A re-sampling device for two-dimensional gas chromatography includes a modulator; a splitter disposed upstream from the modulator and configured to split an effluent from a primary column and deliver a portion of the effluent to waste and a portion of the effluent to the modulator; a first accumulating loop; a second accumulating loop; a first switch configured to selectively deliver the effluent from the splitter to one of the first accumulating loop or the second accumulating loop; and a second switch configured to selectively deliver the effluent from the one of the first accumulating loop or the second accumulating loop to a secondary column.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Recorded computer software for use with indentation hardness testers for image analysis, hardness testing, inclusions analysis, computational analysis, data processing, and data reporting
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Reverse fill-flush gas flow modulator unit for use in a gas chromatography apparatus for laboratory use and for use in a gas chromatography apparatus used in mass spectrometers.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Gas flow splitter for use in a gas chromatography apparatus for laboratory use and for use in a gas chromatography apparatus used in mass spectrometers.
5.
FLOW CORRECTION FOR BACK PRESSURE REGULATED RFF FLOW MODULATOR
A method for flow correction includes, when an RFF flow modulator in a calibration flow condition, directing initial switching flow into the RFF flow modulator in a first direction to an exhaust with pressure regulation and reducing the initial switching flow to a minimum switching flow where a pressure satisfies a regulation condition. The calibration flow condition includes a primary column flow into the RFF flow modulator from a primary column and a secondary column flow from the RFF flow modulator to a secondary column. The operations include determining an adjusted switching flow for the calibration flow condition and determining a switching flow profile based on the adjusted switching flow. When the RFF flow modulator in an operating flow condition different from the calibration flow condition, the operations include directing an operating switching flow determined based on the switching flow profile in the first direction to the exhaust.
A method for modulating analytes in a gaseous stream passing through a capillary, wherein the analytes are retained in a trapping zone of the capillary, or allowed to pass therethrough, based on certain conditions. The method includes, during a first time period, heating the trapping zone of the capillary to a first temperature to desorb analytes therewithin and allow the analytes to pass therethrough, and during a second time period, cooling the capillary to a second temperature that is sufficient to trap and focus the analytes within the trapping zone. During the first time period, the method also includes retaining heat at the capillary during to minimize the load on a cooling device thermally connected thereto, and during the second time period, selectively allowing thermal transfer toward the cooling device.
An analytical instrument assembly includes a gas chromatograph, a first detector, a second detector, and a pneumatic control module. The gas chromatograph includes a flow splitter configured to receive a sample. The first detector is coupled to the flow splitter. The second detector is coupled to the flow splitter. The pneumatic control module is coupled to the flow splitter and configured to deliver a carrier gas to the flow splitter. The flow splitter is configured to split the sample and deliver at least a first portion of the sample to the first detector and at least a second portion of the sample to the second detector at a first split ratio. The pneumatic control module is configured to deliver one of (i) a makeup flow including a third portion of the carrier gas to the flow splitter or (ii) an exhaust flow out of the flow splitter, wherein the pneumatic control module is configured to regulate the pressure within the flow splitter to thereby maintain the first split ratio at a substantially constant value.
A multi-dimensional gas chromatograph for analyzing compounds in a sample during a single run is disclosed. The multi-dimensional gas chromatograph includes a first column, a second column, and a modulator disposed between the first column and the second column. The modulator modulates at (i) a first modulation period over a first time period during the run and (ii) a second modulation period over a second time period during the run later than the first time, the second modulation period being different than the first modulation period.
A method includes receiving respective first and second sets of detection data generated by first and second detectors of a gas chromatograph (GC) during a session and representative of chromatographic properties of first and second portions of an effluent delivered to the first and second detectors from first and second transfer lines of the GC. The method also includes receiving a temperature profile that identifies first and second temperature zones of the first and second portions of the effluent during the session. The second set of detection data is misaligned relative to the first set along a time axis. The method also includes applying an alignment profile to the second set to align the first and second sets along the time axis. The alignment profile is based on the temperature profile.
Systems and methods for processing data in a two-dimensional chromatograph are disclosed. In some implementations, the data includes information associated with resolved peaks and information associated with an unresolved complex mixture, and such systems and methods may attenuate the information associated with the resolved peaks from the data to substantially isolate the information associated with the unresolved complex mixture.
A re-sampling device for two-dimensional gas chromatography includes a modulator and at least one of a first splitter disposed upstream from the modulator and configured to split an effluent from a primary column and deliver a portion of the effluent to waste and a portion of the effluent to the modulator, or a second splitter disposed downstream from the modulator and configured to split the effluent to deliver a portion of the effluent to waste and a portion of the effluent to a secondary column.
A method for applying a heating sequence for a modulator includes, during a first period of time, heating a first heating zone disposed along a length of the modulator without heating a second heating zone to cause a sample trapped from a first transfer line at an entrance of the modulator to move from the first heating zone to the second heating zone. The method also includes, during a second time period, withdrawing the heating of the first heating zone to prevent the sample from entering the modulator from the first transfer line. During a third time period, the method includes heating the second heating zone without heating the first heating zone to reinject the sample into a second transfer line.
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF MS) comprises a mass analyzer, an ion pushing device, a filtering device, a multi-pass reflector, a detector, and a decoder. The ion pushing device is arranged to push ions into the mass analyzer. The filtering device is arranged to filter a portion of the ions based on a mass range of the ions. The multi-pass reflector is arranged to selectively reflect the ions for further passes through the mass analyzer. The detector is arranged to receive the ions. The decoder is arranged to reconstruct a mass spectrum for the entire mass range of the ions.
An analytical instrument assembly includes a gas chromatograph, a first detector, a second detector, and a pneumatic control module. The gas chromatograph includes a flow splitter configured to receive a sample. The first detector is coupled to the flow splitter. The second detector is coupled to the flow splitter. The pneumatic control module is coupled to the flow splitter and configured to deliver a carrier gas to the flow splitter. The flow splitter is configured to split the sample and deliver at least a first portion of the sample to the first detector and at least a second portion of the sample to the second detector at a first split ratio. The pneumatic control module is configured to deliver one of (i) a makeup flow including a third portion of the carrier gas to the flow splitter or (ii) an exhaust flow out of the flow splitter, wherein the pneumatic control module is configured to regulate the pressure within the flow splitter to thereby maintain the first split ratio at a substantially constant value.
Systems and methods for processing data in a two-dimensional chromatograph are disclosed. In some implementations, the data includes information associated with resolved peaks and information associated with an unresolved complex mixture, and such systems and methods may attenuate the information associated with the resolved peaks from the data to substantially isolate the information associated with the unresolved complex mixture.
A rotary dosing device for use in analytical instrumentation quickly transfers a sequence of precise molar quantities of gas from a primary stream into a secondary stream. The device has a rotating chamber with dosing ports that cycle through three states: fill, equilibrate, and transfer. The device cycles in an overlapping manner such that as one dose volume fills with gas from the primary stream, another equilibrates at a known pressure and temperature, and another transfers its contents to the secondary stream. The device initiates its operation so that the first transfer in a sequence is a properly filled and equilibrated dose from the primary stream. Rather than cycling a single dose volume through the three states multiple times, the overlapping operation of the rotary doser enables multiple precise molar quantities of gas to be transferred in one‐third the time.
