Thermo Finnigan LLC

Jesse D Canterbury

Michael W Senko

Philip M Remes

John E P Syka

Chad R Weisbrod

Graeme C McAlister

John EP Syka

A method of performing mass spectrometry includes obtaining, based on a series of mass spectra of detected ions derived from components eluting from a chromatography column, a plurality of extracted ion chromatograms (XICs), each XIC comprising a plurality of detection points representing detected intensity for a distinct selected m/z as a function of time; detecting, based on the series of mass spectra, precursor ions of each distinct selected m/z of the plurality of XICs; and determining, for each XIC based on a set of detection points of the XIC, a predicted next detection point to be obtained based on a next mass spectrum to be acquired.

Systems and methods of ion population regulation in mass spectrometry

A mass spectrometer system, comprises: an ion source; a first and a second multipole apparatus; one or more ion gates or ion lenses between the first and second multipole apparatuses; at least one power supply configured to provide voltages to electrodes of the ion source, the mass analyzer, the first and second multipole apparatuses and the one or more ion gates or ion lenses; and a computer or electronic controller electrically coupled to the at least one power supply, wherein the computer or electronic controller comprises computer-readable instructions that are operable to cause the at least one power supply to supply voltages to the electrodes that cause transfer of ions from the first multipole apparatus to the second multipole apparatus, wherein a duration of a time allotted for completion of the transfer of the ions is dependent upon one or more properties of the ions being transferred.

Methods for transferring ions between trapping devices of variable internal pressure

A method comprises: obtaining, from a series of mass spectra including a most recent mass spectrum and a plurality of previously-acquired mass spectra, an elution profile comprising a plurality of detection points each representing intensity of ions accumulated over an accumulation time and detected by a detector as a function of time; classifying, based on a subset of detection points included in the plurality of detection points, a current signal state of the elution profile; and setting, for a next acquisition of a mass spectrum, the accumulation time based on the classified current signal state of the elution profile.

A method of performing mass spectrometry includes accessing a series of mass spectra of detected ions derived from components eluting from a chromatography column; obtaining, based on the series of mass spectra, an elution profile including a plurality of detection points representing intensity of at least a set of the detected ions as a function of time; and determining, based on a set of detection points included in the plurality of detection points, a predicted next detection point of the elution profile to be obtained based on a next mass spectrum to be acquired subsequent to acquisition of the series of mass spectra.

A mass spectrometry method comprises: introducing a first packet of ions into an electrostatic trap mass analyzer through a set of electrostatic lenses, wherein, during the introducing of the first packet, either the lenses are operated in a first mode of operation or an injection voltage of a first pre-determined magnitude is applied to an electrode of the mass analyzer; mass analyzing the first ion packet using the mass analyzer; introducing a second packet of ions into the mass analyzer through the set of lenses, wherein, during the introducing of the second packet, either the lenses are operated in a second mode of operation or an injection voltage of a second pre-determined magnitude is applied to the electrode of the mass analyzer; and mass analyzing the second packet of ions using the electrostatic trap mass analyzer.

Apparatus and methods for injecting ions into an electrostatic trap

A method of performing mass spectrometry includes accumulating, over an accumulation time, ions produced from components eluting from a chromatography column and transferring the accumulated ions to a mass analyzer. During an acquisition, a mass spectrum of detected ions derived from the transferred ions is acquired. An elution profile is obtained from a series of acquired mass spectra including the acquired mass spectrum and a plurality of previously-acquired mass spectra. The elution profile includes a plurality of detection points representing intensity of the detected ions as a function of time. A current signal state of the elution profile is classified based on a subset of detection points included in the plurality of detection points. The accumulation time for a next acquisition of a mass spectrum is set based on the classified current signal state of the elution profile.

A mass spectrometry method comprises: storing a first packet of ions within an ion storage apparatus; transferring the first ion packet into an electrostatic trap mass analyzer through a set of electrostatic lenses, wherein, during the transfer, either the lenses are operated in a first mode of operation or an injection voltage of a first pre-determined magnitude is applied to an electrode of the mass analyzer; mass analyzing the first ion packet using the mass analyzer; storing a second packet of ions within the ion storage apparatus; transferring the second ion packet into the mass analyzer through the set of lenses, wherein, during the transfer, either the lenses are operated in a second mode of operation or an injection voltage of a second pre-determined magnitude is applied to the electrode of the mass analyzer; and mass analyzing the second packet of ions using the electrostatic trap mass analyzer.

Apparatus and methods for performing charge detection mass spectrometry are disclosed. An analyte ion is injected into an electrostatic trap, which has electrodes shaped and arranged to establish a trapping field that causes the analyte ion to undergo harmonic motion along a longitudinal axis. A time-varying signal is generated by a detector representative of the harmonic motion. A data system processes the time-varying signal to derive the frequency of ion motion and the amplitude at the harmonic motion frequency, and determines the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of the ion based on the derived frequency and the charge from the derived amplitude. The product of the experimentally determined m/z and charge yields the mass of the analyte ion. The electrodes preferably include an elongated inner electrode surrounded by an outer electrode, forming an orbital or non-orbital electrostatic trap.

Apparatus and method for performing charge detection mass spectrometry

A method of operating a Fourier Transform (FT) mass analyzer, which has a plurality of selectable resolving power settings, includes storing an optimized voltage value in association with each one of the plurality of selectable resolving power settings. More particularly, the optimized voltage values for at least two of the selectable resolving power settings differ from one another. When a user selects one of the plurality of selectable resolving power settings, the optimized voltage value that is stored in association therewith is retrieved. At least one voltage setting of the FT mass analyzer is controlled, based on the retrieved optimized voltage value, and an analytical scan is performed at the selected one of the plurality of selectable resolving power settings for a population of ions within the FT mass analyzer.

Mass analyzer dynamic tuning for plural optimization criteria

A method of operating an electrostatic trapping mass analyzer, comprising: introducing a sample of ions into a trapping region of the mass analyzer, wherein a trapping field within the trapping region is such that the ions exhibit radial motion with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the trapping region while undergoing harmonic motion in a dimension defined by the central longitudinal axis, the frequency of harmonic motion of a particular ion being a function of its mass-to-charge ratio; superimposing a modulation field onto the trapping field within the trapping region, the modulation field acting to either increase or reduce the harmonic motion energies of the ions by an amount varying according to the frequency of harmonic motion; and acquiring a mass spectrum of the ions in the trapping region by measuring a signal representative of an image current induced by the harmonic motion of the ions.

Methods for operating electrostatic trap mass analyzers

A mass spectrometry system includes a laser source, a trapping volume, first and second beam deflectors, and a deflector controller. The first and second beam deflectors are arranged on a path from the laser source to the trapping volume. The first beam deflector is configured to oscillate in a first direction at a first frequency and the second beam deflector configured to oscillate in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction at a second frequency. The deflector controller is configured to scan a scanned area within the trapping volume with the laser by controlling the oscillation of the first and second beam deflectors to cause ions trapped within the trapping volume to fragment into fragment ions. The scanned area has a first dimension defined by the oscillation in first direction and a second dimension defined by the oscillation in the second direction.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Jesse D Canterbury