Abstract: A coded mass spectrometer incorporates a spatial or temporal code to reduce the resolution/sensitivity dichotomy inherent in mass spectrometry. The code is used to code one or more portions of a mass spectrometer. Coding patterns, such as Hadamard codes, Walsh codes, and perfect code sequences can be used. The coding can be spatial, for example, by using an aperture mask and/or temporal, for example, by coded injection of ions for analysis.

Abstract: The invention provides, in various embodiments, systems and methods relating to enhancing the filtering and detection capability of ion mobility based systems by various techniques to counteract a charge buildup in the ion mobility based system.

Abstract: A system for analyzing one or more ion species of a sample including a first ion mobility filter associated with a first flow path for passing first ions of the sample, a second ion mobility filter associated with a second flow path for passing second ions of the sample, a first outlet from the first flow path for passing a portion of the first ions from the first flow path to the second flow path, and a first outlet from the second flow path for removing neutral particles from the second flow path where the first outlet from the second flow path is upstream of the second ion mobility filter in relation to the ion flow in the second flow path.

Abstract: Disclosed are a device and method for improved interfacing of differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) or field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) analyzers of substantially planar geometry to subsequent or preceding instrument stages. Interfacing is achieved using curved DMS elements, where a thick ion beam emitted by planar DMS analyzers or injected into them for ion filtering is compressed to the gap median by DMS ion focusing effect in a spatially inhomogeneous electric field. Resulting thinner beams are more effectively transmitted through necessarily constrained conductance limit apertures to subsequent instrument stages operated at a pressure lower than DMS, and/or more effectively injected into planar DMS analyzers. The technology is synergetic with slit apertures, slit aperture/ion funnels, and high-pressure ion funnel interfaces known in the art which allow for increasing cross-sectional area of MS inlets. The invention may be used in integrated analytical platforms, including, e.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer may include an inner electrode and an outer electrode arranged so that at least a portion of the outer electrode surrounds at least a portion of the inner electrode and defines a drift space therebetween. The inner and outer electrodes are electrically insulated from one another so that a non-linear electric field is created in the drift space when an electric potential is placed on the inner and outer electrodes. An ion source operatively associated with the ion mobility spectrometer releases ions to the drift space defined between the inner and outer electrodes. A detector operatively associated with at least a portion of the outer electrode detects ions from the drift space.

Abstract: The invention provides an interface assembly for delivering an ionized analyte from an ionization apparatus into an ion mobility spectrometer. This allows analysis of biological and non-biological samples, even non-volatile solids, via differential mobility spectrometry, without fragmentation of molecules. The invention also provides portable sample analysis systems that operate at ambient pressure. Systems of the invention may be used for high molecular weight species detection, for example, drinking water contaminants, pathogenic biological agents, bio-organic substances, non-biological material, peptides, proteins, oligonucleotides, polymers, bacteria, and hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to ion mobility based systems, methods and devices for analyzing samples and, more particularly, in some embodiments to compact GC-DMS systems, methods, and devices employing enhanced GC column temperature control and configurations to identify various sample constituents.

Abstract: A linear electric field ion mass spectrometer having an evacuated enclosure with means for generating a linear electric field located in the evacuated enclosure and means for injecting a sample material into the linear electric field. A source of pulsed ionizing radiation injects ionizing radiation into the linear electric field to ionize atoms or molecules of the sample material, and timing means determine the time elapsed between ionization of atoms or molecules and arrival of an ion out of the ionized atoms or molecules at a predetermined position.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for chromatographic high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry, including a gas chromatographic analyzer section intimately coupled with an ionization section, an ion filter section, and an ion detection section, in which the sample compounds are at least somewhat separated prior to ionization, and ion filtering proceeds in a planar chamber under influence of high field asymmetric periodic signals, with detection integrated into the flow path, for producing accurate, real-time, orthogonal data for identification of a broad range of chemical compounds.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identification of activating ions by collisions is described. The method uses a plurality of linear ion traps and a plurality of sources of ions and a mass measuring device. A first source is operated to dispense first ions into a first trap, where the ions may be kinetically cooled. A second source is operated to dispense second ions into the first trap, where the first and the second ions are stored. Ions in the first trap are ejected so as to enter a second trap, where the ions are stored prior to mass spectrometry. The apparatus may use quadrupole rods to form the ion traps, and the voltage and pressure differences between the first and second traps are controllable values.