G01N 1/22 - Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
G01N 31/12 - Investigating or analysing non-biological materials by the use of the chemical methods specified in the subgroupsApparatus specially adapted for such methods using combustion
G01F 11/12 - Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it with measuring chambers moved during operation of the valve type, i.e. the separating being effected by fluid-tight or powder-tight movements
G01F 15/04 - Compensating or correcting for variations in pressure, density, or temperature of gases to be measured
A device is provided for use in analytical instrumentation that provides continuous transfer of a known molar quantity of gas from a source having an unknown gas mixture and varying pressure. In addition to the upstream and downstream paths of typical flow control devices, the device has a midstream path to introduce a carrier gas at a known elevated pressure. The device has at least three equal-volume ballast vessels and a valve arrangement to cycle the ballasts through at least three states: fill, equilibrate, and empty. The ballasts fill with the upstream gas, pressurize and equilibrate at the midstream pressure, and empty to the downstream path. The cycle of each ballast is timed in phased relationship to the other ballasts to keep the flow relatively uninterrupted; as one fills, another equilibrates, and another empties.
G01N 31/12 - Investigating or analysing non-biological materials by the use of the chemical methods specified in the subgroupsApparatus specially adapted for such methods using combustion
G01N 1/22 - Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
A thermal modulator for a chromatographic system includes a cooler, a thermal valve, a thermal buffer, a heater, and a capillary. The thermal valve thermally-engages the cooler. The thermal buffer thermally-engages the thermal valve. The heater thermally-engages the thermal buffer. The capillary thermally-engages the heater and is configured to transport an analyte in a first direction.
A device is provided for use in analytical instrumentation that provides continuous transfer of a known molar quantity of gas from a source having an unknown gas mixture and varying pressure. In addition to the upstream and downstream paths of typical flow control devices, the device has a midstream path to introduce a carrier gas at a known elevated pressure. The device has at least three equal-volume ballast vessels and a valve arrangement to cycle the ballasts through at least three states: fill, equilibrate, and empty. The ballasts fill with the upstream gas, pressurize and equilibrate at the midstream pressure, and empty to the downstream path. The cycle of each ballast is timed in phased relationship to the other ballasts to keep the flow relatively uninterrupted; as one fills, another equilibrates, and another empties.
G01N 35/10 - Devices for transferring samples to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices
F16K 11/074 - Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valvesPipe fittings incorporating such valvesArrangement of valves and flow lines specially adapted for mixing fluid with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves with pivoted closure members with flat sealing faces
G01N 31/12 - Investigating or analysing non-biological materials by the use of the chemical methods specified in the subgroupsApparatus specially adapted for such methods using combustion
G01N 1/44 - Sample treatment involving radiation, e.g. heat
A rotary dosing device for use in analytical instrumentation quickly transfers a sequence of precise molar quantities of gas from a primary stream into a secondary stream. The device has a rotating chamber with dosing ports that cycle through three states: fill, equilibrate, and transfer. The device cycles in an overlapping manner such that as one dose volume fills with gas from the primary stream, another equilibrates at a known pressure and temperature, and another transfers its contents to the secondary stream. The device initiates its operation so that the first transfer in a sequence is a properly filled and equilibrated dose from the primary stream. Rather than cycling a single dose volume through the three states multiple times, the overlapping operation of the rotary doser enables multiple precise molar quantities of gas to be transferred in one-third the time.
G01N 1/22 - Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
G01N 31/12 - Investigating or analysing non-biological materials by the use of the chemical methods specified in the subgroupsApparatus specially adapted for such methods using combustion
G01N 35/10 - Devices for transferring samples to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices
A method for modulating analytes in a gaseous stream passing through a capillary, wherein the analytes are retained in a trapping zone of the capillary, or allowed to pass therethrough, based on certain conditions. The method includes, during a first time period, heating the trapping zone of the capillary to a first temperature to desorb analytes therewithin and allow the analytes to pass therethrough, and during a second time period, cooling the capillary to a second temperature that is sufficient to trap and focus the analytes within the trapping zone. During the first time period, the method also includes retaining heat at the capillary during to minimize the load on a cooling device thermally connected thereto, and during the second time period, selectively allowing thermal transfer toward the cooling device.
A voltage stabilizer assembly includes a power supply, a device, and a voltage stabilizer. The device is connected to the power supply, wherein the device performance is affected based on the regulation of its power source. The voltage stabilizer is connected between the device and the power supply. The voltage stabilizer includes a low pass filter connected to an output of the power supply and a buffer receiving its input from the low pass filter, the buffer receiving power from the power supply, and the output of the buffer connected to the device.
G05F 1/45 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable is actually regulated by the final control device is AC using discharge tubes or semiconductor devices as final control devices semiconductor devices only being controlled rectifiers in series with the load
H01J 49/00 - Particle spectrometers or separator tubes
H01J 49/02 - Particle spectrometers or separator tubes Details
23.
SPLIT FLOW MODULATOR FOR COMPREHENSIVE TWO-DIMENSIONAL CHROMATOGRAPHY
A re-sampling device for two-dimensional gas chromatography includes a modulator and at least one of a first splitter disposed upstream from the modulator and configured to split an effluent from a primary column and deliver a portion of the effluent to waste and a portion of the effluent to the modulator, or a second splitter disposed downstream from the modulator and configured to split the effluent to deliver a portion of the effluent to waste and a portion of the effluent to a secondary column.
An ion source includes a base, a first chamber, a second chamber and an extractor. The first chamber is disposed downstream of the base and defines a first internal volume having a first pressure. The second chamber is disposed downstream of the first chamber and defines a second internal volume having a second pressure. The second pressure is less than the first pressure. The repeller electrode is disposed within the first chamber. The extractor is disposed downstream of the second chamber.
A method for ranking analytes includes the steps of analyzing an experimental analyte in a mass spectrometer. The method includes comparing the experimental analyte to a plurality of candidate analytes in a library hit list, and assigning a cumulative confidence score to each candidate analyte based on the steps of comparing the experimental analyte to the candidate analytes based on a library similarity score, comparing the experimental analyte to the candidate analytes based on of a presence of the most abundant isotope of a molecular ion and its mass, comparing the experimental analyte to the candidate analytes based on an abundance of fragment ions and a mass of the fragment ions, and, in some implementations, comparing the experimental analyte to the candidate analytes based on a retention index value. The method includes ranking the candidate analytes based on the cumulative confidence score of each candidate analyte.
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF MS) comprises a mass analyzer, an ion pushing device, a filtering device, a multi-pass reflector, a detector, and a decoder. The ion pushing device is arranged to push ions into the mass analyzer. The filtering device is arranged to filter a portion of the ions based on a mass range of the ions. The multi-pass reflector is arranged to selectively reflect the ions for further passes through the mass analyzer. The detector is arranged to receive the ions. The decoder is arranged to reconstruct a mass spectrum for the entire mass range of the ions.
