Abstract: Certain configurations of ionization sources are described. In some examples, an ionization source comprises an ionization block, an electron source, an electron collector, an ion repeller and at least one electrode configured to provide an electric field when a voltage is provided to the at least one electrode. Systems and methods using the ionization source are also described.

Abstract: Methods of identification of at least one most likely elemental composition of at least one species of molecules contained in a sample and/or originated from a sample by at least one ionisation process are provided. The method includes measuring a mass spectrum of the sample and may include reducing the measured mass spectrum to a neutral mass spectrum. The method further includes determining for a peak of interest a set of candidate species of molecules which have an expected peak with a peak position within a peak position tolerance range in the corresponding measured mass spectrum or neutral mass spectrum. An identification mass spectrum is identified for each candidate species and a range of peak positions is determined of all peaks of the identification mass spectrum. Two subscores of candidate species are determined by comparing the identification spectra with the measured or neutral mass spectrum and final scores are calculated from the subscores.

Abstract: A signal intensity based on a total ion current signal or the like is calculated from mass spectra obtained by a normal mode of mass spectrometric analysis. When the signal intensity has exceeded an intensity threshold, the beginning time T0 of a chromatogram peak is estimated from that signal intensity as well as one or more previous signal intensities. An MS2 execution permission-beginning time Ts is calculated by adding, to the beginning time T0, a delay time Tdelay determined front a half-value width of the peak estimated according to an LC separation condition. At or after the point in time where the actual time passes Ts, a peak which satisfies a precursor-ion selection condition is selected on a mass spectrum obtained by the mass spectrometric analysis. Then, an MS2 analysis with the m/z of the selected peak as the target is immediately performed to obtain an MS2 spectrum.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising comparing mass spectral data so as to identify a precursor ion in the mass spectral data that has a predetermined mass difference to a product ion in the mass spectral data; and determining whether said precursor ion is a precursor ion of interest by comparing the ion signal profile for the precursor ion with the ion signal profile for the product ion. If the profiles match then the precursor ion is determined to be an ion of interest. When a precursor ion is determined to be an ion of interest, the precursor ion is isolated from other precursor ions, fragmented or reacted so as to produce product ions, and the product ions are analysed so as to obtain product ion data that can be used to identify the precursor ion.

Abstract: An analytical device for analyzing 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: An electrostatic analyzer (ESA) includes a coaxial structure having an outer conductive cylinder, an inner conductive cylinder, and one or more pathways disposed therebetween and extending from a first end to a second end of the coaxial structure. The outer conductive cylinder and the inner conductive cylinder may each be structurally configured to receive a bias voltage for creation of a predetermined electric field therebetween that allows for passage of charged particles with a predetermined energy/charge band along a helical path through the coaxial structure. The ESA may further include an entrance filter on the first end of the coaxial structure that defines a plurality of openings aligned at a predetermined angle thereby limiting one or more fields of view between a pathway through the ESA and the external environment to filter particles, by their trajectory, from entering the pathway for analysis by the ESA.

Abstract: The invention relates to the operation of an energy-focusing and solid-angle-focusing reflector for time-of-flight mass spectrometers with pulsed ion acceleration into a flight tube, e.g. from an ion source with ionization by matrix-assisted laser desorption (MALDI). The objective of the invention is to generate high mass resolution in wide mass ranges up to high masses above eight kilodaltons by varying at least one operating voltage on one of the diaphragms of the reflector which can be varied according to a suitable time function during the spectrum acquisition. It may also be advantageous to adapt the operation of the accelerating voltages in the starting region of the ions accordingly. These measures make it possible to achieve a mass resolution much higher than R=100,000 in a wide mass range extending up to and above eight kilodaltons.

Abstract: An ionising apparatus for ionising a sample of gaseous fluid. The ionising apparatus comprises an ioniser configured to provide reactant ions; an ion modifier configured to modify the reactant ions, and a reaction region arranged to receive the modified reactant ions and a sample and to combine the sample with the modified reactant ions to ionise the sample for analysis by a detector configured to identify a substance of interest in the sample.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrostatic trapping mass analyzer, comprises: (a) operating the electrostatic trapping mass analyzer at a maximum resolution so as to acquire a transient signal; (b) partitioning the transient signal into signal segments; (c) while a quality metric is either less than a pre-determined minimum threshold or greater than a pre-determined maximum threshold value, performing the steps of: (i) defining a test transient as being equal to either a first one of the segments or a previously defined transient with an appended signal segment; (ii) calculating a mathematical transform of the test transient and thereby generating a spectrum of component frequencies; and (iii) determining the quality metric from the spectrum of component frequencies; and (d) setting an instrumental resolution to be employed for subsequent mass spectral data acquisitions in accordance with a length of the most-recently-defined test transient.

