Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring a mass of a sample, using a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) arranged to receive the sample added onto a resonator of the NEMS and a microfluidic sample delivery and sample ionization system. The nanoelectromechanical system is located at an output of the ionization system. The nanoelectromechanical resonator system is highly sensitive and is capable of detecting masses in the single Dalton range.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer has several electrodes spaced along its ion source region. Voltages are applied to the electrodes to produce a voltage gradient along the length of the ion source region. By varying the voltage gradient, the residence time of ions in the ion source region can be selectively varied. Typically, the spectrometer is arranged to reduce the residence time in response to a decrease in the amplitude, of an ion peak detected at the far end of the drift region.

Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) ion sensor system for monitoring an angular distribution of ion species having an ion energy and incident on a substrate includes a drift tube wherein the ion sensor system is configured to vary an angle of the drift tube with respect to a plane of the substrate. The drift tube may have a first end configured to receive a pulse of ions from the ion species wherein heavier ions and lighter ions of the pulse of ions arrive in packets at a second end of the drift tube. An ion detector may be disposed at the second end of the ion sensor, wherein the ion detector is configured to detect the packets of ions derived from the pulse of ions and corresponding to respective different ion masses.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ion source comprising a plate-shaped source body which has radioactivity on its both sides and allows positive and negative ions to penetrate through the source body. The present invention gives beneficial effects. First, the ion source structure can improve the ionization efficiency of sample molecules, and the generated sample ions have a centralized distribution within a flat space on both sides of the source body. Such distribution of ion cloud facilitates to improve the IMS sensitivity. Meanwhile, the source body of the present invention has a transmittance in itself. Thus, positive and negative ions generated on both sides of the source body can penetrate through the source body and be separated to the both sides of the source body. In this way, it is possible to improve the utilization efficiency of ions.

Abstract: A tandem TOF mass spectrometer includes a first TOF mass analyzer that generates an ion beam comprising a plurality of ions and that selects a group of precursor ions from the plurality of ions. A pulsed ion accelerator accelerates and refocuses the selected group of precursor ions. An ion fragmentation chamber is positioned to receive the selected group of precursor ions that is refocused by the pulsed ion accelerator. At least some of the selected group of precursor ions is fragmented in the ion fragmentation chamber. A second TOF mass analyzer receives the selected group of precursor ions and ion fragments thereof from the ion fragmentation chamber and separates the ion fragments and then detects a fragment ion mass spectrum.

Abstract: The invention provides a mass spectrometer system (10) comprising a mass spectrometer (12) comprising a plurality of mass spectrometer stages (16, 18, 20, 44) in fluid communication from a low vacuum stage (16) to a higher vacuum stage (44). A split flow multi-stage pump (14) evacuates the mass spectrometer stages. The pump comprises a pump envelope (28) in which a plurality of pumping stages (20, 32, 34) are supported for rotation about an axis X generally parallel to the direction of flow in the mass spectrometer stages for pumping fluid from a main pump inlet (36) to a main pump outlet (38). At least part of a higher vacuum stage (44) is located within the pump envelope at the main pump inlet.