A method of determining mass defect plots with user-defined mass scaling, filtering, and labeling in a mass spectrometer is described. An implementation of the method comprises, (i) generating a mass defect plot from the data, (ii) filtering all ions in the mass defect plot that do not have an associated isotopologue ion, (iii) selecting an unidentified ion, (iv) determining an isotope pattern of the unidentified ion, (v) identifying one or more elements indicated by the isotope pattern for the unidentified ion; (vi) searching formulas containing one or more elements indicated by the isotope pattern for the unidentified ion, (vii) determining a chemical formula of the identified ion, and (viii) displaying the chemical formulas for the unidentified ion on a screen.
A multi-dimensional gas chromatograph for analyzing compounds in a sample during a single run is disclosed. The multi-dimensional gas chromatograph includes a first column, a second column, and a modulator disposed between the first column and the second column. The modulator modulates at (i) a first modulation period over a first time period during the run and (ii) a second modulation period over a second time period during the run later than the first time, the second modulation period being different than the first modulation period.
An ion guide includes electrodes and an RF generator. The electrodes extend in a Z-axis that is straight or curved with a radius that is larger than a distance between the electrodes. The electrodes are made of carbon filled ceramic resistors, silicon carbide, or boron carbide to form bulk resistance with specific resistance between 1 and 1000 Ohm*cm. Conductive Z-edges are disposed on each electrode. An insulating coating is disposed on one side of each electrode and oriented away from an inner region of the ion guide surrounded by said electrodes. At least one conductive track per electrode is attached on a top side of the insulating coating. The conductive track is connected to one conductive electrode edge. The RF generator has at least two sets of secondary coils with DC supplies connected to central taps of the sets of secondary coils to provide at least four distinct signals.
A thermal modulator for a chromatographic system includes a cooler, a thermal valve, a thermal buffer, a heater, and a capillary. The thermal valve thermally-engages the cooler. The thermal buffer thermally-engages the thermal valve. The heater thermally-engages the thermal buffer. The capillary thermally-engages the heater and is configured to transport an analyte in a first direction.
G01N 30/30 - Control of physical parameters of the fluid carrier of temperature
F25B 21/02 - Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effectMachines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
A multi-reflecting time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MR-TOF MS) includes an ion source, an orthogonal accelerator, and an ion mirror assembly. The ion source is capable of generating a beam of ions, and is arranged to accelerate the ions in a first direction along a first axis. The orthogonal accelerator is arranged to accelerate the ions in a second direction along a second axis. The second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. The ion mirror assembly includes a plurality of gridless planar mirrors and a plurality of electrodes. The plurality of electrodes are arranged to provide time-focusing of ions along a third axis substantially independent of ion energy and ion position.
A multi-reflecting time of flight mass analyser is disclosed in which the ion flight path is maintained relatively small and the duty cycle is made relatively high. Spatial focusing of the ions in the dimension (z-dimension) in which the mirrors (36) are elongated can be eliminated whilst maintaining a reasonably high sensitivity and resolution.
This disclosure relates a device for a chromatographic system, comprising: a chamber defining an internal portion, a capillary disposed within the chamber, the capillary having an input, an output, and an elongate body extending between the input and the output, a cold finger having a first portion in thermal contact with a portion of the elongate body to define a capillary trapping zone, wherein the first portion of the cold finger extends to a second portion that is situated external to the chamber, a heater in thermal contact with the trapping zone of the capillary and configured to transfer heat to the trapping zone, a thermal buffer configured to buffer the heat from the heater into the cold finger and thereby retain the heat within the trapping zone of the capillary, a cooling device arranged external to the chamber and thermally connected to the second portion of the cold finger to define a primary conduction zone, wherein the cooling device is configured to generate a cooling temperature zone at the primary conduction zone, a controller configured to selectively alternate the trapping zone between a cooling temperature by turning off the heat and using the cooling device together with its engagement with the cold finger, and an injection temperature using the heater, wherein the heater alternates between an off state and an on state and a user defined frequency.
A chromatography system includes a modulator, a chromatograph, a cooler, and a detector. The chromatograph is connected to the modulator by a first heated transfer line. The detector is connected to the modulator by a second heated transfer line. The cooler is connected to the modulator. The modulator is arranged outside of the chromatograph.
A method of mass spectral analysis in an analytical electrostatic trap (14) is disclosed. The electrostatic trap (14) defines an electrostatic field volume and includes trap electrodes having static and non-ramped potentials. The method comprises injecting a continuous ion beam into the electrostatic field volume.
H01J 49/00 - Particle spectrometers or separator tubes
H01J 49/42 - Stability-of-path spectrometers, e.g. monopole, quadrupole, multipole, farvitrons
H01J 49/06 - Electron- or ion-optical arrangements
H01J 49/02 - Particle spectrometers or separator tubes Details
H05K 3/02 - Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits in which the conductive material is applied to the surface of the insulating support and is thereafter removed from such areas of the surface which are not intended for current conducting or shielding
For improving sensitivity, dynamic range, and specificity of GC-MS analysis there are disclosed embodiments of novel apparatuses based on improved characteristics of semi-open source with electron impact ionization, providing much higher brightness compared to known open EI sources. In an implementation, the source becomes compatible with multi-reflecting TOF analyzers for higher resolution analysis for improving detection limit. With improved schemes of spatial and temporal refocusing there are proposed various tandem TOF-TOF spectrometers with PSD, CID, and SID fragmentation and using either singly reflecting TOF or MR-TOF analyzers.
An ion source includes a base, a first chamber, a second chamber and an extractor. The first chamber is disposed downstream of the base and defines a first internal volume having a first pressure. The second chamber is disposed downstream of the first chamber and defines a second internal volume having a second pressure. The second pressure is less than the first pressure. The repeller electrode is disposed within the first chamber. The extractor is disposed downstream of the second chamber.
An apparatus 41 and operation method are provided for an electrostatic trap mass spectrometer with measuring frequency of multiple isochronous ionic oscillations. For improving throughput and space charge capacity, the trap is substantially extended in one Z-direction forming a reproduced two-dimensional field. Multiple geometries are provided for trap Z-extension. The throughput of the analysis is improved by multiplexing electrostatic traps. The frequency analysis is accelerated by the shortening of ion packets and either by Wavelet-fit analysis of the image current signal or by using a time-of-flight detector for sampling a small portion of ions per oscillation. Multiple pulsed converters are suggested for optimal ion injection into electrostatic traps.