Abstract: A method of assessing the linearity and dynamic range of a mass spectrometer is described comprising analyzing two or more test standards containing positional isomers, for example, using a series of N isomeric analytes with or without an internal standard where N is an integer from 2 to 6 inclusive. The concentrations of the N isomeric analytes may or may not be interleaved between two or more standards. The method allows for repeated instrument characterization without having many of the problems associated with using only a single standard such as octafluoronaphthalene (OFN), for example, persistence, and it may lessen sample carryover issues between adjacent samples. Methods are described using positional isomers of dibromodifluorobenzene in various configurations that show an improved means for qualitative and quantitative analysis of one or more analytes by GC-MS.

Abstract: When performing an analysis of the difference between a specific sample group and a nonspecific sample group, a principle component analysis processing unit (33) performs principle component analysis on a collection of a plurality of mass spectrums created from data obtained for a single specific sample, and a characteristic spectrum acquisition unit (34) acquires a characteristic spectrum for each of a plurality of principle components using factor loadings. A spectrum similarity calculation unit (35) calculates the similarities between all mass spectrums and the characteristic spectrum for each sample, and obtains a representative value for the same. The similarity representative value for each sample is obtained for all the characteristic spectrums.

Abstract: An ion trap having a segmented electrode structure having a plurality of segments consecutively positioned along an axis, wherein each segment of the segmented electrode structure includes a plurality of electrodes arranged around the axis. A first voltage supply is configured to operate in a radially confining mode in which at least some electrodes belonging to each segment are supplied with at least one AC voltage waveform so as to provide a confining electric field for radially confining ions within the segment. A second voltage supply is configured to operate in a trapping mode in which at least some of the electrodes belonging to the segments are supplied with different DC voltages so as to provide a trapping electric field that has an axially varying profile for urging ions towards and trapping ions in a target segment of the plurality of segments. A first chamber is configured to receive ions from an ion source, wherein a first subset of the segments are located within the first chamber.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer including: an ionization chamber (11) that generates ions from a sample, a collision cell (222) located downstream from the ionization chamber (11), a mass separation unit (2412) located downstream from the collision cell (222), an energy barrier unit (223) located between the collision cell (222) and the mass separation unit (2412), a voltage application unit (30) that applies a voltage to each of the ionization chamber (11), the collision cell (222), and the energy barrier unit (223), and a control unit (42) that controls the voltage application unit (30) such that a potential of the ionization chamber (11) is set to a first potential, a potential of the collision cell (222) is set to a second potential that is lower than the first potential, and a potential of the energy barrier unit (223) is set to a third potential between the first potential and the second potential.

Abstract: A method and system for predicting in advance of treatment whether a cancer patient is likely, or not likely, to obtain benefit from administration of a yeast-based immune response generating therapy, which may be yeast-based immunotherapy for mutated Ras-based cancer, alone or in combination with another anti-cancer therapy. The method uses mass spectrometry of a blood-derived patient sample and a computer configured as a classifier using a training set of class-labeled spectra from other cancer patients that either benefited or did not benefit from an immune response generating therapy alone or in combination with another anti-cancer therapy.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising separating precursor ions using an ion mobility separator such that different precursor ions have different drift times through the on mobility separator; mass filtering said separated precursor ions with a mass filter, wherein the mass to charge ratios of the precursor ions transmitted by the mass filter vary as a function of the drift times of the precursor ions through the ion mobility separator; performing a first mode of operation comprising fragmenting the separated and mass filtered precursor ions in a fragmentation device to form fragment ions; urging the fragment ions through the fragmentation device such that fragment ions derived from different precursor ions that have been separated by the ion mobility separator are maintained spatially separated from each other as they are urged through the fragmentation device; and detecting the fragment ions. The method enables precursor ions to be associated with their related fragment ions more accurately.