Abstract: A sample feeding device for a trace detector is disclosed. The sample feeding device comprises: a sample feeding chamber disposed in the sample feeding device to desorb a sample from a sample feeding member; and a valve assembly configured to fluidly communicate the sample feeding chamber with a drift tube of the trace detector during feeding sample. With the above configuration of the present invention, for example, the sensitivity of the detector can be increased by improving the permeation ratio of the sample. In addition, interior environment of the drift tube is isolated from exterior environment to avoid a drift region of the drift tube from being polluted. The important parameters, such as sensitivity, a position of a peak of a substance, a resolution, of the detector can be kept constant. As a result, operation reliability and consistency of the detector can be achieved.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with improving the focusing of ions having a particular mass to charge ratio by optimising the electric field for the focusing of ions having that particular mass to charge ratio. In particular, the stigmatic focusing of ions can be improved by adjusting a voltage applied to an ion-optical lens 50 for ions of different mass to charge ratios as those ions pass through the lens. In one embodiment, a digital to analogue converter 32 and amplifier 34 are AC coupled to a high voltage DC power supply unit 38 by high voltage capacitor 36. The digital to analogue converter 32 generates a low voltage wave form which is amplified by the amplifier 34 and then added to the output of the high voltage supply 38 so that the desired voltage waveform is generated and applied to ion-optical lens 50 as ions pass through the lens.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments provide a method, system, and device for identifying chemical species in a sample. According to one embodiment, the method, system, and device may include introducing a sample gas into a differential ion mobility device, ionizing at least a portion of the sample gas to generate at least one ion species, filtering the at least one ion species between a pair of filter electrodes, generating a detection signal in response to the at least one ion species depositing a charge on a collector electrode, and detecting a spectral peak associated with the at least one ion species.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments provide a method, system, and device for identifying chemical species in a sample. According to one embodiment, the method, system, and device may include introducing a sample gas into a differential ion mobility device, ionizing at least a portion of the sample gas to generate at least one ion species, filtering the at least one ion species between a pair of filter electrodes, generating a detection signal in response to the at least one ion species depositing a charge on a collector electrode, and detecting a spectral peak associated with the at least one ion species.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for performing mass spectrometry and a method of analyzing a sample through mass spectrometry. In particular, the disclosure relates to an apparatus capable of ambient mass spectrometry and mass spectral imaging and a method for the same. The apparatus couples laser ablation, flowing atmospheric-pressure afterglow ionization, and a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes an ion source that generates ions. A two-field ion accelerator accelerates the ions through an ion flight path. A pulsed ion accelerator focuses the ions to a first focal plane where the ion flight time is substantially independent to first order of an initial velocity of the ions prior to acceleration. An ion reflector focuses ions to a second focal plane where the ion flight time is substantially independent to first order of an initial velocity of the ions prior to acceleration. An ion detector positioned at the second focal plane detects the ions. The two-field ion accelerator and the ion reflector cause the ion flight time to the ion detector for the ion of predetermined mass-to-charge ratio to be substantially independent to first order of both the initial position and the initial velocity of the ions prior to acceleration.

Abstract: A method of pulsing gas in a quadrupole ion trap to reduce excess internal energy of ions formed externally to the trap at high-vacuum conditions by laser desoprtion is disclosed. With pulsed gas introduction, pressures greater than those under which traps are normally operated can be achieved over a few milliseconds. Under these elevated pressure transients, the process of translational cooling is accelerated and ions undergo thermalized collisions before dissociation occurs. Minimization of uncontrolled fragmentation (thermalization) and enhanced sensitivity are observed at pressures exceeding a threshold of about 1 mTorr.

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring mobility spectrum of ions in an ion mobility spectrometer having an ion source, a modulator, an ion drift region and an ion detector disposed at the end of the ion drift region. The method includes the steps of modulating an ion current from the ion source, and measuring the mobility spectrum, where a predistortion of the continuous modulation function substantially compensates for a distortion created by the modulator. The ion current is modulated with the modulator by varying an instantaneous frequency of a continuous modulation function across a frequency range. The mobility spectrum is measured by correlating the ion current measured at the detector and the modulation function.

Abstract: A chromatograph mass spectrometer is provided for obtaining the information pertinent to a structural analysis, with a simple operation, on a compound series including a plurality of compounds whose structures and characters are similar. First, based on the data obtained by a normal LC/MS analysis, a two-dimensional isointensity line graph is created and displayed with a retention time and a mass-to-charge ratio on the two axes and with a signal intensity represented in contour (S1 and S2). When the operator specifies a desired range by a drag operation or the like by a mouse (S3), peaks included in the range specified are extracted and based on the peaks, precursor ions are selected (S4 through S6). Then a schedule is created so that an MS2 analysis is performed for the precursor ions selected in the course of an LC/MS analysis for the sample to be targeted (S7).