A method for ranking analytes includes the steps of analyzing an experimental analyte in a mass spectrometer. The method includes comparing the experimental analyte to a plurality of candidate analytes in a library hit list, and assigning a cumulative confidence score to each candidate analyte based on the steps of comparing the experimental analyte to the candidate analytes based on a library similarity score, comparing the experimental analyte to the candidate analytes based on of a presence of the most abundant isotope of a molecular ion and its mass, comparing the experimental analyte to the candidate analytes based on an abundance of fragment ions and a mass of the fragment ions, and, in some implementations, comparing the experimental analyte to the candidate analytes based on a retention index value. The method includes ranking the candidate analytes based on the cumulative confidence score of each candidate analyte.
An ion guide includes electrodes and an RF generator. The electrodes extend in a Z-axis that is straight or curved with a radius that is larger than a distance between the electrodes. The electrodes are made of carbon filled ceramic resistors, silicon carbide, or boron carbide to form bulk resistance with specific resistance between 1 and 1000 Ohm*cm. Conductive Z-edges are disposed on each electrode. An insulating coating is disposed on one side of each electrode and oriented away from an inner region of the ion guide surrounded by said electrodes. At least one conductive track per electrode is attached on a top side of the insulating coating. The conductive track is connected to one conductive electrode edge. The RF generator has at least two sets of secondary coils with DC supplies connected to central taps of the sets of secondary coils to provide at least four distinct signals.
An apparatus 41 and operation method are provided for an electrostatic trap mass spectrometer with measuring frequency of multiple isochronous ionic oscillations. For improving throughput and space charge capacity, the trap is substantially extended in one Z-direction forming a reproduced two-dimensional field. Multiple geometries are provided for trap Z-extension. The throughput of the analysis is improved by multiplexing electrostatic traps. The frequency analysis is accelerated by the shortening of ion packets and either by Wavelet-fit analysis of the image current signal or by using a time-of-flight detector for sampling a small portion of ions per oscillation. Multiple pulsed converters are suggested for optimal ion injection into electrostatic traps.
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising: an ion deflector (305) configured to deflect ions to different positions in a first array of positions at different times; a position sensitive ion detector (187); and ion optics (180) arranged and configured to guide ions from the first array of positions to the position sensitive detector (187) so as to map ions from the first array of positions to a second array of positions on the position sensitive detector (187); wherein the ion optics includes at least one ion mirror for reflecting the ions.
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising ion optics that map an array of ions at an ion source array (71) to a corresponding array of positions on a position sensitive ion detector (79). The ion optics include at least one gridless ion mirror (76) for reflecting ions, which may compensate for various aberrations and allows the spectrometer to have relatively high mass and spatial resolutions.
A multi-reflecting time of flight mass analyser is disclosed in which the ion flight path is maintained relatively small and the duty cycle is made relatively high. Spatial focussing of the ions in the dimension (z-dimension) in which the mirrors (36) are elongated can be eliminated whilst maintaining a reasonably high sensitivity and resolution.
A multi-reflecting time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MR-TOF MS) includes an ion source, an orthogonal accelerator, and an ion mirror assembly. The ion source is capable of generating a beam of ions, and is arranged to accelerate the ions in a first direction along a first axis. The orthogonal accelerator is arranged to accelerate the ions in a second direction along a second axis. The second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. The ion mirror assembly includes a plurality of gridless planar mirrors and a plurality of electrodes. The plurality of electrodes are arranged to provide time-focusing of ions along a third axis substantially independent of ion energy and ion position.
G01N 27/62 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating the ionisation of gases, e.g. aerosolsInvestigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating electric discharges, e.g. emission of cathode
A platen for a metallographic grinder has an outer peripheral rim with an upper surface having a lower height. Also, fingers engaging a specimen are allowed to move laterally (i.e., wobble) to minimize the tipping forces on the specimen during the grinding process. Either one or both of these structures can be employed and results in a much flatter specimen surface for use in subsequent analysis.
B24B 41/06 - Work supports, e.g. adjustable steadies
B24B 37/10 - Lapping machines or devicesAccessories designed for working plane surfaces characterised by the movement of the work or lapping tool for single side lapping
B24B 37/30 - Work carriers for single side lapping of plane surfaces
Method and embodiments are provided for tandem mass spectrometer designed for extremely large charge throughput up to 1E+10 ion/sec. In one operation mode, the initial ion flow with wide m/z range is time separated in a trap array. The array ejects ions with a narrower momentarily m/z range. Ion flow is collected and confined in a wide bore ion channel at a limited time spread. The ion flow with narrow m/z range is then analyzed in a multi-reflecting TOF at frequent and time-encoded operation of the orthogonal accelerator, thus forming multiple non overlapping spectral segments. In another mode, time separated ions are subjected to fragmentation for comprehensive, all-mass MS-MS analysis. The momentarily ion flow at MR-TOF entrance is characterized by lower spectral population which allows efficient decoding of overlapping spectra. Those modes are combined with conventional spectrometer operation to improve the dynamic range. To provide practical solution, there are proposed multiple novel components comprising trap arrays, wide bore confining channels, resistive multipole, so as long life TOF detector.
A chromatography system includes a modulator, a chromatograph, a cooler, and a detector. The chromatograph is connected to the modulator by a first heated transfer line. The detector is connected to the modulator by a second heated transfer line. The cooler is connected to the modulator. The modulator is arranged outside of the chromatograph.
A method for processing chromatographic peaks in chromatographic systems comprising comparing a first peak with a second peak; and determining whether the first peak and second peak should be grouped together.
MASS ANALYSER HAVING EXTENDED FLIGHT PATH A time-of-flight or electrostatic trap mass analyzer is disclosed comprising: an ion flight region comprising a plurality of ion-optical elements (30-35) for guiding ions through the flight region in a deflection (x-y) plane. The ion-optical elements are arranged so as to define a plurality of identical ion-optical cells, wherein the ion-optical elements in each ion- optical cell are arranged and configured so as to generate electric fields for either focusing ions travelling in parallel at an ion entrance location of the cell to a point at an ion exit location of the cell, or for focusing ions diverging from a point at the ion entrance location to travel parallel at the ion exit location. Each ion-optical cell comprises a plurality of electrostatic sectors having different deflection radii for bending the flight path of the ions in the deflection (x-y) plane. The ion-optical elements in each cell are configured to generate electric fields that either (i) have mirror symmetry in the deflection plane about a line in the deflection plane that is perpendicular to a mean ion path through the cell at a point half way along the mean ion path through the cell, or (ii) have point symmetry in the deflection plane about a point in the deflection plane that is half way along the mean ion path through the cell. The ion-optical elements are arranged and configured such that, in the frame of reference of the ions, the ions are guided through the deflection plane in the ion-optical cells along mean flight paths that are of the same shape and length in each ion-optical cell.
An apparatus 41 and operation method are provided for an electrostatic trap mass spectrometer with measuring frequency of multiple isochronous ionic oscillations. For improving throughput and space charge capacity, the trap is substantially extended in one Z-direction forming a reproduced two-dimensional field. Multiple geometries are provided for trap Z-extension. The throughput of the analysis is improved by multiplexing electrostatic traps. The frequency analysis is accelerated by the shortening of ion packets and either by Wavelet-fit analysis of the image current signal or by using a time-of-flight detector for sampling a small portion of ions per oscillation. Multiple pulsed converters are suggested for optimal ion injection into electrostatic traps.