Abstract: The invention provides a capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) system based on a sandwich injection method for automated chemical mobilization. This system was coupled with an electrokinetically pumped nanoelectrospray interface to a mass spectrometer. The nanoelectrospray emitter employed an acidic sheath electrolyte. To realize automated focusing and mobilization, a plug of ammonium hydroxide was first injected into the capillary, followed by a section of mixed sample and ampholyte. As focusing progressed, the NH3H2O section was titrated to lower pH buffer by the acidic sheath buffer. Chemical mobilization started automatically once the ammonium hydroxide was consumed by the acidic sheath flow electrolyte.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring mass of one or more ions, the apparatus including an ion trap coupled to an electrostatic ion bottle (EIB).

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for conducting neutral loss scans in a single ion trap. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems that include a mass spectrometer having a single ion trap, and a central processing unit (CPU), and storage coupled to the CPU for storing instructions that when executed by the CPU cause the system to apply a scan function that excites a precursor ion, rejects the precursor ion after its excitation, and ejects a product ion in the single ion trap.

Abstract: There is provided an integrated system for liquid separation, such as LC, CE, affinity chromatography, and ion exchange chromatography, comprising a column and end-fittings embedded in a plastic material, such as a thermoplastic polymer. The system may further comprise an electrospray emitter directly connected with the outlet of the column, wherein a substantial part of the emitter is covered with the polymer material. There is also provided a method by which a separation column along with the accompanying end fittings for connection with adjacent liquid conduits is embedded in a polymer matrix. This configuration e.g. ensures that the factory-made, correct attachment of the fittings to the column is preserved (since the matrix prevents further user intervention, accidental or otherwise). Accordingly, the responsibility for the correct attachment of the fittings is shifted from the end user to the manufacturer.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer is disclosed comprising: a first device for separating ions or molecules according to a physicochemical property; an ion mobility separation device for receiving and separating at least some of said ions or ions derived from said molecules according to their ion mobility; a gas supply connected to said ion mobility separation device for supplying gas into said ion mobility separation device; and a control system configured to adjust said gas supply so as to change the composition of gas within the ion mobility separation device as a function of time.

Abstract: An orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer in which an ion injected into an orthogonal acceleration area is periodically accelerated in a direction orthogonal to a direction of the injection and thereby ejected into a flight space. The mass spectrometer includes: an orthogonal acceleration electrode; a voltage supplier for applying a fixed level of voltage to the orthogonal acceleration electrode with a predetermined period; a TOF determiner for detecting an ion after a completion of a flight of the ion within the flight space, and determining the TOF of the ion; a storage section in which mass determination information defining a relationship between the TOF and mass-to-charge ratio of the ion depending on the period of the applied voltage is stored; and a mass-to-charge-ratio determiner for determining the mass-to-charge ratio of an ion from the TOF of the ion determined by the TOF determiner, based on the mass determination information.

Abstract: An ion filter for a mass spectrometer, the apparatus comprising an ion modifier; an ion selector configured to select a subset of a sample of ions based on their mobility in a gas; and a controller configured to operate the ion modifier in a first mode to modify the ions selected by the ion selector to provide daughter ions, and configured to operate the ion modifier in a second mode to output the ions selected by the ion selector; wherein the ion filter is adapted for providing output ions from the ion modifier to an intake of a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing carbon isotope 14C is provided. A carbon isotope analyzer including an isotopic carbon dioxide generator to generate isotopic carbon dioxide from a carbon isotope; a spectrometer including an optical resonator having a pair of mirrors, and a photodetector to determine the intensity of light transmitted from the optical resonator; and a light generator including a light source, a first optical fiber to transmit a light beam from the light source, a second optical fiber for wavelength conversion, the second optical fiber branching from the first optical fiber at a point and combining with the first optical fiber at another point downstream of the branching point, and a non-linear optical crystal to generate light having the absorption wavelength of the isotopic carbon dioxide on the basis of the difference in frequency between light beams transmitted through the optical crystal.

Abstract: A Time of Flight mass spectrometer is disclosed wherein a fifth order spatial focusing device is provided. The device which may comprise an additional stage in the source region of the Time of Flight mass analyser is arranged to introduce a non-zero fifth order spatial focusing term so that the combined effect of first, third and fifth order spatial focusing terms results in a reduction in the spread of ion arrival times ?T of ions arriving at the ion detector.

Abstract: In one aspect, a cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopic tomography device includes a sample stage to support a sample. An electron beam source scans an electron beam over the sample to yield light emission by the sample. A reflective element directs the light emission by the sample to a light detector. A controller controls operation of the sample stage, the electron beam source, and the light detector. In one aspect, a CL spectroscopic tomography device includes an electron beam source which directs an electron beam at an object to yield an emission by the object. A detector detects the emission. A controller receives information from the detector related to the detected emission. The controller derives a two-dimensional (2D) CL map from the information related to the detected emission, and derives a three-dimensional (3D) CL tomogram from the 2D CL map.