Abstract: An electrostatic trap such as an orbitrap is disclosed, with an electrode structure. An electrostatic trapping field of the form U?(r, ?, z) is generated to trap ions within the trap so that they undergo isochronous oscillations. The trapping field U?(r, ?, z) is the result of a perturbation W to an ideal field U(r, ?, z) which, for example, is hyperlogarithmic in the case of an orbitrap. The perturbation W may be introduced in various ways, such as by distorting the geometry of the trap so that it no longer follows an equipotential of the ideal field U(r, ?, z), or by adding a distortion field (either electric or magnetic). The magnitude of the perturbation is such that at least some of the trapped ions have an absolute phase spread of more than zero but less than 2 ? radians over an ion detection period Tm.

Abstract: A dual ion trap mass analyzer includes adjacently positioned first and second two-dimensional ion traps respectively maintained at relatively high and low pressures. Functions favoring high pressure (cooling and fragmentation) may be performed in the first trap, and functions favoring low pressure (isolation and analytical scanning) may be performed in the second trap. Ions may be transferred between the first and second trap through a plate lens having a small aperture that presents a pumping restriction and allows different pressures to be maintained in the two traps. The differential-pressure environment of the dual ion trap mass analyzer facilitates the use of high-resolution analytical scan modes without sacrificing ion capture and fragmentation efficiencies.

Abstract: Methods and analysers useful for time of flight mass spectrometry are provided.

Abstract: A technique for improving the mass-resolving power of an ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometer is provided. At the final stage of a cooling process before the ejection of ions from an ion trap, the frequency of a rectangular-wave voltage applied to a ring electrode of the ion trap is increased for a few to several cycles. This operation reduces the confining potential depth of the ion trap and decelerates the captured ions. The turn-around time of the ions is shortened when the rectangular-wave voltage is halted and an accelerating electric field is created. Thus, the variation in the time of flight of the ions with the same mass-to-charge ratio is reduced. The time for increasing the frequency is determined so that a spread of the ions because of the depth reduction of the confining potential will fall within the range that can be corrected in the time-of-flight mass spectrometer.

Abstract: In various embodiments, provided are ion optics systems comprising an even number of ion mirrors arranged in pairs such that a trajectory of an ion exiting the ion optics system can be provided that intersects a surface substantially parallel to an image focal surface of the ion optics system at a position that is substantially independent of the kinetic energy the ion had on entering the ion optics system. In various embodiments, provided are ion optics systems comprising an even number of ion mirrors arranged in pairs where the first member and second member of each pair are disposed on opposite sides of a first plane such that the first member of the pair has a position that is substantially mirror-symmetric about the first plane relative to the position of the second member of the pair.

Abstract: In an ion mobility spectrometer, ions are generated, mobility-separated and deposited on a receiver, preferably at spatially separated positions by soft landing or crash landing techniques. The ion mobility spectrometer can be a stand-alone instrument or part of a hybrid analysis instrument. To analyze the deposited ions, the receiver is removed from the vacuum system of the ion mobility spectrometer and introduced into an analytical instrument. Various physical, chemical, and biological analysis techniques and instrumentation can be used, such as mass spectrometry or surface analytical techniques, by selecting a special receiver suitable for the desired analytical technique.

Abstract: A method of processing mass spectral data is disclosed comprising digitizing a first signal output from an ion detector to produce a first digitised signal. A first set of peaks in the first digitised signal is detected and the arrival time To and peak area So of one or more peaks in the first set of peaks are determined thereby forming a first list of data pairs, each data pair comprising an arrival time value and a peak area value. One or more data pairs from the first list are then filtered out thereby forming a second reduced list, wherein a data pair is filtered out, attenuated or otherwise rejected from the first list if the peak area value of a data pair in the first list is determined to be less than a threshold peak area.