An apparatus 41 and operation method are provided for an electrostatic trap mass spectrometer with measuring frequency of multiple isochronous ionic oscillations. For improving throughput and space charge capacity, the trap is substantially extended in one Z-direction forming a reproduced two-dimensional field. Multiple geometries are provided for trap Z-extension. The throughput of the analysis is improved by multiplexing electrostatic traps. The frequency analysis is accelerated by the shortening of ion packets and either by Wavelet-fit analysis of the image current signal or by using a time-of-flight detector for sampling a small portion of ions per oscillation. Multiple pulsed converters are suggested for optimal ion injection into electrostatic traps.
An apparatus 41 and operation method are provided for an electrostatic trap mass spectrometer with measuring frequency of multiple isochronous ionic oscillations. For improving throughput and space charge capacity, the trap is substantially extended in one Z-direction forming a reproduced two-dimensional field. Multiple geometries are provided for trap Z-extension. The throughput of the analysis is improved by multiplexing electrostatic traps. The frequency analysis is accelerated by the shortening of ion packets and either by Wavelet-fit analysis of the image current signal or by using a time-of-flight detector for sampling a small portion of ions per oscillation. Multiple pulsed converters are suggested for optimal ion injection into electrostatic traps.
A multi-reflecting time-of-flight mass spectrometer comprises a pair of parallel aligned ion mirrors and a set of periodic lenses for confining ion packets along the drift z-direction. To compensate for time-of-flight spherical aberrations T|zz created by the periodic lenses, at least one set of electrodes are disposed within the apparatus, forming an accelerating or reflecting electrostatic fields which are curved in the z-direction in order to form local negative T|zz aberration. The structure may be formed within an accelerator, within flinging fields or intentionally and locally curved fields of ion mirrors, within electrostatic sector interface, or at curved surface of ion to electron converter at the detector.
A method of mass spectral analysis in an analytical electrostatic trap (14) is disclosed. The electrostatic trap (14) defines an electrostatic field volume and includes trap electrodes having static and non-ramped potentials. The method comprises injecting a continuous ion beam into the electrostatic field volume.
This disclosure relates a device for a chromatographic system, comprising: a chamber defining an internal portion, a capillary disposed within the chamber, the capillary having an input, an output, and an elongate body extending between the input and the output, a cold finger having a first portion in thermal contact with a portion of the elongate body to define a capillary trapping zone, wherein the first portion of the cold finger extends to a second portion that is situated external to the chamber, a heater in thermal contact with the trapping zone of the capillary and configured to transfer heat to the trapping zone, a thermal buffer configured to buffer the heat from the heater into the cold finger and thereby retain the heat within the trapping zone of the capillary, a cooling device arranged external to the chamber and thermally connected to the second portion of the cold finger to define a primary conduction zone, wherein the cooling device is configured to generate a cooling temperature zone at the primary conduction zone, a controller configured to selectively alternate the trapping zone between a cooling temperature by turning off the heat and using the cooling device together with its engagement with the cold finger, and an injection temperature using the heater, wherein the heater alternates between an off state and an on state and a user defined frequency.
A method of determining mass defect plots with user-defined mass scaling, filtering, and labeling in a mass spectrometer is described. An implementation of the method comprises, (i) generating a mass defect plot from the data, (ii) filtering all ions in the mass defect plot that do not have an associated isotopolgue ion, (iii) selecting an unidentified ion, (iv) determining an isotope pattern of the unidentified ion, (v) identifying one or more elements indicated by the isotope pattern for the unidentified ion; (vi) searching formulas containing one or more elements indicated by the isotope pattern for the unidentified ion, (vii) determining a chemical formula of the identified ion, and (viii) displaying the chemical formulas for the unidentified ion on a screen.
G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)
For improving sensitivity, dynamic range, and specificity of GC-MS analysis there are disclosed embodiments of novel apparatuses based on improved characteristics of semi-open source with electron impact ionization, providing much higher brightness compared to known open EI sources. In an implementation, the source becomes compatible with multi-reflecting TOF analyzers for higher resolution analysis for improving detection limit. With improved schemes of spatial and temporal refocusing there are proposed various tandem TOF-TOF spectrometers with PSD, CID, and SID fragmentation and using either singly reflecting TOF or MR-TOF analyzers.
H01J 49/06 - Electron- or ion-optical arrangements
H01J 9/00 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric discharge tubes, discharge lamps, or parts thereofRecovery of material from discharge tubes or lamps
01 - Chemical and biological materials for industrial, scientific and agricultural use
07 - Machines and machine tools
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Metallographic instrument supplies, namely, resin for use in metallographic sample preparations, polishing cloths, grinding abrasives, polishing, and mountable castable supplies. Machinery and parts for material characterization preparation, namely, grinders, polishers, mold presses, and cut-off saws. Components for mass spectrometers, namely, transfer lines, ionization sources, ion optical, vacuum interfaces, ion beam converters, mass analyzers for measuring ions according to mass, charge, mass/charge, ion mobility and shape, and ion detectors; components for mass spectrometers, namely, electrical components for the operation of mass spectrometers, collecting data, and transferring data for storage or processing by computers; components for mass spectrometers, namely, vacuum components, namely, vacuum pumps and vacuum gauges; components for mass spectrometers, namely, computer software for image analysis, hardness testing, inclusions analysis, computational analysis, data processing, and data reporting; components for mass spectrometers, namely, computers and software for signal acquisition and processing data from analytical instruments.
61.
IMPROVED ION MIRROR AND ION-OPTICAL LENS FOR IMAGING
An ion mirror is disclosed comprising an ion entrance electrode section (62) at the ion entrance to the ion mirror, an energy focussing electrode section (66) for reflecting ions back along a longitudinal axis towards said ion entrance, and a spatial focussing electrode section (64) arranged between the ion entrance electrode section (62) and the energy focussing electrode section (66) for spatially focussing the ions. One or more DC voltage supply is provided to apply a DC potential to the ion entrance electrode section (62) that is intermediate the DC potential applied to the spatial focussing electrode section (64) and the DC potential applied to the energy focussing electrode section (66). The ion mirror further comprises: (i) at least one first transition electrode (68) arranged between said ion entrance electrode section (62) and said spatial focussing electrode section (64), wherein said one or more DC voltage supply is configured to apply a DC potential to said at least one first transition electrode that is intermediate the DC potential applied to the ion entrance electrode section (62) and the DC potential applied to the spatial focussing electrode section (64); and (ii) at least one second transition electrode (69) arranged between said energy focussing electrode section (66) and said spatial focussing electrode section (64), wherein said one or more DC voltage supply is configured to apply a DC potential to said at least one second transition electrode (69) that is intermediate the DC potential applied to the spatial focussing electrode section (64) and the DC potential applied to the ion entrance electrode section (62).
