and branched chain fatty acids by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mass spectrometry method having steps of: transmitting ions from an ion source through a mass filter; processing ions received from the mass filter in a discontinuous ion optical device downstream of the mass filter; operating the mass filter for a plurality of periods in a mass/charge ratio (m/z) filtering mode to transmit ions in one or more selected ranges of m/z to the discontinuous ion optical device; and operating the mass filter in a broad mass range mode transmitting ions of a mass range substantially wider than any mass range transmitted in the m/z filtering mode during one or more periods in which the discontinuous ion optical device is not processing ions from the mass filter. Utilization of this method assists to reduce contamination in the mass filter.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising automatically and repeatedly performing multiple cycles of operation, wherein a cycle of operation comprises the steps of: (i) mass analysing first ions; (ii) exposing the first ions to a first photo-dissociation device to form a plurality of second ions and mass analysing the second ions; and (iii) exposing the first ions to a first photo-dissociation device to form a plurality of second ions, fragmenting the second ions to form a plurality of third ions and mass analysing the third ions.

Abstract: A method of determining the mass-to-charge ratios of ions in a sample is disclosed. The method includes determining a data acquisition time, where the data acquisition time is a predetermined fraction of the greatest time of flight. The method also includes providing ions from a continuous beam of a sample to a time-of-flight mass analyzer at pulse intervals having a duration equal to the predetermined fraction of the greatest flight time. The method also includes measuring a peak width and a flight time value for each of the ion species in the sample after summing the data acquired during several pulse intervals and correcting the measured flight time values according to a correlation of measured peak width values with calibration data of peak width versus flight time.

Abstract: An apparatus for elemental analysis of particles such as single cells or single beads by mass spectrometry is described. The apparatus includes means for particle introduction; means to vaporize, atomize and ionize elements associated with a particle; means to separate the ions according to their mass-to-charge ratio; means to detect the separated ions, means to digitize the output of the means to detect the ions; means to transfer and/or to process and/or record the data output of the means to digitize, having means to detect the presence of a particle in a mass spectrometer; and means to synchronize one of the means for ion detection, data digitization, transfer, processing and recording with the means to detect the presence of a particle. Methods and computer readable code implementing aspects of the apparatus, and for reducing the rates of data generation, digitization, transfer, processing and recording are also described.

Abstract: A method of operating a gas-filled collision cell in a mass spectrometer is provided. The collision cell has a longitudinal axis. Ions are caused to enter the collision cell. A trapping field is generated within the collision cell so as to trap the ions within a trapping volume of the collision cell, the trapping volume being defined by the trapping field and extending along the longitudinal axis. Trapped ions are processed in the collision cell and a DC potential gradient is provided, using an electrode arrangement, resulting in a non-zero electric field at all points along the axial length of the trapping volume so as to cause processed ions to exit the collision cell. The electric field along the axial length of the trapping volume has a standard deviation that is no greater than its mean value.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for transferring ions for analysis. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a system for analyzing a sample including an ionizing source for converting molecules of a sample into gas phase ions in a region at about atmospheric pressure, an ion analysis device, and an ion transfer member operably coupled to a gas flow generating device, in which the gas flow generating device produces a laminar gas flow that transfers the gas phase ions through the ion transfer member to an inlet of the ion analysis device.

Abstract: Methods for analyzing mass spectral data, include acquiring profile mode mass spectral data containing at least on ion of interest whose elemental composition is determined; obtaining a correct peak shape function based on the actually measured peak shape of at least one of the isotypes of the same ion of interest; generating at least one possible elemental composition for the ion of interest; calculating a theoretical isotope distribution for the elemental composition and a theoretical isotope cluster by applying correct peak shape function to the theoretical isotope distribution; comparing quantiatively the corresponding parts of the theoretical isotope cluster to that from acquired profile mode mass spectral data to obtain at least one of elemental composition determination, classification, or quantitation for the ion. A computer for and a computer readable medium having computer readable code thereon for performing the methods. A mass spectrometer having an associated computer for performing the methods.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer featured in including an ion source including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a dielectric unit having a sample introducing unit and a sample discharging unit and provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, a power source of ionizing a sample by a discharge generated between the first electrode and the second electrode by applying an alternating current voltage to either one of the first electrode and the second electrode, a mass spectrometry unit of analyzing an ion discharged from the sample discharging unit, and a light irradiating unit of irradiating an area of generating the discharge with light.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion trap and a fragmentation device. Ions are fragmented in the ion trap to form first generation fragment ions. The ion trap has a relatively high mass cut-off. The first generation fragment ions are then transferred to a fragmentation device which is arranged to have a substantially lower low mass cut-off. The first generation fragment ions are fragmented within the fragmentation device any may optionally be stored in an ion accumulation region prior to being passed to a mass analyzer for subsequent mass analysis.