Abstract: A novel system and methods for accelerating analytes including, without limitation, molecular ions, biomolecules, polymers, nano- and microparticles, is provided. The invention can be useful for increasing detection sensitivity in applications such as mass spectrometry, performing collision-induced dissociation molecular structure analysis, and probing surfaces and samples using accelerated analyte.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an orthogonal acceleration Time of Flight mass analyser. A pulse or packet of ions is released either from an ion trap or alternatively from a travelling wave ion guide arranged upstream of an orthogonal acceleration electrode which forms part of the Time of Flight mass analyser. Ions in the pulse or packet or ions which is released become temporally dispersed and the orthogonal acceleration electrode is energized multiple times prior the release of a subsequent pulse or packet of ions.

Abstract: A multi-turn time-of-flight mass spectrometer creates, an accurate mass spectrum of a wide mass range, with the smallest number of measurements. Deflecting electrodes are provided on an ejection path through which ions deviating from a loop orbit fly to a detector having a two-dimensional array elements. A varying voltage applied to the deflecting electrodes creates an electric field. When two ions having different mass-to-charge ratios simultaneously arrive at the detector, these ions are affected with differing strengths since they pass through the deflecting electric field at different times. This results in arrival for the ions on a detection surface. The time an ion passing through the deflecting electric field can be calculated from the displacement of the arrival position of that ion. Then the flight speed of the ion is obtained and its number of turns is roughly deduced to arrive at its mass-to-charge ratio.

Abstract: A method of searching for potentially unknown metabolites of pharmaceutical compounds is disclosed. The accurate mass of a pharmaceutical compound will generally be known and can be rendered in the form of an integer nominal mass or mass to charge ratio component and a decimal mass or mass to charge ratio component. Possible metabolites are searched for on the basis of having a decimal mass or mass to charge ratio component which is substantially very similar to the decimal mass or mass to charge ratio of the parent pharmaceutical compound.

Abstract: Silver nanoparticles as a sample matrix for Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) along with a novel method for nanoparticle development is described herein. The silver nanoparticles were generated from silver ions on the surface of a MALDI plate utilizing a Soft Landing Ion Mobility (SLIM) instrument. Upon interaction with the surface the incident silver ions were labile and aggregated into the nanoparticle structures in a time dependent fashion. Post landing analyses were completed by Time of Flight mass spectrometry (TOF), and of particular interest in the spectra were the elimination of low mass interference peaks that generally plague organic based matrices. The approach of the present invention significantly decreases sample preparation time and may lead to a preparation free MALDI source by soft landing a matrix directly on the sample surface.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer and method of mass spectrometry wherein charged particles in a beam undergo multiple changes of direction. A detection arrangement detects a first portion of the charged particle beam, and provides a first output based upon the intensity of the detected first portion of the charged particle beam. The detection arrangement detects a second portion of the charged particle beam that has traveled a greater path length through the mass spectrometer than the first portion of the charged particle beam, and provides a second output based upon the detected second portion of the charged particle beam. A controller adjusts the parameters of the charged particle beam and/or the detection arrangement, based upon the first output of the detection arrangement, so as to adjust the second output of the detection arrangement.

Abstract: Used is a sample holder for MALDI mass spectrometry, which has a CuO secondary particle as a laser-beam-absorbing matrix and in which the secondary particle comprises an aggregate of CuO primary particles having an average particle diameter of 100 nm or smaller and has an uneven surface arising from the shape formed by the primary particles constituting the outermost surface of the secondary particle. As the CuO secondary particle, usable is one derived from a CuO powder produced by baking basic copper carbonate in air at 200 to 300° C., and the basic copper carbonate is produced in a process of mixing an aqueous ammonium hydrogencarbonate solution and an aqueous copper nitrate solution. The CuO secondary particle has an average particle diameter of, for example, from 0.3 to 10 ?m.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an Electron Transfer Dissociation cell (1). Positive analyte ions are fragmented into fragment ions upon colliding with singly charged negative reagent ions with the cell (1). The cell comprises a plurality of ring electrodes (1) which form a spherical trapping volume. Ions experience negligible RF heating over the majority, of the trapping volume which enables the kinetic energy of the analyte and reagent ions to be reduced to just above thermal temperatures. An Electron Transfer Dissociation cell (1) having an enhanced sensitivity is thereby provided. Fragment ions created within the cell (1) may be cooled and may be transmitted onwardly to an orthogonal acceleration Time of Flight mass analyser enabling a significant improvement in the resolution of the mass analyser to be obtained.

