Shimadzu Corporation

Osaka University

Inter-university Research Institute Corporation National Institutes of Natural Sciences

Shimdaszu Corporation

Yoshikazu Yoshida

Shigeki Kajihara

Sadamu Tomita

Naokazu Yamaki

Kiyoshi Ogawa

Mitsutoshi Setou

Shuichi Shimma

Osamu Furuhashi

Takahiro Harada

Michisato Toyoda

Masaaki Ukita

Sadao Takeuchi

Kozo Shimazu

In a mass spectrometer for carrying out mass analysis while microscopically observing a two-dimensional area of a sample, the observation position for selecting a target portion while observing an image of the samplecaptured with a CCD camerais separated from the analysis position for carrying out the mass analysis of the sampleby delivering laser light from the laser-delivering unitonto the sample. The sampleis placed on a stage, which can be precisely moved between the observation position and the analysis position by a stage-driving mechanism. An observation optical systemcan be set close to the sampleat the observation position, without impeding the flight of the ions generated from the sampleduring the analysis or interfering with a laser-condensing optical system. Thus, the spatial resolution for observation is improved without deteriorating the ion-detecting efficiency.

Mass spectrometer

The present invention provides a laser irradiation mass spectrometer capable of analyzing components of living tissue or living cells with high accuracy. It includes a laser unit for irradiating a sample with a beam of laser light and controlling the irradiation spot of the laser beam on the sample; and a mass analyzer for performing a mass analysis of the ions generated at the irradiation spot, where the mass analyzer uses a frequency-driven ion trap and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer to carry out the mass analysis. The ion trap of this system assuredly traps ions having large mass to charge ratios, and enables the system to carry out analyses on samples of large molecules. Preferably, a digital driving method is used to drive the aforementioned frequency-driven ion trap. Also, a multi-turn time-of-flight mass spectrometer may preferably be used as the aforementioned time-of-flight mass spectrometer.

Laser irradiation mass spectrometer

One or more metal targets are formed on a base member patterning technique such as a masking process. The metal targets may be irradiated by an electron beam to generate X-rays.

X-ray generator

A method and apparatus for deducing physical quantities such as positions, sizes and orientations of bioelectric current sources. Minute magnetic fields formed by the bioelectric current sources in a region under examination of an examinee are measured with a plurality of magnetic sensors arranged adjacent the region under examination. A plurality of lattice points are set in the region under examination. Physical quantities of the current sources are derived by solving a relational expression of unknown current sources at the lattice points and field data provided by the magnetic sensors, with a condition added thereto to minimize a norm of a vector having the current source at each of the lattice points. The lattice points are moved toward a lattice point having a large current value among the current sources computed. Checking is made whether a minimum distance among the lattice points having been moved is below a predetermined value. The current source computing step to the checking step are repeated for the lattice points having been removed, when the minimum distance exceeds the predetermined value, and the current source corresponding to a magnetic field occurring when the minimum distance is determined to be below the predetermined value is identified to be a true current source.

Method and apparatus for deducing bioelectric current sources

A method and apparatus for deducing physical quantities such as positions, sizes and orientations of bioelectric current sources. Minute magnetic fields formed by the bioelectric current sources in a region under examination of an examinee are measured with a plurality of magnetic sensors arranged adjacent the region under examination. A plurality of lattice points are set in the region under examination. Physical quantities of the current sources are derived by solving a relational expression of unknown current sources at the lattice points and field data provided by the magnetic sensors, with a condition added thereto to minimize a norm of a vector having the current source at each of the lattice points. The lattice points are moved toward a lattice point having a large current value among the current sources computed. Checking is made whether a minimum distance among the lattice points having been moved is below a predetermimed value. The current source computing step to the checking step are repeated for the lattice points having been removed, when the minimum distance exceeds the predetermined value, and the current source corresponding to a magnetic field occurring when the minimum distance is determined to be below the predetermined value is identified to be a true current source.

A time of flight mass spectrometer comprising the analyzer tube having a plurality of ring-like electrodes on the same axis in which a voltage as a force in an inverse proportion to the distance is given to ions applied.

Growing community of inventors

Tsuzuki-gun, Japan

Yoshikazu Yoshida