Abstract: An ionization cell for a mass spectrometer (2) includes: an ionization housing (10) having a first and a second electron input groove (11, 26) and one side (16) of which has an output groove (15) for passing ionized particles (14a, 14b, 14c) therethrough, a first working filament (13) placed opposite the first electron input groove (11) and intended to be supplied to produce an electron beam (12), and a second backup filament (22) placed opposite the second electron input groove (26) and intended to be supplied in the event the first working filament (13) fails so as to produce the electron beam, the input groove (26) being placed outside a front region (F) located opposite the first input groove (11). The invention also relates to a leak detector with a mass spectrometer, which includes such an above-described ionization cell.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a RF ion guide wherein in a mode of operation a continuous, quasi-continuous or pulsed beam of ions is orthogonally sampled from the ion guide and wherein the continuous, quasi-continuous or pulsed beam of ions is not axially trapped or otherwise axially confined within the RF ion guide. The ion guide is maintained, in use, at a pressure selected from the group consisting of: (i) 0.0001-0.001 mbar; (ii) 0.001-0.01 mbar; (iii) 0.01-0.1 mbar; (iv) 0.1-1 mbar; (v) 1-10 mbar; (vi) 10-100 mbar; and (vii) >100 mbar.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and method for using unit mass library searches for sample identification in accurate mass spectrometry. In general, the systems and methods described herein: (a) obtain an accurate mass spectrum of a sample; (b) calculate a unit mass spectrum based on the accurate mass spectrum; and (c) conduct a unit mass library search, based on the calculated unit masses, to obtain at least one candidate species to thereby identify the sample. The systems and methods may further: (d) calculate exact masses for each of a plurality of candidate species; and (e) eliminate candidate species due to ions that are outside a mass error window. The mass error window may be less than 500 ppm. The system and methods presented may be used in, for example, gas chromatrography mass spectrum and/or liquid chromatography mass spectrometry systems.

Abstract: A method for detecting hepcidin. Having a sample liquid in contact with a nanochip having a specific surface coating structure of silicon oxide, so that hepcidin is enriched with specificity; eluting the nanochip with an eluent; by performing mass spectrometric detection on the elution product, determining the hepcidin content in the elution product. The enrichment method substantially enhances the sensitivity and accuracy of mass spectrometric detection. A kit for detecting hepcidin comprising a sample diluent and a nanochip, the sample diluent comprising water, trifluoroacetic acid, and acetonitrile.

Abstract: An electrostatic ion trap for mass analysis includes a first array of electrodes and a second array of electrodes, spaced from the first array of electrode. The first and second arrays of electrodes may be planar arrays formed by parallel strip electrodes or by concentric, circular or part-circular electrically conductive rings. The electrodes of the arrays are supplied with substantially the same pattern of voltage whereby the distribution of electrical potential in the space between the arrays is such as to reflect ions isochronously in a flight direction causing them to undergo periodic, oscillatory motion in the space, focused substantially mid-way between the arrays. Amplifier circuitry is used to detect image current having frequency components related to the mass-to-charge ratio of ions undergoing the periodic, oscillatory motion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling a pipeline-type ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer, in which an ion trap unit of the ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer is capable of using two digitizers at the same time, thus enabling a measurement process for detecting an electrical signal which indicates the mass of ions corresponding to a specific purpose, and another measurement process for detecting another electrical signal which indicates the mass of ions corresponding to another specific purpose, to be simultaneously performed. Accordingly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for controlling a pipeline-type ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer, which can overcome the problems of time delay among control procedures, and can present a signal detection step wherein an excitation electrode is utilized to improve the sensitivity and speed of signal detection.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a quadrupole rod set ion trap wherein a potential field is created at the exit of the ion trap which decreases with increasing radius in one radial direction. Ions within the ion trap are mass selectively excited in a radial direction. Ions which have been excited in the radial direction experience a potential field which no longer confines the ions axially within the ion trap but which instead acts to extract the ions and hence causes the ions to be ejected axially from the ion trap.

Abstract: An orbital ion trap for electrostatic field ion trapping which includes an electrode structure defining an internal volume of the trap with at least some of electrode surfaces shaped to substantially follow equipotential lines of an ideal quadro-logarithmic electric potential around a longitudinal axis z. The ideal electric potential has an inner potential canyon, an outer potential canyon, and a low potential passage therebetween. The trap includes a trapping voltage supply which provides trapping voltages on the electrodes to generate a trapping electrostatic potential within the internal volume of the trap. The trapping electrostatic potential closely approximates at least a part of the ideal electric potential in at least a part of the internal volume of the trap.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to sample ionization, and provides ionization probe assemblies, systems, computer program products, and methods useful for this purpose.