Abstract: A measurement is performed in a no-passing mode, in which ions having different masses are prevented from making a complete turn through a loop orbit, to obtain a time-of-flight spectrum without the passing of ions having different masses (S1 and S2). From the time of flight and other information of the peaks appearing on the time-of-flight spectrum (S3), the number of turns and the time of flight in the loop-turn mode are predicted. Based on this prediction, a set of segments are defined on a time-of-flight spectrum in the loop-turn mode. The time widths of those segments are determined taking into account the spreads of the time widths of the aforementioned peaks. Since the number of turns is unique within each segment, the numbers of turns and the masses of the peaks can be uniquely determined as long as none of the segments overlap each other.

Abstract: A method of separating charged particles using an analyser is provided, the method comprising: causing a beam of charged particles to fly through the analyser and undergo within the analyser at least one full oscillation in the direction of an analyser axis (z) of the analyser whilst orbiting about the axis (z) along a main flight path; constraining the arcuate divergence of the beam as it flies through the analyser; and separating the charged particles according to their flight time. An analyser for performing the method is also provided. At least one arcuate focusing lens is preferably used to constrain the divergence, which may comprise a pair of opposed electrodes located either side of the beam.

Abstract: An IMS detector has a pin-hole or capillary inlet having a coating of an adsorbent material, such as polydimethylsiloxane, which is adsorbent to an analyte substance of interest. The analyte is adsorbed into the material until a heater is energized to heat the adsorbent material and release the adsorbed analyte substance for detection in a detector.

Abstract: A system for analyzing ions comprises: an ion source; a FAIMS cell comprising: (a) a gas inlet; (b) an outer electrode having a generally concave inner surface and comprising: (i) an ion inlet operable to receive the ions from the ion source and a carrier gas from the gas inlet; and (ii) an ion outlet; and (c) an inner electrode having a conduit therethrough and having a generally convex outer surface that is disposed in a spaced-apart and facing arrangement relative to the inner surface of the outer electrode for defining an ion separation region therebetween; and a mass analyzer for mass analyzing ions transmitted by the FAIMS cell through the ion outlet, wherein the inner electrode is moveable between a first position and a second position, the first position facilitating movement of the ions through the ion separation region, the second position facilitating movement of the ions through the conduit.

Abstract: The present invent provides a particle detector for counting and measuring the flight time of secondary electrons and scattered ions and neutrals and to correlate coincidences between these and backscattered ions/and neutrals while maintaining a continuous unpulsed microfocused primary ion beam for impinging a surface. Intensities of the primary particle scattering and secondary particle emissions are correlated with the position of impact of the focused beam onto a materials surface so that a spatially resolved surface elemental and electronic structural mapping is obtained by scanning the focused beam across the surface.

Abstract: A tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer having enhanced duty cycle is offered. The inventive mass spectrometer has an ion storage means and a time-calculating means, in addition to the components of a normal tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The time-calculating means finds the time between the instant at which precursor ions are ejected from the ion storage means and the instant at which the ions arrive at a position inside the orthogonal acceleration region where the ions pass into the following first TOF ion optical system at a maximum passage efficiency. The precursor ions are accelerated in a pulsed manner according to the instant at which the ions reach the position giving the maximum passage efficiency.