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising ion optics that map an array of ions at an ion source array (71) to a corresponding array of positions on a position sensitive ion detector (79). The ion optics include at least one gridless ion mirror (76) for reflecting ions, which may compensate for various aberrations and allows the spectrometer to have relatively high mass and spatial resolutions.
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising: an ion deflector (305) configured to deflect ions to different positions in a first array of positions at different times; a position sensitive ion detector (187); and ion optics (180) arranged and configured to guide ions from the first array of positions to the position sensitive detector (187) so as to map ions from the first array of positions to a second array of positions on the position sensitive detector (187); wherein the ion optics includes at least one ion mirror for reflecting the ions.
An analytical instrument includes a data acquisition system that produces data. The analytical instrument includes a data compression system/process that utilizes a lossless data compression technique that can be implemented using minimal hardware and software resources. The process may be implemented in such a way that it can be split into many parallel operations. The process can be implemented utilizing software and/or processing devices such as Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) or Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).
H03M 7/30 - CompressionExpansionSuppression of unnecessary data, e.g. redundancy reduction
H04N 19/42 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals characterised by implementation details or hardware specially adapted for video compression or decompression, e.g. dedicated software implementation
67.
Method and apparatus for decoding multiplexed information in a chromatographic system
Implementations of methods and apparatuses are disclosed for decoding multiplexed information in a chromatographic system. Implementations may include the method of pulsing ions from an ion source through an analyzer according to a predetermined multiplexing scheme, each pulse including one or more ions corresponding to a sample, detecting a plurality of ion strikes at a detector, determining a data point for each ion strike, wherein each data point includes an intensity of a detected ion strike and a time of the detected ion strike, maintaining a multiplexed spectrum of the data points, the multiplexed spectrum including the data points, and demultiplexing the time shifted spectrum using the data points of the multiplexed spectrum.
An analytical instrument includes a data acquisition system that produces data. The analytical instrument includes a data compression system/process that utilizes a lossless data compression technique that can be implemented using minimal hardware and software resources. The process may be implemented in such a way that it can be split into many parallel operations. The process can be implemented utilizing software and/or processing devices such as Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) or Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).
Apparatuses and methods for time-of-flight mass spectrometry providing effective pulsed conversion of continuous ion beams into pulsed ion packets is disclosed. Bunching of energetic continuous ion beams forms ion packets, which are filtered by a subsequent isochronous energy filter. The bunching method is particularly suitable for ion sources with relatively large spatial emittance, otherwise unable to fir the acceptance of orthogonal accelerators. The method is particularly suitable for multi-reflecting TOF MS, which accommodates small size ion packets and where the duty cycle advantage of orthogonal accelerators is minor.
There is proposed a right angle time-of-flight detector comprising a conductive converter for emitting and accelerating secondary electrons, a magnetic field formed by at least one magnet for deflecting the secondary electrons at a right angle and a sealed photo-multiplier. The detector is expected to provide an extended resource and dynamic range and may be fit into tight assemblies, such as MR-TOF MS.
A method of targeted mass spectrometric analysis is provided for analyzing trace compounds at sub-ppb level compared to sample matrix. Sample is chromatographically separated at standard conditions to employ a map of target mass (M) versus retention time (RT). Small mass ions under M(RT) are rejected by RF field, and remaining ions are accumulated for pulsed injection into a multi-reflecting TOF MS, either directly from EI source, or from linear RF trap or via a heated RF only quadrupole with axial ion trapping. In combination with EI source the method provides sub femtogram sensitivity at matrices loads in microgram range.
A multi-reflecting, time-of-flight (MR-TOF) mass spectrometer including two quasi-planar electrostatic ion mirrors extended along drill direction (Z) and formed of parallel electrodes, separated by a field free region. The MR-TOF includes a pulsed ion source to release ion packets at a small angle to X-direction which is orthogonal to the drill direction Z. Ion packets are reflected between ion mirrors and drill along the drift direction. The mirrors are arranged to provide time-of-flight focusing ion packets on the receiver. The MR-TOF mirrors provide spatial focusing M the Y-direction orthogonal to both drift direction Z and on injection direction X. In a preferred embodiment, at least one mirror has a feature providing periodic spatial focusing of ion packets in the drift Z-direction.
A method, apparatus and algorithms are disclosed for operating an open electrostatic trap (E-trap) or a multi-pass TOF mass spectrometer with an extended flight path. A string of start pulses with non equal time intervals is employed for triggering ion packet injection into the analyzer, a long spectrum is acquired to accept ions from the entire string and a true spectrum is reconstructed by eliminating or accounting overlapping signals at the data analysis stage while using logical analysis of peak groups. The method is particularly useful for tandem mass spectrometry wherein spectra are sparse. The method improves the duty cycle, the dynamic range and the space charge throughput of the analyzer and of the detector, so as the response time of the E-trap analyzer. It allows flight extension without degrading E-trap sensitivity.
A method of time-of-flight mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising: providing two ion mirrors (42) that are spaced apart in a first dimension (X-dimension) and that are each elongated in a second dimension (Z-dimension) orthogonal to the first dimension; introducing packets of ions (47) into the space between the mirrors using an ion introduction mechanism (43) such that the ions repeatedly oscillate in the first dimension (X-dimension) between the mirrors (42) as they drift through said space in the second dimension (Z-dimension); oscillating the ions in a third dimension (Y-dimension) orthogonal to both the first and second dimensions as the ions drift through said space in the second dimension (Z-dimension); and receiving the ions in or on an ion receiving mechanism (44) after the ions have oscillated multiple times in the first dimension (X-dimension); wherein at least part of the ion introduction mechanism (43) and/or at least part of the ion receiving mechanism (44) is arranged between the mirrors (42).
An open electrostatic trap mass spectrometer is disclosed for operation with wide and diverging ion packets. Signal on detector is composed of signals corresponding to multiplicity of ion cycles, called multiplets. Using reproducible distribution of relative intensity within multiplets, the signal can be unscrambled for relatively sparse spectra, such as spectra past fragmentation cell of tandem mass spectrometer, past ion mobility and differential ion mobility separators. Various embodiments are provided for particular pulsed ion sources and pulsed converters such as orthogonal accelerators, ion guides, and ion traps. The method and apparatus enhance the duty cycle of pulsed converters, improve space charge tolerance of the open trap analyzer and extends the dynamic range of time-of-flight detectors.
Method and embodiments are provided for tandem mass spectrometer designed for extremely large charge throughput up to 1E+10 ion/sec. In one operation mode, the initial ion flow with wide m/z range is time separated in a trap array. The array ejects ions with a narrower momentarily m/z range. Ion flow is collected and confined in a wide bore ion channel at a limited time spread. The ion flow with narrow m/z range is then analyzed in a multi-reflecting TOF at frequent and time-encoded operation of the orthogonal accelerator, thus forming multiple non overlapping spectral segments. In another mode, time separated ions are subjected to fragmentation for comprehensive, all-mass MS-MS analysis. The momentarily ion flow at MR-TOF entrance is characterized by lower spectral population which allows efficient decoding of overlapping spectra. Those modes are combined with conventional spectrometer operation to improve the dynamic range. To provide practical solution, there are proposed multiple novel components comprising trap arrays, wide bore confining channels, resistive multipole, so as long life TOF detector.