Abstract: A miniature mass spectrometer that may be coupled to an atmospheric pressure ionisation source is described. Ions pass through a small orifice from a region at atmospheric pressure or low vacuum, and undergo efficient collisional cooling as they transit a very short, differentially pumped ion guide. A narrow beam of low energy ions is passed through a small aperture and into a separate chamber containing the mass analyser.

Abstract: Techniques for sampling a subsurface reservoir include lowering a downhole logging tool comprising one or more samplers, a cleaner system, and a sample probe bit into a borehole until at least one sampler is positioned correctly in a subterranean reservoir; advancing the cleaner system into the reservoir cleaning mud filtrate and contaminated reservoir material away into a mud column; advancing the sample probe bit into the reservoir; and solvent is injected into the reservoir from the solvent reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with methods and apparatuses for generating mass spectrum data using a mass spectrometer by subtracting noise mass spectrum data representative of noise in the mass spectrometer from signal mass spectrum data representative of the mass/charge ratio of ions in a sample material. This produces a modified signal mass spectrum data representative of the mass/charge ratio of ions in the sample material. The method includes acquiring and subtracting noise mass spectrum data representative of noise in the mass spectrometer or alternatively subtracting noise mass spectrum data from a previously acquired or pre-stored noise spectrum data. Embodiments demonstrate reduced noise and in particular reduced systematic noise compared with the originally acquired signal mass spectrum data.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry system based on the general principle of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is disclosed. An ion source (10) generates a beam (B) of ions having a negative charge state. A first mass analyzer (20) transmits only ions having a predetermined mass. The ions are passed through a stripper target (80) comprising helium and/or hydrogen as a stripping gas to change the charge state of said ions from negative to positive charge and to dissociate molecular ions by collisions. A second mass analyzer (110, 130) transmits ions in charge state 1+ having the predetermined mass, which are detected by a detector (140). By using helium and/or hydrogen gas and detecting ions in charge state 1+, it becomes possible to use kinetic energies below 200 keV without excessive transmission losses due to angular straggling. At sufficiently low energies, no additional acceleration is required after ions have been extracted from the ion source.

Abstract: A method for mass analyzing multiply-charged ions is provided as well as a mass analyzer suitable for performing the method, the method comprising: introducing multiply-charged ions into an electrostatic mass analyzer where ions undergo multiple changes of direction of motion; detecting the ions in the analyzer; and determining the mass-to-charge ratio of at least some of the detected ions; wherein the absolute velocity in the analyzer of at least some of the ions whose mass-to-charge ratio is determined is not greater than 8,000 m/s and the average path length over the duration of detection of such ions is longer than required for detecting such ions with a mass-to-charge ratio resolving power of 1,000. High resolution mass spectra of high m/z protein complexes, for example in a native state and with low charge, can be achieved.

Abstract: An ionic liquid ion source can include a microfabricated body including a base and a tip. The body can be formed of a porous material compatible with at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt. The body can have a pore size gradient that decreases from the base of the body to the tip of the body, such that the at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt is capable of being transported through capillarity from the base to the tip.

Abstract: The problem is to provide a MALDI mass spectrometry method that can be used for a mass spectrometry method by a general MALDI method with which it is possible to measure multiple molecules to be measured that are contained in a sample quantitatively in a short period of time with good efficiency compared with conventional methods. The problem is solved by a MALDI mass spectrometry method for a sample containing multiple molecules to be measured, which is a MALDI mass spectrometry method characterized in that the multiple molecules to be measured are a saccharide mixture, a glycopeptide mixture, a glycopeptide-peptide mixture, a glycoprotein mixture, or a glycoprotein-protein mixture, and that a quantitative mass spectrum of the multiple molecules to be measured is obtained from an arbitrary point in the sample to be measured where a signal is detected without measuring and integrated averaging the entire sample to be measured.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for real-time sampling and analysis of biomolecules beneath the surface of biological/agricultural tissue/sample. A method for determining fatty acid profiles in agricultural products (for example, seeds) comprises using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectroscopy or laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI) mass spectroscopy. The MALDI or LAESI mass spectroscopy may be used to profile certain fatty acid traits, such as docosahexanoic acid (DHA), in oil seeds. The disclosed method may be used for a high throughput and/or automated screening of agricultural products, such as seeds, for desirable traits or events.