Abstract: A Time of Flight Acquisition system is disclosed wherein a digitiser (6) is used to digitise an acceleration pulse (2) which is applied to an acceleration electrode of a Time of Flight mass analyser. The digitiser (6) is then switched to digitise an ion arrival signal which is output from an ion detector (5).

Abstract: A method for acquiring and analyzing polypeptide mass spectra comprising: creating first and second sets of fragmented ions using first and second fragmentation techniques; obtaining mass spectra of the first and second sets of fragmented ions; searching a database of fragments of a first fragment pair type and of a second fragment pair type to respectively provide a set of M ranked and a set of N ranked best matching polypeptide sequences; subtracting synthetic spectra corresponding to each of the M and N ranked sequences from the mass spectra to provide first and second sets of modified mass spectra; searching the database of fragments of the second fragment pair type and of the first fragment pair type to provide third and fourth sets of polypeptide sequences providing best matches to the first and second sets of modified spectra, respectively; and creating a cumulative ranking of the third and fourth sets.

Abstract: This invention relates to mass spectrometers comprising a reaction cell and where mass spectra are collected both from unreacted ions and also from reaction product ions. In particular, although not exclusively, this invention finds use in tandem mass spectrometry where mass spectra are collected from precursor and fragment ions. The present invention provides an arrangement where ions may be sent to a reaction cell for fragmentation or other processing before onward transport to a mass analyser. Alternatively, ions may be passed directly to a mass analyser along a bypass path.

Abstract: A system and sampling probe adaptable to an ultrasonic surgical instrument applies irrigation fluid and ultrasonic or vibrational energy to a target, and aspirates material desorbed from the target into a pick-up conduit. A suction source at the distal end of the conduit may aspirate the material released from the target with the irrigation fluid, thus efficiently sampling a broad range of materials from an arbitrary target to produce an analyzable effluent analyte stream which may be ionized and provided to the inlet of an ion-type analysis instrument, or may be fed directly to an instrument such as a flow cytometer, IR or fluorescence spectrophotometer, or other analyzer. Carrier gas may be provided to more effectively transport the desorbed material, and the probe may be incorporated into a robotic device to automatically carry out surface imaging or to effect sampling in hazardous environments.

Abstract: A detector for time of flight mass spectroscopy uses a microwave resonant cavity excited into resonance by the passage of charged particles as an ion detector. With proper configuration of the frequency of resonance of the cavity, its modes and its quality factor, nanosecond time resolution, should be possible.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method of tandem mass spectrometry for use in a mass spectrometer having a known characteristic function of the mass-to-charge ratio of the ions to be analysed, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: (a) providing a primary ions source to be analysed, (b) generating a primary mass spectrum of the primary ions, without dissociation, wherein said spectrum contains primary ion peaks of occurrence, (c) from the characteristic function values at the maxima of at least some of said primary mass peaks and from the charge values associated to said peaks, determining correlation laws that all possible multiplets of characteristic function values corresponding to multiplets of charged fragments resulting from the dissociation of parent primary ions of interest corresponding to said primary mass peaks have to meet, (d) concurrently dissociating primary ions of interest associated to primary mass peaks, in order to obtain multiplets of charged fragments from each of said parent p

Abstract: There is provided a time-of-flight mass spectrometer of a simple configuration and low cost that prevents temperature drift and provides stable mass spectrum without the use of expensive Invar material for the flight tube which nevertheless is not easily affected by external vibrations and does not deflect under its own weight when held as a cantilever. The flight-tube is made of a CFRP pipe 17a whose inner and outer surfaces are provided with an electroless nickel-plated layer 17b as an electroconductive treatment. Electroconductive adhesive 21 is used for joining to flight-tube holding member 18. Unlike previous flight-tubes made of metal, flight-tubes made of CFRP pipe 17a do not deform even when no temperature adjustment and control system is used. Also, since the specific gravity of CFRP is only about one-fifth of that of stainless steel, the flight-tube does not easily deflect even when it is held as a cantilever.