Abstract: Systems, computer-readable media, and methods using mass spectrometry to analyze a sample are provided. For example, a method includes: acquiring a precursor ion spectrum; analyzing the precursor ion spectrum to identify precursor ions that preliminarily match one or more peptides that each belong to at least one protein of interest for the analysis; selecting each of the identified precursor ions in an order according to a ranking protocol for maximizing the number of proteins that are identified in the sample; for each selected precursor ion: acquiring a corresponding product ion spectrum, determining whether the acquired product ion spectrum matches one of the peptides that belong to the set of proteins of interest, and identifying a matched peptide as being present in the sample; and identifying proteins of interest that are present in the sample based on the peptides that are identified as being present in the sample.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for trapping multiple ions are described herein. One device includes two or more ovens wherein each oven includes a heating element and a cavity for emitting atoms of a particular atomic species from an atomic source substance, a substrate having a number of apertures that allow atoms emitted from the atomic source substance to exit the oven and enter an ion trapping area and wherein each oven is positioned at a different ion loading area within the ion trapping area, and a plurality of electrodes that can be charged and wherein the charge can be used to selectively control the movement of a particular ion from a particular loading area to a particular ion trap location.

Abstract: An ion transfer device includes a tube, a resistive layer on an inside surface of the tube, and a dielectric layer on the resistive layer. The device defines a conduit providing a transfer path for gas and ions. The conduit is surrounded by the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer protects the resistive layer from the chemical environment in the conduit, while being thin enough to allow charges to pass through the dielectric layer and be dissipated by the resistive layer.

Abstract: A focusing electrode (8) of a flat plate shape is arranged so that an inlet end (9a) of a heated capillary (9) for introducing ions into a vacuum chamber as a subsequent stage is inserted into an opening portion (8a) of the focusing electrode (8). A reflecting electrode (7) of a flat plate shape is arranged at a position opposing the focusing electrode (8) across a spray flow ejected from an ionization probe (5). An auxiliary electrode (6) is grounded and arranged between the ionization probe (5) and each of the reflecting electrode (7) and the focusing electrode (8). The heated capillary (9) is grounded, and during a measurement of positive ions, a voltage V1 and a voltage V2, both satisfying a relationship of V1>V2>0, are respectively applied to the reflecting electrode (7) and the focusing electrode (8).

Abstract: Improvements to a side-on Penning trap include methods to stabilize ions in the trap. The ions are stabilized by injecting ions in the focusing region of the non-uniform DC fields produced by the pad electrodes of the trap. Ions are injected along an injection axis shifted from the central axis of a gap between a positively biased electrode pad and negatively biased electrode pad of the trap. Improvements also include methods to compensate for the Lorentz force that is produced when ions are injected into a side-on Penning trap. Electrodes of an ion injection device are DC biased so that the electrodes produce an electric field along the axis of the device that compensates for the Lorentz force. Finally, methods are provided to increase the m/z range of ions injected into a side-on Penning trap by pre-trapping ions just before injection of the ions into the trap.

Abstract: A method of tandem mass spectrometry is disclosed. A quasi-continuous stream of ions from an ion source (20) and having a relatively broad range of mass to charge ratio ions is segmented temporally into a plurality of segments. Each segment is subjected to an independently selected degree of fragmentation, so that, for example, some segments of the broad mass range are fragmented whilst others are not. The resultant ion population, containing both precursor and fragment ions, is analyzed in a single acquisition cycle using a high resolution mass analyser (150). The technique allows the analysis of the initial ion population to be optimized for analytical limitations.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry data processing apparatus includes a data processing part and a calculation part. The calculation part calculates differences in mass among all pieces of the peak data from the peak list, calculates an intensity ratio that is a ratio of intensity between two pieces of the peak data used in calculating the difference, and generates difference-intensity ratio data. Further, the calculation part retrieves difference-intensity ratio data having the difference included in a section, calculates a sum of the intensity ratio of the retrieved difference-intensity ratio data, and calculates difference-intensity ratio distribution data.