Abstract: A method is used in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer for analysis of a first pulsed ion beam, the ions of which are disposed along the pulse direction, separated with respect to their ion masses. The ions of at least one individual predetermined ion mass or of at least one predetermined range of ion masses can be decoupled from the first pulsed ion beam, as at least one decoupled ion beam, and the first ion beam and the at least one decoupled ion beam are analyzed.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer has an inlet for an analyte substance opening into an ionization region that produces ions of the substance. Parallel grid electrodes extend laterally across the ion flow path and apply an electric field to the ions that is switchable between a relatively low magnitude alternating field that varies in magnitude over multiple periods and an asymmetric alternating field of sufficiently high magnitude to cause differential mobility effects. A collector collects the passed ions, and an indication of the nature of the analyte substance is produced from the collected ions passed during both the low and high field intervals. Also disclosed is the application of a substantially alternating field between the electrodes, which field varies between a low value and a higher value over a time exceeding that of the alternating period.

Abstract: A sampling cone of a mass spectrometer is disclosed having a metallic boride coating such as titanium diboride.

Abstract: Dual TDC-ADC detection systems for time of flight mass spectrometry are disclosed herein. Detection systems based upon TDC generally provide higher timing resolution as opposed to detection systems based upon ADC. However, ADC generally provides increased dynamic range over TDC. By combining TDC and ADC into a tandem detector, and adjusting performance parameters of the respective converter types, the dynamic range of the dual TDC-ADC detection can be extended beyond what either detector type could have achieved individually. Composite time of flight mass spectra can be generated by aggregating individual mass spectra acquired from multiple time-of-flight extractions, and selecting the number of time-of-flight extractions to ensure overlap between the ADC and TDC dynamic ranges in the dual TDC-ADC detector system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a parallel IMS and MS measurement method where a sample flow is split and delivered to an IMS and a MS in parallel. A parallel acquisition MS/IMS method is used to supplement LC-MS and or MS data by using a synchronized MS/IMS acquisition.

Abstract: An ionic liquid ion source can include a microfabricated body including a base and a tip. The body can be formed of a porous material compatible with at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt. The body can have a pore size gradient that decreases from the base of the body to the tip of the body, such that the at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt is capable of being transported through capillarity from the base to the tip.

Abstract: A method of analysing a sample is disclosed comprising transmitting a first population of ions through a mass spectrometer and switching a state or mode of the mass spectrometer to produce a second population of ions. A sequential stream of mass spectra is acquired asynchronously with respect to switching the state or mode of the mass spectrometer. The stream of mass spectral data is then post-processed to produce mass spectra corresponding predominantly to the first and second population of ions.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for demonstrating type and/or source of hair damage comprises extracting protein fragments from a hair sample with an aqueous solution, testing the resulting protein fragments with the MALDI-MS test, and then either comparing the results between a damaged sample and an undamaged sample or comparing the results between a damaged sample and a list of known marker protein fragments to identify the type and/or source of the damage.

Abstract: A vapor generator system (1, 101) for an IMS (4, 104) or other apparatus has a chamber (9, 109) in which vapor is produced. A fan or other flow generator (6, 106) is connected to an inlet (8, 108) of the vapor chamber (9, 109) and its outlet (13, 113) is connected to an adsorbent passage (14, 114), such as formed by a bore through a block (15) of carbon. When the fan (6, 106) is on gas flows through the vapor chamber (9, 109) and the adsorbent passage (14, 114) to the IMS (4, 104) or other outlet, with little vapor being adsorbed in the passage. When the fan (6, 106) is off, any vapor molecules that escape to the adsorbent passage (14, 114) do so at a low rate such that substantially all is adsorbed and no vapor escapes.

Abstract: A system and method for mass spectrometry including a curtain gas chamber defined by a curtain plate having an aperture for receiving ions from an ion source and an orifice plate having an inlet into a mass spectrometer. At least one barrier separates the curtain chamber into a first curtain gas chamber region and a second curtain gas chamber region. At least one gas source provides a gas inflow into the second curtain gas chamber region and a gas outflow into the first curtain gas chamber region, a portion of the gas outflow directed out of the aperture. A heating element heats the gas inflow, a portion of the heated gas inflow directed into the inlet of the mass spectrometer wherein the portion of the heated gas inflow can be at a substantially higher temperature than the portion of the gas outflow.

Abstract: Provided are methods for determining the amount of lacosamide in a sample using mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve ionizing lacosamide in a sample and detecting and quantifying the amount of the ion to determine the amount of lacosamide in the sample.

Abstract: An ion guide that transports ions from an ion source at generally a high-pressure level to a mass analyzer at generally a low-pressure level has a plurality of identical electrodes fabricated with protruding elements that forming an ion tunnel or an ion funnel, when the electrodes are assembled around a common longitudinal axis. The protruding elements allow the generation of the radio frequency field necessary to radially confine ions. Each electrode may be machined from a solid block of conductive material, such as metal. The disclosed arrangement greatly simplifies the manufacturing process, reducing cost, and improving robustness and reliability of the ion guide itself.