A multi-reflecting time-of- flight mass spectrometer comprises a pair of parallel aligned ion mirrors and a set of periodic lenses for confining ion packets along the drift z-direction. To compensate for time-of- flight spherical aberrations TΙzz created by the periodic lenses, at least one set of electrodes are disposed within the apparatus, forming an accelerating or reflecting electrostatic fields which are curved in the z-direction in order to form local negative TΙzz aberration. The structure may be formed within an accelerator, within flinging fields or intentionally and locally curved fields of ion mirrors, within electrostatic sector interface, or at curved surface of ion to electron converter at the detector.
One aspect of the disclosure provides a method of mass spectrometric analysis that includes producing either glow discharge within a noble gas between 3-100 mBar pressure, sampling and conditioning glow discharge products within a gas flow through a conductive channel (55), removing charged particles while transferring excited Ridberg atoms, and mixing conditioned discharge products with analyte flow within an enclosed chamber at elevated temperatures above 150° Celsius for producing a Penning reaction between analyte molecules and Ridberg atoms. The method further includes sampling, by a gas flow, said analyte ions for mass spectrometric analysis, and at least one of the following steps: (i) removing charge within said conditioning channel (55); (ii) coaxially mixing of analyte flow with the flow of conditioned plasma; and (iii) cooling of the mixed flow within a sonic or supersonic jet for reducing the region of Penning ionization to cold jet.
G01N 27/62 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating the ionisation of gases, e.g. aerosolsInvestigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating electric discharges, e.g. emission of cathode
G01N 27/64 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating the ionisation of gases, e.g. aerosolsInvestigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating electric discharges, e.g. emission of cathode using wave or particle radiation to ionise a gas, e.g. in an ionisation chamber
H01J 49/26 - Mass spectrometers or separator tubes
H01J 49/04 - Arrangements for introducing or extracting samples to be analysed, e.g. vacuum locksArrangements for external adjustment of electron- or ion-optical components
H01J 49/06 - Electron- or ion-optical arrangements
To improve spatial and energy acceptance of multi-reflecting time-of-flight, open traps, and electrostatic trap analyzers, a novel ion mirror is disclosed. Incorporation of immersion lens between ion mirrors allows reaching the fifth order time per energy focusing simultaneously with the third order time per spatial focusing including energy-spatial cross terms. Preferably the analyzer has hollow cylindrical geometry for extended flight path. The time-of-flight analyzer preferably incorporates spatially modulated ion mirror field for isochronous ion focusing in the tangential direction.
A method of data independent MS-MS analysis is disclosed. The method comprises ramping or stepping in small steps of a wide (at least 10 amu) parent mass window in a first parent selecting mass spectrometer (MS1), arranging rapid ion transfer through a collisional cell, either by axial gas flow or by an axial DC field or by a travelling RF wave, frequently pulsing an orthogonal accelerator with a string of time-encoded pulses, analyzing fragment ions in a multi-reflecting time-flight mass spectrometer, acquiring data in a data logging format, and decoding signal strings corresponding to the entire scan of parent masses, such that fragment spectra are formed based on time correlation between fragment and parent masses. Frequent pulsing is expected to recover parent and fragment time correlation with an accuracy of approximately 1 Th, in spite of using much wider mass window in the first MS.
An ion trap mass spectrometer including an ion trap analyzer, an ion packet injector, and an ion detector is disclosed, along with a method of mass spectrometry. The ion packet injector injects packets of ions into a field of the ion trap analyzer. The ion packets move along isochronous oscillations according to their mass-to-charge ration. The ion detector may be implemented as a novel image current detector, a novel time-of-flight detector, or a combination of the two. The novel image current detector may comprise segments along an X-axis or a Z-axis of the mass spectrometer. The novel time-of-flight detector may sample a portion of ions of the ion packet per each isochronous oscillation.
An electrostatic mass spectrometer and a method of mass spectrometric analysis utilizing novel traps are disclosed. The mass spectrometer includes an ion source, an ion pulse injector, an ion detector, a set of analyzer electrodes connected to a set of power supplies, and a vacuum chamber enclosing the set of analyzer electrodes. The analyzer electrodes have multiple sets of elongated slits forming an array of elongated volumes. Each elongated volume is formed by a single set of slits aligned between the electrodes, and each volume forms a two-dimensional electrostatic field in an X-Y plane and is extended in a locally orthogonal Z-direction. Each two-dimensional field is arranged to trap moving ions in the X-Y plane and to enable isochronous ion motion along a mean ion trajectory within the X-Y plane.
A mass spectrometer including an ion source, an ion guide, a pulsed converter, and an electrostatic analyzer is disclosed, along with a method of mass spectrometry and an ion injector. The ion source generates ions, such as ions within a continuous or a quasi-continuous ion beam. The ion guide receives a portion of the ions generated by the ion source. The pulsed converter, which receives ions from the ion guide, includes at least one electrode connected to a RF signal. The pulsed converter may include a means for ejecting the ions in the form of ion packets. The electrostatic analyzer forms a two-dimensional electrostatic field in an X-Y plane. The electrostatic field is substantially extended in a Z-direction that is locally orthogonal to the X-Y plane and may be curved or linear. Ions undergo isochronous ion oscillations in the electrostatic field. The pulsed converter and electrostatic analyzer are Z-directionally elongated.
An electrostatic analyzer including at least one first set of electrodes, at least one second set of electrodes, and a field free space separating the two sets of electrodes is disclosed. The two sets of electrodes form two-dimensional electrostatic fields of ion mirrors and are arranged to provide isochronous ion oscillations in an x-y plane. Both sets of electrodes are curves at a constant curvature radius R along a third locally orthogonal Z-direction to form a torroidal field region. A related method is also disclosed.
A novel MS-MS apparatus utilizing electrostatic traps is disclosed, along with an associated method of analysis. The apparatus may include a chromatograph, an ion source, a first mass spectrometer, a fragmentation cell, an ion guide, a pulsed converter, and a Z-directional elongated electrostatic trap. The electrostatic trap, which may be Z-elongated into a cylindrical electrostatic trap, includes at least one of an image current detector and a time-of-flight detector. The pulsed converter is Z-directionally elongated to match the electrostatic trap. Ion selection from electrostatic traps may be accomplished with an electrode that ejects ion from an oscillation space to a time-of-flight detector, a fragmentation surface, or a passage between E-trap regions.
Implementations of methods and apparatuses are disclosed for decoding multiplexed information in a chromatographic system. Implementations may include the method of pulsing ions from an ion source through an analyzer according to a predetermined multiplexing scheme, each pulse including one or more ions corresponding to a sample, detecting a plurality of ion strikes at a detector, determining a data point for each ion strike, wherein each data point includes an intensity of a detected ion strike and a time of the detected ion strike, maintaining a multiplexed spectrum of the data points, the multiplexed spectrum including the data points, and demultiplexing the time shifted spectrum using the data points of the multiplexed spectrum.
