Virgin Instruments Corporation

Perseptive Biosystems Inc.

Mds Inc.

Applera Corporation

Vestec Corporation

Other

Research, Incorporated

Dh Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.

Research Corporation Technologies, Inc.

Hitachi-High-Technologies Corporation

Life Technologies Corporation

Applied Biosystems, LLC

Marvin L Vestal

Kevin Hayden

Peter Juhasz

Philip J Savickas

Gordon J Fergusson

Stephen C Gabeler

Jennifer M Campbell

Anatoli Verentchikov

Xunming Chen

Calvin R Blakely

Calvin R Blakley

Yuichiro Hashimoto

Izumi Waki

Kiyomi Yoshinari

Yasushi Terui

Tsukasa Shishika

Timothy E Hutchins

Igor P Smirnov

Mark Allen

Xiangping Zhu

Kevin M Hayden

Sicheng Li

Anatoli N Verentchikov

An apparatus for monitoring a surgical procedure includes a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer comprising a load lock, an ionization chamber, and an ion detector. A first video camera produces an optical image of an operating field of the surgical procedure. A sample extracting device extracts the tissue sample at the location within the optical image of the operating field. A sample preparation system prepares MALID-TOF samples by depositing an extract of the extracted tissue sample on a sample plate together with a MALDI matrix. A sample plate loading mechanism loads the sample plate into the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer. A second video camera produces an optical image of the sample plate and records a location of the extracted tissue sample. A computer records the images from first and second video cameras, correlates the location of the tissue sample in the operating field with the location of the tissue sample on the sample plate, acquires mass spectra data from the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer, and compares the mass spectrum data to known mass spectrum data.

Method and apparatus for surgical monitoring using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

A MALDI ion source for tandem mass spectrometers includes a pulsed energy source that generates a pulse of ions from a sample on a sample plate. An ion accelerator includes an input that receives the pulse of ions from the pulsed energy source and generates an electric field that accelerates the pulse of ions. An ion decelerator that generates an electric field that is a mirror image of the electric field generated by the ion accelerator that accelerates the pulse of ions so that the ion decelerator decelerates the accelerated pulse of ions and transmits the decelerated pulse of ions through an exit aperture.

Method and apparatus for tandem mass spectrometry with MALDI-TOF ion source

An apparatus for ligand binding assays includes an incubator that incubates a plurality of beads with a sample of interest wherein each of the plurality of beads comprises a tag of predetermined mass and a bait molecule. A washer washes the incubated beads so that weakly bound molecules are removed while strongly bound molecules are retained. A sample plate loader loads the washed beads into the sample plate such that respective ones of the plurality of beads are loaded into respective ones of the plurality of well. A sprayer deposits matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) matrix material on the surface of the sample plate so that each of the plurality of beads is exposed to MALDI matrix material. A MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer receives the sample plate and performs mass spectrometry on samples in the plurality of wells. A computer executes an algorithm that analyzes the mass spectra.

Ligand binding assays using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

An apparatus for molecular imaging of biological samples includes a first optical port configured to receive a first pulsed optical beam that is directed in an optical path along an optical axis. A transparent target that include a first surface having an electrically conductive surface that supports a biological sample under analysis and a second surface is positioned in the optical path along the optical axis. A moveable target mount is configured to translate the transparent target to a plurality of predetermined locations. A first optical focusing element is configured to focus the first pulsed optical beam to a first predetermined diameter at the first surface of the transparent target. A second optical port is configured to receive a second pulsed optical beam that is directed in a second optical path along the optical axis. A second optical focusing element is configured to focus the second pulsed optical beam to a second predetermined diameter at the electrically conductive surface on the transparent target. A TOF mass spectrometer comprising an ion accelerator having a central axis that is substantially coaxial with the optic axis so that ions generated by the first and second pulsed optical beams are accelerated by the ion accelerator. A controller instructs the TOF mass spectrometer to acquire mass spectral data at the plurality of predetermined locations, thereby generating a molecular image of the biological sample under analysis.

Molecular imaging of biological samples with sub-cellular spatial resolution and high sensitivity

A mass spectrometer system for analysis of clinical samples includes a source of clinical samples. A controller receives the clinical samples from the source of clinical samples. A sample preparation system receives clinical sample from the controller and processes the samples to produce an extract suitable for analysis by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and deposits the extract on a sample plate together with a MALDI matrix. A sample plate loading mechanism transports sample plates from the sample preparation system into an evacuated ion source of a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer. A MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer ionizes and analyzes samples on the sample plate and generates a mass spectrum of components in the clinical samples. A computer system receives data from the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer and processes and interprets the data to generate a mass spectrum.