Abstract: A cooling-assisted inside needle capillary adsorption trap device for sampling and delivering volatile and semi-volatile analytes to an analytical device is disclosed. The device includes an inside needle capillary adsorption trap having a first end and a second end and a side aperture located between the first and second ends. The side aperture enables entering the carrier gas into the INCAT and flowing upon the surface of the sorbent (when injected into the GC injector) for complete releasing and eluting of the analytes from the interior surface of the needle. A sorbent is multiwall carbon nanotube/polyaniline and is coated onto the interior surface of the needle between the second end and the side aperture to entrap an analyte within a sample. The cooling-assisted inside needle capillary adsorption trap device also includes a cooling device configured to cool the sorbent.

Abstract: To correct spectral interference due to a divalent ion of an interfering element on a measurement ion of an analysis element measured by a mass spectrometer using a plasma ion source by accounting for a mass-bias effect of the mass spectrometer, measurement values of ionic strength of divalent ions of two isotopes having different, odd mass numbers among isotopes of the interfering element are used. In measuring to obtain a measurement value where a correction method of the present invention is applied, it is suitable to set a mass resolution of the mass spectrometer to be higher than a time of normal analysis.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating ions includes an electrode arrangement having a length extending between first and second ends. The first end is configured to introduce a beam of ions into an ion transmission space of the arrangement. An electronic controller applies an RF potential and a DC potential to an electrode of the electrode arrangement, for generating a ponderomotive RF electric field and a mass-independent DC electric field. The application of the potentials is controlled such that a ratio of the strength of the ponderomotive RF electric field to the strength of the mass-independent DC electric field varies along the length of the electrode arrangement. The generated electric field supports extraction of ions having different m/z values at respective different positions along the length of the electrode arrangement. Ions are extracted in one of increasing and decreasing sequential order of m/z ratio with increasing distance from the first end.

Abstract: An ion implanter includes an ion source configured to generate an ion beam including an ion of a first nonradioactive nuclide, a beamline configured to support an ion beam irradiated target formed of a solid material including a second nonradioactive nuclide different from the first nonradioactive nuclide, and a controller configured to calculate at least one of an estimated radiation dosage of a radioactive ray and an estimated generation amount of a radioactive nuclide generated by a nuclear reaction between the first nonradioactive nuclide and the second nonradioactive nuclide.

Abstract: A method of imaging analyte elements in an organic sample includes providing the sample as a layer on a substrate and reacting the sample on the substrate to produce one or more volatile products that leave the sample while the one or more elements remain in the sample. A majority of the sample layer by weight is removed from the substrate by the reaction and the remaining sample layer is enriched in the one or more elements which are not spatially disturbed by the reaction. The method including subsequently detecting the one or more elements in the concentrated sample layer using an imaging elemental analyzer.

Abstract: In a PESI ion source, a solvent supply unit (8) is placed above the liver (101), which is the object of measurement, and by moving a probe (6) up and down such that the tip of the probe (6) passes through the solvent supply unit (8) and is inserted into the liver (101), a sample is captured by the tip of said probe. The solvent supply unit (8) includes a container unit comprising a liquid-blocking upper film body (81) stretched over the bottom surface opening of a cylindrical body (80), and a liquid-blocking lower film body (82) which is stretched out approximately in parallel with the upper film body (81) with a spacer interposed therebetween; the container unit houses a solvent (84). Because the tip of the probe (6) passes through the solvent (84) during the up-and-down movement of the probe (6), sufficient solvent adheres to the sample and when a high voltage is applied to the probe (6), components in the sample are favorably ionized.

Abstract: A system and method includes detection of a trigger event, automatic injection, in response to detecting the trigger event, of a bolus of contrast medium into a patient volume after expiration of a predetermined injection delay period, automatic acquisition, in response to detecting the trigger event, of a plurality of images after expiration of a predetermined imaging delay period, where two or more of the plurality of images comprise an image of the bolus at respective different locations within vasculature of the patient volume, generation of a composite image based on the plurality of images, the composite image including a representation of the vasculature of the patient volume, and display of the composite image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an emitting device for an electrospray system. The emitting device may include a surface extender having a lower surface with a central through hole, and a capillary that may pass through the central hole and extend beyond the lower surface of the surface extender to define a nozzle. An electrospray liquid may be pumped through the capillary and may be emitted from the nozzle.