Apparatuses (41, 91, 111, 115, 121, 151) and methods (31) for time-of-flight mass spectrometry providing effective pulsed conversion of continuous ion beams into pulsed ion packets is disclosed. Bunching of energetic continuous ion beams forms ion packets, which are filtered by a subsequent isochronous energy filter (49, 79, 81-84, 110). The bunching method is particularly suitable for ion sources with relatively large spatial emittance, otherwise unable to fir the acceptance of orthogonal accelerators. The method is particularly suitable for multi-reflecting TOF MS, which accommodates small size ion packets and where the duty cycle advantage of orthogonal accelerators is minor.
For improving sensitivity, dynamic range, and specificity of GC-MS analysis there are disclosed embodiments of novel apparatuses based on improved characteristics of semi-open source with electron impact ionization, providing much higher brightness compared to known open EI sources. In an implementation, the source becomes compatible with multi-reflecting TOF analyzers for higher resolution analysis for improving detection limit. With improved schemes of spatial and temporal refocusing there are proposed various tandem TOF-TOF spectrometers with PSD, CID, and SID fragmentation and using either singly reflecting TOF or MR-TOF analyzers.
G01N 30/88 - Integrated analysis systems specially adapted therefor, not covered by a single one of groups
G01N 27/62 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating the ionisation of gases, e.g. aerosolsInvestigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating electric discharges, e.g. emission of cathode
92.
RIGHT ANGLE TIME-OF-FLIGHT DETECTOR WITH AN EXTENDED LIFE TIME
There is proposed a right angle time-of-flight detector (41, 117, 124, 143, 144, 145) comprising a conductive converter (46) for emitting and accelerating secondary electrons, a magnetic field formed by at least one magnet (47) for deflecting the secondary electrons at a right angle and a sealed photo-multiplier (26). The detector is expected to provide an extended resource and dynamic range and may be fit into tight assemblies, such as MR-TOF MS.
A method of targeted mass spectrometric analysis is provided for analyzing trace compounds at sub-ppb level compared to the sample matrix. The sample is chromatographically separated at standard conditions to employ a map of target mass (M) versus retention time (RT). Small mass ions under M(RT) are rejected by a radio-frequency field (mass filter), and the remaining ions are accumulated for pulsed injection into a multi-reflecting TOF MS, either directly from the electron impact ionisation source, or from a linear RF trap or via a heated RF only quadrupole with axial ion trapping. In combination with the electron impact ionisation source, the method provides sub femtogram sensitivity at matrix loads in the microgram range.
A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving resolution and duty-cycle of a multi-reflecting TOF mass spectrometer (MR-TOF) by arranging a cylindrical analyzer having an appropriate radial deflection means, means for limiting ion divergence in the tangential direction and a pulsed source providing ion packet divergence of less than 1 mm*deg. There are disclosed embodiments for fifth-order focusing cylindrical ion minors. Separate embodiments provide parallel tandem MS-MS within a single cylindrical MR-TOF.
A data acquisition system and method are described that may be used with various spectrometers. The data acquisition system may include an ion detector, an initial processing module, and a spectra processing module. The initial processing module is provided for processing the ion detection signals and for supplying processed signals to the spectra processing module. The spectra processing module generates spectra from the processed signals and supplies the generated spectra to an external processor for post-processing. The spectra processing module may include an ion statistics filter and/or a peak histogram filtering circuit.
A combustion tube comprises a generally cylindrical body with an outwardly extending tube stop spaced from one end of the combustion tube for engaging a combustion tube mounting assembly and fixing the tube in a precise position. Near the opposite end of the tube is an enlarged opening for receiving an upper seal assembly of a combustion furnace with the outer annular shoulder of the upper end of the tube having a rolled edge to facilitate the insertion of the tube through the seal in the upper seal assembly of the furnace. The combustion tube is made of quartz glass to withstand the temperatures encountered in the furnace. The combustion tube is specifically designed and adapted to be precisely positioned in an induction furnace with an easy tube removal system for the furnace.
G01N 31/12 - Investigating or analysing non-biological materials by the use of the chemical methods specified in the subgroupsApparatus specially adapted for such methods using combustion
G01N 25/24 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of thermal means by investigating the development of heat, i.e. calorimetry, e.g. by measuring specific heat, by measuring thermal conductivity on combustion or catalytic oxidation, e.g. of components of gas mixtures using combustion tubes, e.g. for microanalysis
A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving ion mobility spectrometry by using a fast and spatially wide ion gate based on local RF field barrier opposed to a switching DC field. Alternatively, the speed and charge throughput of ion mobility separator are improved by arranging coaxial mobility cell followed by conical coaxial ion channel. The improvement accelerates the ion mobility analysis and improves charge throughput and dynamic range of the IMS. The invention is particularly suited for rapid dual gas chromatography, fast CE. Preferably, the accelerated and wide bore IMS is coupled to a multi-reflecting time-of-flight mass spectrometer with a fast encoded orthogonal acceleration. Speed and sensitivity of IMS with fast pulsing MR-TOF make it practical to arrange analytical methods of comprehensive and orthogonal separation in multiple analytical dimensions.
H01J 49/00 - Particle spectrometers or separator tubes
G01N 27/62 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating the ionisation of gases, e.g. aerosolsInvestigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating electric discharges, e.g. emission of cathode
H01J 49/06 - Electron- or ion-optical arrangements
An electrode for a resistance analytical furnace has a central opening including a crucible-engaging surface and an annular flange spaced from the crucible-engaging surface. The flange has a lower surface with a plurality of grooves formed therein. The grooves are curved and extend from the central opening of the edge of the flange.
F27B 14/00 - Crucible or pot furnacesTank furnaces
H05B 3/62 - Heating elements specially adapted for furnaces
G01N 31/12 - Investigating or analysing non-biological materials by the use of the chemical methods specified in the subgroupsApparatus specially adapted for such methods using combustion
F27B 17/02 - Furnaces of a kind not covered by any of groups specially designed for laboratory use
99.
Tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry with non-uniform sampling
A method and apparatus are disclosed for parallel all-mass tandem mass spectrometry employing multi-reflecting time-of-flight analyzer for both MS stages, preferably arranged within the same analyzer to secure ultra-high resolution. Sensitivity and speed of TOF-TOF tandem are enhanced by non-redundant multiplexing based on signal sparseness and on avoiding repetitive signal overlaps at multiple repetitions of true fragment signals. Non-redundant matrices of gate and delay timing are constructed by extending orthogonal Latin square matrices. The method is generalized for multiplexing of any multiple repetitive signal sources being sparse either spectrally, or spatially, or in time.
2. A portion of carrier gas may be pumped down before admitting the sample and carrier gas into the source. A cooled surface may be used to condense fumes at the analysis time.