Abstract: A time-of-flight mass spectrometer has a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, a third electrode arranged between the first and second electrodes. The third electrode reserves a space for ions to travel between the first and second electrodes. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer further includes a sample probe disposed proximate the first electrode and adapted to hold a sample, and a detector disposed proximate the second electrode. The first electrode is adapted to be connected to a voltage source to cause a difference in voltage between the first and second electrodes to provide an electric field therebetween that changes non-linearly along an ion path between the sample probe and the detector for accelerating ions to be detected.

Abstract: There is provided an ion-mobility spectrometer. This apparatus includes the following configuration components: An ion source for generating first ions, a first drift unit for separating the first ions by flight drift times, an ion dissociation unit for generating second ions by dissociating the first ions separated, and a second drift unit for separating the second ions by flight drift times. Moreover, the first drift unit, the ion dissociation unit, and the second drift unit are located inside a chamber whose pressure is set at 10 mTorr or higher. This apparatus allows execution of low-cost and high-resolving-power ion separation and detection.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for separating ions including a plurality of first electrode portions, each first electrode portion of the plurality of first electrode portions having a first length and an outer surface that is at least partially curved in a direction transverse to the first length. The apparatus also includes a plurality of second electrode portions arranged in an alternating sequence with the plurality of first electrode portions, each second electrode portion of the plurality of second electrode portions having a second length and an outer surface that is curved in a direction transverse to the second length, a space between the outer surface of a first electrode portion and the outer surface of an adjacent second electrode portion defining a portion of an analytical gap for separating ions.

Abstract: A combination electrospray/microwave induced plasma (MIP) ionization source is used as the ionization source for a mass spectrometer. The electrospray can be operated in positive mode, negative mode, or it can be switched off. The microwave-induced plasma can also be switched on or off. This allows the instrument to be operated in multiple modes. With the electrospray off and the MIP on, the instrument will normally have its maximum elemental sensitivity. Mixed mode operation potentially allows the determination of additional information about the chemical constituents present in the analyte. In pure electrospray mode, it is possible to obtain molecular information and to analyze organic compounds.

Abstract: Improved data acquisition systems and methods that enable large numbers of data samples to be accumulated rapidly with low noise are described. In one aspect, a data acquisition system includes an accumulator that has two or more parallel accumulation paths and is configured to accumulate corresponding data samples across a transient sequence through different accumulation paths.

Abstract: The invention described herein provides a matrix-based ion source including a gas heating device for providing heated gas at a defined temperature to the ionization region of the ion source. The ion source may also include a temperature sensor. The heating device and temperature sensor may be operably connected to work as a closed feedback loop to provide gas at a constant, pre-determined, temperature to the ionization region. Also disclosed is a mass spectrometer system having the matrix-based ion source. A method of producing ions employing gas that is heated to a pre-determined temperature is also provided.

Abstract: A time-of-flight mass spectrometer which has an iron source, an evacuated tube proximate the ion source and adapted to receive ions from the ion source, and a detector disposed at an end of the evacuated tube opposite an end proximate the ion source. The ion source is constructed to generate an electric field that changes non-linearly as a function of position along a path from the ion source to the detector. The ion source is constructed to generate an electric field that changes as a function of time, the electric field being provided to accelerate ions from the ion source to the detector.

Abstract: An ICP mass spectrometer comprising an ICP ion source, a mass analyzer having a magnetic sector field, a detector, an extraction element in the form of an ion funnel for transferring the generated ions into the mass analyzer and arranged between the ICP ion source and the mass analyzer, and a transport optics arranged between the ion funnel and the mass analyzer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of sample preparation for use in obtaining elemental isotope ratios of a material by accelerator mass spectrometry. The method comprises forming the material into a sample without any substantial chemical alteration of the material. The invention also provides a sample for use in obtaining elemental isotope ratios of a material.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for chromatographic high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry, including a gas chromatographic analyzer section intimately coupled with an ionization section, an ion filter section, and an ion detection section, in which the sample compounds are at least somewhat separated prior to ionization, and ion filtering proceeds in a planar chamber under influence of high field asymmetric periodic signals, with detection integrated into the flow path, for producing accurate, real-time, orthogonal data for identification of a broad range of chemical compounds.

