Abstract:
A method and system for the identification and/or characterisation of properties of a sample using mass spectrometry. The method involves producing a measured data set from a sample using a mass spectrometer, deconvoluting the measured data set by Bayesian inference to produce a family of plausible deconvoluted data sets, inferring an underlying deconvoluted data set from the family of plausible deconvoluted data sets and using the underlying deconvoluted data set to identify and/or characterise the sample.
Abstract:
A method of self-calibrating a mass spectrometer or mass spectral data is disclosed. At least some first observed mass to charge ratios are matched with or against a comprehensive reference set of possible or predicted elemental compositions having known precise mass to charge ratios. One or more calibration parameters of a calibration routine are then adjusted so as to optimise the match between one or more of the first observed mass to charge ratios and the corresponding known precise mass to charge ratios of one or more possible or predicted elemental compositions contained within the reference set.
Abstract:
There is provided a method of analysis of mass spectrometry data comprising obtaining raw experimental mass spectrometry data; performing a first deconvolution of the raw experimental mass spectrometry data using a deconvolution algorithm, a wide first input parameter set, and a wide first output parameter set to obtain a deconvolved output; obtaining discrete peak data from the deconvolved output; simulating raw data for a first peak of the discrete peak data to obtain reference simulated raw discrete data; simulating raw data for a second peak of the discrete peak data to obtain suspect simulated raw discrete data; and determining whether the second peak is likely an artefact or indicative of a mass by comparing the suspect simulated raw discrete data with the reference simulated raw discrete data.
Abstract:
An instrument for analysing ions is disclosed comprising: a first device (4) configured to onwardly transmit ions having a restricted range of physicochemical property values at any given time, and to change said range with time such that the first device (4) is capable of transmitting ions having different physicochemical property values at different times; and an ion mobility separator (6) arranged to receive ions transmitted by the first device (4); wherein the instrument is configured such that the time that any given ion enters the ion mobility separator (6) and begins to be separated from other ions is defined by its time of transmission by the first device.
Abstract:
A method is disclosed comprising: trapping ions in an ion trap (40); applying a first force on the ions within the ion trap in a first direction, said force having a magnitude that is dependent upon the value of a physicochemical property of the ions; applying a second force on these ions in the opposite direction so that the ions separate according to the physicochemical property value as a result of the first and second forces; and then pulsing or driving ions out of one or more regions of the ion trap.
Abstract:
A method of analysis using mass and/or ion mobility spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: using a first device to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of a first target of biological material; and el mass and/or ion mobility analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said aerosol, smoke, or vapour, or ions derived therefrom so as to obtain first spectrometric data. The method may use an ambient ionisation method.
Abstract:
A method of analysis using mass and/or ion mobility spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: using a first device to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of a first target of biological material; and mass and/or ion mobility analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said aerosol, smoke, or vapour, or ions derived therefrom so as to obtain first spectrometric data. The method may use an ambient ionisation method.
Abstract:
A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.
Abstract:
A method is disclosed comprising obtaining physical or other non-mass spectrometric data from one or more regions of a target using a probe. The physical or other non-mass spectrometric data may be used to determine one or more regions of interest of the target. An ambient ionisation ion source may then used to generate an aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of the target.
Abstract:
A method is disclosed comprising obtaining or acquiring chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data from one or more regions of a target using a chemical sensor. The chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data may be used to determine one or more regions of interest of the target. An ambient ionisation ion source may then be used to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of the target.