Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Harry F Prest

Charles William Russ, Iv

Bruce Douglas Quimby

Michael J Szelewski

Michael K Freed

Steven Michael Fischer

Paul C Goodley

Robert Lee, Jr

Mingda Wang

Patrick D Perkins

Jeffrey T Kernan

Christine A Miller

James Drewry Foote

Charles Russ

In a mass spectrometer or gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system, one or more different conditioning gases are added to condition or modify one or more surfaces or regions of the ion source. The conditioning gas(es) may be added directly into the ion source. The conditioning gas may be added off-line, when the mass spectrometer is not analyzing a sample.

In-situ conditioning in mass spectrometry systems

An ion source is configured for electron ionization and produces coaxial electron and ion beams. The ion source includes an ionization chamber along an axis, a magnet assembly configured for generating an axial magnetic field in the ionization chamber, an electron source, and a lens assembly configured for directing the ion beam out from the ionization chamber along the axis, reflecting the electron beam back toward the electron source, and transmitting higher energy ions out from the ion source while reflecting lower energy ions toward a lens element for neutralization.

Axial magnetic ion source and related ionization methods

In a mass spectrometer or gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system, a conditioning gas such as, for example, hydrogen is added to condition or clean one or more components or regions of the mass spectrometer such as the ion source. The conditioning gas may be added upstream of the mass spectrometer such as, for example, into a sample inlet or a chromatographic column, or may be added directly into the mass spectrometer. The conditioning gas may be added off-line, when the mass spectrometer is not analyzing a sample, or on-line during sample analysis. When added on-line, the conditioning gas may be mixed with a carrier gas such as, for example, helium. In another embodiment, the conditioning gas also serves as the carrier gas through the column; another gas such as, for example, helium may be added to the carrier gas stream.

In-situ conditioning in mass spectrometer systems

The invention provides a system apparatus and methods for fragmenting various molecules. In particular, the invention may be employed for fragmenting biomolecules like peptides to determine sequence information. The invention provides a mass spectrometry system for photo-activated collision induced dissociation. The mass spectrometry system or device includes an ion source for producing ions, a photon source adjacent to the ion source for photo-activating ions produced by the ion source, an electrical element adjacent to the photon source for creating an electric field for accelerating ions produced by the ion source and photo-activated by the photon source; wherein ions are produced by the ion source, photo-activated by the photon source and accelerated into a surface to cause dissociation of the activated ions; and a detector downstream from the ion source for detecting the collision induced and dissociated ions.

Photoactivated collision induced dissociation (PACID) (apparatus and method)

The present invention provides, inter alia, apparatuses and methods for ionizing samples that are in gaseous phase or can be vaporized/sublimated. The samples include samples to be analyzed and mass calibrants that serve as standards. In addition, the present invention also provides calibrant formulations that release mass calibrants in a slow, controlled manner.

Apparatuses, methods and compositions for ionization of samples and mass calibrants

The invention provides a GC mass spectrometry system, including a column for introducing a sample into the GC mass spectrometry system, a heating source for providing heat to the sample to be separated by the column, an ion source downstream from the heating source for ionizing the sample separated by the column, the ion source having a sensor for determining the temperature of the ion source, an interface coupled to the ion source sensor and the heating source wherein the interface provides a feedback loop between the ion source sensor and the heating source and the temperature of the ion source or the heating source can be tracked and altered during data acquisition. The invention also provides an apparatus for GC mass spectrometry, including a heating source for providing heat to a column for volatizing molecules to be separated by the column; an ion source downstream from the heating source for ionizing the sample separated by the column, the ion source having a sensor for determining the temperature of the ion source; and an interface for coupling the ion source sensor to the heating source wherein the interface provides a feedback loop between the sensor of the ion source and the heating source and the temperature of the ion source and the heating source can be altered during data acquisition. Methods of heating and volatilizing samples using the GC mass spectrometry system and apparatus are also disclosed.

GC mass spectrometry interface and method

Methods, systems and computer readable media for dynamically controlling a time period of ion detection by an ion detector of a mass spectrometer. A current resulting from conversion of an output of the detector is surveyed during the ion detection by the detector. The time period for the ion detection is terminated upon calculation of a statistically valid accumulation statistic, calculation indicating that satisfactory statistics cannot be achieved over the time period, relative to a predetermined statistical threshold, or elapsing of the entire time period having been preset.

Dynamic adjustment of ion monitoring periods

Methods are disclosed for enhancing the confidence index in detecting the presence and/or amount of an analyte suspected of being in a sample. In the method, a combination of at least two predetermined derivatives of the analyte is subjected to chromatographic separation. Then, the retention times of the derivatives as a result of the chromatographic separation are determined. The retention times are related to the presence of the analyte in the sample. Detecting a response from each of the derivatives enhances confirmation that the compound detected is the analyte in question further. The number and intensities of the responses is related to the presence and/or amount of the analyte in the sample.

Methods of enhancing confidence in assays for analytes

An apparatus and method for selectively concentrating an analyte on an apparatus by evaporating solvent from the analyte. Concentration is performed by heating or by flowing a gas stream over the analyte to evaporate solvent from the analyte. The invention also provides a method to be used in conjunction with the apparatus.

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Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America

Harry F Prest