Abstract: A grid structure and method for manufacturing the same. The grid is used for gating a stream of charged particles in certain types of particle measurement instruments, such as ion mobility spectrometers and the like. The methods include various microfabrication techniques for etching and/or depositing grid structure materials on a silicon substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods and apparatus, for detection and identification of analytes in a volatilized or volatilizable sample, using the mobility-based signature that is produced when the volatilized sample is passed through an ion mobility based analyzer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a multi-dimensional ion mobility analyzer are disclosed that have more than one drift chamber and can acquire multi-dimensional ion mobility profiles of substances. The drift chambers of this device can, for example, be operated under independent operational conditions to separate charged particles based on their distinguishable chemical/physical properties. The first dimension drift chamber of this device can be used either as a storage device, a reaction chamber, and/or a drift chamber according to the operational mode of the analyzer. Also presented are various methods of operating an ion mobility spectrometer including, but not limited to, a continuous first dimension ionization methods that can enable ionization of all chemical components in the sample regardless their charge affinity.

Abstract: A method for calibrating and analyzing data from a mass spectrometer, comprising the steps of acquiring raw profile mode data containing mass spectral responses of ions with or without isotopes; calculating theoretical isotope distributions for each of at least one calibration ion based on elemental composition; convoluting the theoretical isotope distributions with an initial peak shape function to obtain theoretical isotope profiles for each ion; constructing a peak component matrix including the theoretical isotope profiles for calibration ions as peak components; performing a regression analysis between the raw profile mode mass spectral data and the peak component matrix; and reporting the regression coefficients as the relative concentrations for each of the components. A mass spectrometry system operated in accordance with the method and a computer readable medium having program code thereon for performing the method.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer is described having an ion filter in the form of multiple parallel ion channels defined by conductive layers separated by non-conductive layers. A time-varying electric potential applied to the conductive layers allows the filter to selectively admit ion species. The device may be used without a drift gas flow. Microfabrication techniques are described for producing microscale spectrometers, as are various uses of the spectrometer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas analysis based on the mobility of ions. The invention relates to a cell structure of an analysis device, the cell structure comprising the reference cell (201), the ionisation section (202) and the analysis cell (203) for identifying the electric mobility of ions. The invention also relates to a method for identifying the ions. Further, the invention relates to a system for identifying the ions.

Abstract: The invention provides, in various embodiments, systems and methods relating to controlling ion behavior in an ion-based analysis system.

Abstract: A chemical biological detection system detects the presence of biological agents in the air. The system includes a pyrolyzer having an inlet through which air is drawn into the pyrolyzer and a pyrotube that collects a sample of particles extracted from the air. The pyrolyzer further includes an exhaust line that exhausts the air drawn into the pyrolyzer and a sample line that directs the gases eluted from the sample collected in the pyrotube to a mass spectrometer for sample identification. After the sample is collected in the pyrotube, the sample is analyzed. A small droplet of a methylating reagent is added to the sample. If the sample includes any biological agents, the methylating reagent derivatizes organic materials to make them more volatile. The sample is then pyrolyzed, and the eluted gas sample is drawn through the sample line and into the mass spectrometer for identification of any biological agents.

Abstract: In a quadrupole mass spectrometer which measures partial pressure strength according to a gas type in a vacuum system from ion current intensity, a quadrupole mass spectrometer with a total pressure measurement electrode has a total pressure measurement electrode for examining an ion density disposed in a demarcation space which is comprised of a grid electrode and an ion focusing electrode. And, a vacuum system is provided with only the quadrupole mass spectrometer which measures partial pressure strength according to a gas type in the vacuum system from an ion current intensity and does not have an ionization vacuum gauge other than the quadrupole mass spectrometer.

Abstract: The invention provides an ion extraction pulser. The ion extraction pulser may be used independently or in conjunction with a mass spectrometry system. The mass spectrometry system includes an ion source for producing ions, an ion optics system downstream from the ion source for selecting and directing ions, and a detector down stream from the ion optics system for detecting the ions selected and directed by the ion optics system. The ion optics system includes one or more ion extraction pulsers.