Abstract: [Problem to be Solved] To select a marker peak which characterizes a difference between groups, even when the number of samples belonging to each group is small. [Solution] A peak matrix is created based on the peaks detected from mass spectra of a plurality of samples belonging to a plurality of groups (S1-S3). Each row of the peak matrix represents a peak-intensity distribution for a large number of samples at one mass-to-charge-ratio value. If there is no difference between the groups at a certain mass-to-charge-ratio value, the peak-intensity distribution at that mass-to-charge-ratio value should be a lognormal distribution (or normal distribution). Accordingly, a hypothesis test for the conformity of the peak-intensity distribution to the lognormal distribution is performed for each mass-to-charge-ratio value (S5). A mass-to-charge-ratio value at which a significant difference has been found is selected as a candidate of the marker peak (S6).

Abstract: Applications of ion-ion reaction chemistry are disclosed in which proton transfer reactions (PTR) combined with higher-collision-energy dissociation (HCD) are used to (1) simplify complex mixture analysis of samples introduced into a mass spectrometer, and (2) improve resolution and sensitivity for the analysis of large proteins in excess of 50 kDa by removing charge, reducing the collisional cross section, and, in several cases, enhancing the sequence coverage obtained.

Abstract: A spectrometer device for analysis of aerosol particles, dusts, and other microparticles and/or nanoparticles includes an electrospray ionization source supplying a particle stream to an aerodynamic lens that focuses and collimates a beam of particles. An electrostatic trap accepts the beam of particles and traps a single trapped particle at a time in the electrostatic trap to oscillate with a measurable amplitude and frequency. A sensor senses the amplitude and frequency, and a processor determines a calculated mass to charge ratio from the amplitude and frequency of oscillation of the trapped particle in real time. A method creates a focused stream of micro or nanoparticles, traps a single particle at a time in an electrostatic trap. The amplitude and frequency of the oscillation of the trapped particle is sensed. The mass to charge ratio is determined from the amplitude and frequency of oscillation. Particles can be accelerated into a target.

Abstract: An electronic circuit includes a reference ADC, a delay circuit, and a main ADC. The reference ADC converts an input signal to an upper bit string of output data, in response to a reference clock. The delay circuit delays a source clock by a delay time to output a main clock. The main ADC converts the input signal to a lower bit string of the output data, in response to the main clock. When a value of the most significant bit included in the lower bit string is identical to a value of the bit which is adjacent to the most significant bit and lower than the most significant bit, the delay time is adjusted based on a direction in which a level of the input signal is changed and the value of the most significant bit of the lower bit string.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for implementing a crystal oscillator to monitor and control semiconductor fabrication processes. More specifically, a method is provided for that includes performing at least one semiconductor fabrication process on a material of an integrated circuit (IC) disposed within a processing chamber. The method further includes monitoring by at least one electronic oscillator disposed within the processing chamber for the presence or absence of a predetermined substance generated by the at least one semiconductor fabrication process. The method further includes controlling the at least one semiconductor fabrication process based on the presence or absence of the predetermined substance detected by the at least one electronic oscillator.

Abstract: Methods and devices for mass spectrometry are described, specifically the use of nanoparticulate implantation as a matrix for secondary ion and more generally secondary particles. A photon beam source or a nanoparticulate beam source can be used a desorption source or a primary ion/primary particle source.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining a spectrum of a sample comprising one or more constituent parts on the basis of a time the one or more constituent parts require to undergo a physical process or chemical process.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a method of separating ions according to their ion mobility, comprising (i) accumulating a first population of ions in a first region of an ion mobility separator, (ii) separating said first population of ions according to their ion mobility in said first region of said ion mobility separator, and (iii) accumulating a second population of ions in said first region of said ion mobility separator while said first population of ions are being separated according to their ion mobility in said ion mobility separator.

Abstract: Peaks are detected on a mass chromatogram at multiple m/z ratios characterizing a target component, and the detected peaks are classified into groups according to their occurrence time. The measured mass spectrum is acquired for each group, the measured mass spectrum and standard mass spectrum of the target component are matched for each m/z, and the standard mass spectrum is normalized by multiplying it by the same scale factor for all the m/z ratios such that it does not exceed the peak intensities on the measured mass spectrum. The quantitation ion m/z peak intensity on the normalized standard mass spectrum is then examined, and if this intensity exceeds a preset threshold and the confirmation ion ratio determined based on the measured mass spectrum obtained for the target component is outside a reference range, then that target component is taken as a narrowed result candidate.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the detection of whole blood hemolysis in a sample of whole blood. More specifically, this disclosure describes detecting hemolysis using one or more novel ratios of intercellular concentrations of whole blood analytes.