Mass spectrometry method and apparatus for clinical diagnostic applications

An ion accelerator for a time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes a pulsed ion accelerator positioned proximate to a sample plate and having an electrode that is electrically connected to the sample plate. An accelerator power supply generates an accelerating potential on the ion accelerator electrode that accelerates a pulse of ions generated from the sample positioned on the sample plate. An ion focusing electrode is positioned after the pulsed ion accelerator. A potential applied to the ion focusing electrode focuses the pulse of ions into a substantially parallel beam propagating in an ion flight path. A static ion accelerator is positioned proximate to the ion focusing electrode with an input that receives the pulse of ions focused by the ion focusing electrode. The static ion accelerator accelerating the focused pulse of ions.

Ion optical system for MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer

A sample plate handling system for a time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes a transport chamber and a mass spectrometer chamber that is mechanically coupled to transport chamber. A vacuum chamber is coupled through a bypass valve to the transport chamber. A two-dimensional translation stage is positioned in the mass spectrometer chamber. A sample plate transporter is mounted on the two-dimensional translation stage. A first portion of the sample plate transporter is mechanically attached to the two-dimensional translation stage. A second portion of the sample plate transporter defines a sample plate receiver that is positioned in the transport chamber. A sealing orifice located between the first and the second portions connects the transport chamber and the mass spectrometer chamber. A motion of the two-dimensional translation stage in one direction aligns the sample plate transporter with the sealing orifice and a motion of the two-dimensional translation stage in the other direction moves the sealing surface of the sample plate transporter to engage the sealing orifice, thereby preventing gas flow between the mass spectrometer chamber and the transport chamber.

Method and apparatus for transporting samples in a mass spectrometer

A sample plate handling system for a time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes a transport chamber and a mass spectrometer chamber that is mechanically coupled to transport chamber. A two-dimensional translation stage is positioned in the mass spectrometer chamber. A sample plate transporter is mounted on the two-dimensional translation stage. A first portion of the sample plate transporter is mechanically attached to the two-dimensional translation stage. A second portion of the sample plate transporter defines a sample plate receiver that is positioned in the transport chamber. A sealing surface located between the first and the second portions connects the transport chamber and the mass spectrometer chamber. A motion of the two-dimensional translation stage in one direction aligns the sample plate transporter with the sealing orifice and a motion of the two-dimensional translation stage in the other direction moves the sealing surface of the sample plate transporter to engage the sealing orifice, thereby preventing gas flow between the mass spectrometer chamber and the transport chamber.

A sample plate handling system for a time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes a sample plate for supporting samples for analysis. A first sample plate receiver is positioned in a first chamber. First and second sample plate receivers are positioned in a second chamber. A first gate valve isolates the first and second chambers when closed and allows transfer of sample plates between the first sample plate receiver in the first chamber and one of the first and second sample plate receivers in the second chamber when the first gate valve is open. A first linear extender pushes a sample plate from the first sample plate receiver in the first chamber to the first sample plate receiver positioned in the second chamber, and then retracts a second sample plate from the second sample plate receiver positioned in the second chamber and transports the second sample plate to the first sample plate receiver in the first chamber. A first sample plate receiver is positioned in a third chamber. A second gate valve isolates the third chamber from the second chamber when closed and allows transfer of sample plates between the first sample plate receiver in the third chamber and one of the first and second sample plate receivers in the second chamber when the second gate valve is open. A second linear extender pushes a sample plate from the first sample plate receiver in the third chamber to the first sample plate receiver positioned in the second chamber, and then retracts the second sample plate from the second plate receiver positioned in the second chamber and transports it into the third chamber.

Method and apparatus for transporting sample plates between chambers of a mass spectrometer

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

Tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry with simultaneous space and velocity focusing

A time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes a sample plate that supports a sample for analysis. A pulsed ion source generates a pulse of ions from the sample positioned on the sample plate. An ion accelerator receives the pulse of ions generated by the pulsed ion source and accelerates the ions. An ion detector includes an input in a flight path of the accelerated ions emerging from the field-free drift space and an output that is electrically connected to the sample plate. The ion detector converts the detected ions into a pulse of electrons.

Time-of-flight mass spectrometer with ion source and ion detector electrically connected

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

Reflector time-of-flight mass spectrometry with simultaneous space and velocity focusing

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

Linear time-of-flight mass spectrometry with simultaneous space and velocity focusing

A tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes a first pulsed ion source that produces ions with a first mass and charge that directs the ions into a first stage of a tandem TOF mass spectrometer. In addition, a second pulsed ion source produces ions with a second mass and an opposite charge directs the ions into the first stage of the tandem TOF mass spectrometer. A field-free reaction region is positioned in the ion flight path so that ions from first and second pulsed ion source arrive at the entrance of the field-free reaction region substantially simultaneously in at least one of time and space. At least some of the ions from the first and second pulsed ion source are fragmented by ion-ion collision between positive and negative ions. A second stage of the tandem mass spectrometer separates fragment ions produced in the reaction region according to their mass-to-charge ratio.

Merged ion beam tandem TOF-TOF mass spectrometer

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

Growing community of inventors

Framingham, MA, United States of America

Marvin L Vestal