Abstract: A method is provided for the quantitative analysis of the contents, in nitrogen, of hydrogen and methane by ionic mobility spectrometry. The method includes the steps of: a) performing a measurement of the apparent hydrogen concentration in the nitrogen to be analyzed; b) performing a measurement of the apparent hydrogen concentration in a flow of the same sample of nitrogen, purified of all impurities but methane; and c) comparing the two measurements. A system of branched lines is also provided for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A variable duty cycle ion source assembly is coupled to a continuous beam mass spectrometer. The duty cycle can be adjusted based on previous scan data or real time sampling of ion intensities during mass analysis. This provides the ability to control the total number of ions formed, mass analyzed and detected for each ion mass of interest. The frequency of the ion source can be sufficiently high (kHz range) so as to maintain accurate peak centroiding. The ion source assembly can be used for both electron ionization (EI) or chemical ionization (CI) modes of operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing direct liquid sample introduction using a nebulizer are provided. The apparatus and method include a short torch having an inner tube and an outer tube, and an elongated adapter having a cavity for receiving the nebulizer and positioning a nozzle tip of the nebulizer a predetermined distance from a tip of the outer tube of the short torch. The predetermined distance is preferably about 2-5 mm.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer that employs ion velocity mapping. The mass spectrometer includes velocity mapping ion optics that focus the ions based on their velocity. The focused ions are then directed into a deflection region between two deflection plates. A pulse is applied to the deflection plates that deflect the ions in a transverse direction also according to their mass. The pulse is turned on before the first ion in an ion packet reaches the deflection region, and is turned off before the first ion exits the deflection region. The focused and deflected ions are then reflected by a reflecting device that directs the ions along separate paths to a detector. The detector provides an image of the ion paths, where the location of a spot on the image represents ions of a certain mass and the size of the spot indicates the various velocities of the ions of that mass.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a guide wire ion guide 1 having an outer cylindrical electrode 2 and an inner guide wire electrode 3. AC and DC potential differences are maintained between the outer electrode 2 and the inner electrode 3 so that ions are radially confined within the ion guide 1 in an annular potential well. The outer electrode 2 may be segmented and axial potential wells created along the length of the ion guide 1 may be translated along the length of the ion guide 1 by applying additional transient DC potentials to the segments forming the outer electrode 2.

Abstract: An RF-driven plasma source, including a pair of spaced-apart plasma electrodes, wherein the electrodes act as plates of a capacitor, the gas electrically discharges and creates a plasma of both positive and negative ions, in a clean process that enables efficient sample analysis, with preferred isolated sample photo-ionization, reduced-power operation and also including signal detection with modulated drive electronics.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to mass spectrometry and the analysis of chemical samples, and more particularly to methods for processing data obtained therefrom. Disclosed is an improved method for filtering low intensity mass spectral data. More specifically, the invention provides a method for use with digitized mass spectra that facilitates the distinction between low level signals and noise using the correlation of signals therein based on their mass differences.

Abstract: In a system for chemical analysis, an RF-driven plasma ionization device including a pair of spaced-apart and plasma-isolated electrodes, the electrodes are connected to a power source wherein the electrodes act as plates of a capacitor of a resonant circuit, the gas electrically discharges and creates a plasma of both positive and negative ions, and the voltage is applied as a continuous alternating waveform or as a series of pulses, such as a packet waveform.

Abstract: An apparatus for controllably varying specificity of a FAIMS-based ion separation includes a FAIMS analyzer region defined between a first electrode surface and a second other electrode surface. The FAIMS analyzer region is in communication with an ionization source for providing a flow of ions including a known ion, and with an ion outlet for extracting ions including the known ion from the FAIMS analyzer region. The first and second electrode surfaces are for having an asymmetric waveform voltage applied thereacross for defining an average ion flow path for the known ion traversing therebetween. An actuator is provided for controllably moving the first electrode surface relative to the second electrode surface for controllably varying the length of the average ion flow path.

Abstract: Ion injection in a drift tube apparatus for mobility spectrometry was accomplished without conventional ion shutters such as the Bradbury-Nielson or similar designs common to such drift tubes. Instead ions were passed between the ion source and drift region by using time-dependent electric field gradients that act as ion barriers between ordinary drift rings. Benefits of this design are simplicity and mechanical robustness. This ion injection technique dynamically accumulates the ions created between shutter grid pulses, as does the Bradbury-Nielson method. The invention provides not only structural improvements to the well known apparatus, but also provides inventive methods for operating a drift tube apparatus in achieve maximum analyte injection efficiency and improving ion detection sensitivity. Improving ion detection sensitivity of drift tubes has practical experimental application. Incorporation of the inventive apparatus into a smoke detector is a further practical application of the invention.