Abstract: Tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry method and apparatus permits an ion gate to be time set optimally at all times if the instrumental conditions are modified. Delayed extraction conditions for the mass-to-charge ratios of plural reference substances and optimum values of the time for which the ion gate is opened are measured and stored in a data table. Delayed extraction conditions and opening time of the ion gate which optimize the mass resolution at the mass-to-charge ratio of the desired precursor ions are found based on values stored in the table.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments provide a method, system, and device for identifying chemical species in a sample. According to one embodiment, the method, system, and device may include introducing a sample gas into a differential ion mobility device, ionizing at least a portion of the sample gas to generate at least one ion species, filtering the at least one ion species between a pair of filter electrodes, generating a detection signal in response to the at least one ion species depositing a charge on a collector electrode, and detecting a spectral peak associated with the at least one ion species.

Abstract: A method for differential mobility separation of ions using digital-drive based high voltage fast switching electronics. The digital waveform delivered to the spectrometer is characterized by at least two substantially rectangular pulses of different amplitude and polarity. The control circuitry allows for waveform frequency, duty cycle and pulse amplitudes to be varied independently. Balanced as well as unbalanced asymmetric waveforms can be designed for optimum differential mobility separation of ions. The digital drive is designed for differential mobility spectrometers including parallel plate and segmented plate multipoles of planar symmetry, as well as multipoles of cylindrical symmetry, which may optionally be arranged in series. The use of the digital drive establishes alternating electric fields during which the displacement as a result of ion oscillation is determined by mobility coefficients.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry unit of the present invention includes a mass spectrometry portion that detects ion current values of a gas to be measured according to mass-to-charge ratio, to thereby measure partial pressures of the gas to be measured. The mass spectrometry unit further includes: a control portion for preliminary storing a record of a mass-to-charge ratio of a specific gas that decreases a function of a specific portion of the mass spectrometry unit, in which if an ion current value with the mass-to-charge ratio of the specific gas detected by the mass spectrometry portion is not less than a predetermined value, the control portion outputs a warning signal denoting a functional decrease in the specific portion.

Abstract: A novel system and methods for accelerating analytes including, without limitation, molecular ions, biomolecules, polymers, nano- and microparticles, is provided. The invention can be useful for increasing detection sensitivity in applications such as mass spectrometry, performing collision-induced dissociation molecular structure analysis, and probing surfaces and samples using accelerated analyte.

Abstract: This invention refers to an ion mobility spectrometer in a fluid subjected to an electric field and an acoustic wave for the selective detection, classification and quantitative determination of the concentration of charged particles, based on their electrical mobility. The functioning of this device is based on the application of an electric field in a classification region occupied by a fluid. The electric field provokes drift of the charged particles through the classification region. The drifting particles suffer a lateral perturbation in their trajectory due to an oscillatory movement of the fluid in which they are immersed when this is subjected to an acoustic wave. Both the spectrometer and the method of discrimination and detection of the current of charged particles is the object of this invention.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer with an ionization chamber with a feed channel for a gas to be examined, including an electron source (d, n) for ionizing the gas to be examined, electrodes (c) for accelerating the ionizing electrons, electrodes (g, h, j, m) for the mass-dependent separation of the ions by acceleration/deceleration thereof, a detector (l) for the separated ions, a wiring with metallic conductors. The components are arranged on a plane nonconductive substrate (1), having an energy filter (k) for the ions, the energy filter being embodied as a 90° sector, is constructed in completely planar fashion. The ionization chamber (b), the electrodes (g, h, j, m) for accelerating the electrons and ions, the detector (l) for the ions and the energy filter (k) are produced by a single step of photolithography and etching of a doped semiconductor die (6) applied to the substrate (1) and the wiring (2) and the abovementioned parts are covered by a second flat nonconductive substrate (7).