77results about "Combination tandem in time" patented technology

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

This invention relates to a method of operating a charged particle trap in which ions undergo multiple reflections back and forth and / or follow a closed orbit around, usually, a set of electrodes. The invention allows high-performance isolation of multiple ion species for subsequent detection or fragmentation by deflecting ions out of the ion trap according to a timing scheme calculated with reference to the ions' periods of oscillation within the ion trap.

A method and apparatus for tandem mass spectrometry is disclosed. Precursor ions are fragmented and the fragments are accumulated in parallel, by converting an incoming stream of ions from an ion source (10) into a time separated sequence of multiple precursor ions which are then assigned to their own particular channel of a multi compartment collision cell (40). In this manner, precursor ion species, being allocated to their own dedicated fragmentation cell chambers (41, 42 . . . 43) within the fragmentation cell (40), can then be captured and fragmented by that dedicated fragmentation chamber at optimum energy and / or fragmentation conditions.

A tandem mass spectrometer and method are described. Precursor ions are generated in an ion source (10) and an ion injector (21, 23) injects ions towards a downstream ion guide (50, 60) via a single or multi reflection TOF device (30) that separates ions into packets in accordance with their m / z. A single pass ion gate (40) in the path of the precursor ions between the ion injector (21, 23) and the ion guide (50, 60) is controlled so that only a subset of precursor ion packets, containing precursor ions of interest, is allowed onward transmission to the ion guide (50, 60). A high resolution mass spectrometer (70) is provided for analysis of those ions, or their fragments, which have been allowed passage through the ion gate (40). The technique permits multiple m / z ranges to be selected from a wise mass range of precursors, with optional fragmentation of one or more of the chosen ion species.

A mass spectrometer includes at least one ion selector, at least one collision cell, and an ion path switching device arranged to define a looped ion path around which ions derived from a sample may be sent multiple times (without reversal of ion travel) in order to effect a desired number of isolation / fragmentation cycles for MSn analysis. When the desired number of isolation / fragmentation cycles have been completed, the ion path switching device directs the ions to a detector or a separate mass analyzer for acquisition of a mass spectrum.

The analyst previously enters the mass of a fragment that desorbs in the first dissociation with other analysis conditions, as the precursor ion selection reference for the second dissociation through the input unit 25. When the automatic analysis is started, the controller unit 21 sequentially performs the MS1 analysis, MS2 analysis and MS3 analysis. In the course of these analyses, the data processing unit 23 determines the valence of each ion species corresponding to the peaks appearing in the mass spectrum obtained by the MS1 analysis. In addition, after the MS2 analysis, the data processing unit 23 searches for the ion species in conformity with the selection reference in consideration of the determined valence, among the ion species corresponding to the peaks appearing in the mass spectrum by the MS2 analysis. The selected ion is determined as the precursor ion for the second dissociation in the MS3 analysis. In this manner, regardless of the valence of the target ion, the precursor ions to be selected and dissociated in each stage of the MSn analysis are automatically selected according to the mass of the fragment desorbed in the dissociation in the previous stage. Therefore, the analytical efficiency is improved and the highly accurate chemical structure information can be obtained.