Abstract: There is provided an ion-mobility spectrometer. This apparatus includes the following configuration components: An ion source for generating first ions, a first drift unit for separating the first ions by flight drift times, an ion dissociation unit for generating second ions by dissociating the first ions separated, and a second drift unit for separating the second ions by flight drift times. Moreover, the first drift unit, the ion dissociation unit, and the second drift unit are located inside a chamber whose pressure is set at 10 mTorr or higher. This apparatus allows execution of low-cost and high-resolving-power ion separation and detection.

Abstract: An apparatus for multiple nano-spray delivery of a sample to FAIMS analyzer includes a micro-machined ionization source having a plurality of discrete nozzles. At least some of the discrete nozzles of the plurality are aligned one each with an ion inlet of a plurality of discrete ion inlets of the FAIMS, so that ions produced at different discrete nozzles are introduced into different portions of the FAIMS analyzer region. The ions that are introduced via each ion inlet are at least partly separated prior to adding/mixing with the ions introduced via other ion inlets. This reduces the problems of ion-ion electric repulsions that occur when ion density is high.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to ion mobility based systems, methods and devices for analyzing samples and, more particularly, in some embodiments to compact GC-DMS systems, methods, and devices employing enhanced GC column temperature control and configurations to identify various sample constituents.

Abstract: A method for carrying out analyses of a gas comprising one or more species Si, Sj, . . . , Sn by using of ion mobility spectrometry includes in carrying out two subsequent analyses in different conditions and comparing the results of these two analyses. The different conditions in the two analyses are such as to modify either the residence time of the ions corresponding to the species in the reaction zone or in the drift zone of the ion mobility spectrometer, or, selectively, the concentration of at least one of these ions.

Abstract: Signal amplifiers having a non-linear transfer function. A high speed (high bandwidth) circuit with a non-linear transfer function over a limited range of input signal is provided. By appropriate choice of components, the non-linear transfer function can be used to accurately approximate any monotonic function such as a square root transfer function. In another aspect, a piecewise non-linear circuit arrangement using a set of non-linear sub-circuits is provided to accurately generate a desired non-linear transfer function over an extended dynamic range of input signal. In one implementation of such a circuit, each of the sub-circuits approximates the desired non-linear function over a portion of the input range.

Abstract: An improved ion source for collecting and focusing dispersed gas-phase ions from a reagent source at sub-atmospheric or intermediate pressure, having a remote source of reagent ions separated from a low-field sample ionization region by a barrier, comprised of alternating laminates of metal and insulator, populated with a plurality of openings, wherein DC potentials are applied to each metal laminate necessary for transferring reagent ions from the remote source into the low-field sample ionization region where the reagent ions react with neutral and/or ionic sample forming ionic species. The resulting ionic species are then introduced into the vacuum system of a mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer. Embodiments of this invention are methods and devices for improving sensitivity of mass spectrometry when gas and liquid chromatographic separation techniques are coupled to sub-atmospheric and intermediate pressure photo-ionization, chemical ionization, and thermal-pneumatic ionization sources.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods and apparatus, for detection and identification of analytes in a volatilized or volatilizable sample, using the mobility-based signature that is produced when the volatilized sample is passed through an ion mobility based analyzer.

Abstract: A detector assembly has a current measuring device with a saturation threshold level, and a gain variation means. A signal is generated in response to the particles detected, a first data point corresponding to a peak of interest is acquired from the signal. If the first data point is near, at or above the saturation threshold level of the current measuring device, the gain of the gain variation means is adjusted such that the peak of interest in the signal is reduced in intensity.

Abstract: System for control of ion species behavior in a time-varying filter field of an ion mobility-based spectrometer to improve species identification, based on control of electrical and environmental aspects of sample analysis.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement detect harmful substances while eliminating or minimizing the drawbacks of an ion-mobility spectrometer (IMS). The sample gas flow is mixed with a reference gas utilizing a pump (7). A reaction gas is supplied via a metering unit (10) to the ion-mobility spectrometer (2) when complex ion-mobility spectrometer spectra are present. The measurement signals obtained as to the gas-quantity ratio between the sample gas and the reference gas are adapted to the original concentration and are then compared to previously defined and stored measured values via a signal height comparison or a pattern recognition. The measuring system is rinsed following the measurement phase by feeding the reference gas and is cleaned by metering an additional cleansing gas when harmful substances are detected which could not be rinsed away. Such methods and measuring systems are used for identifying harmful substances in ambient air.