The invention relates to reducing harmonic signals in FT-ICR spectra. Since harmonic signals in quadrupolar 2ω-detection can be more abundant for the same ion motion in the ICR cell as compared to harmonic signals in classical dipolar 1ω-detection, they could hitherto not be reduced to satisfactory levels by any known method, such as gated deflection during ion introduction into, and correcting for an offset electric field axis in the ICR cell. The present disclosure foresees, in addition to other methods carried out for improving the measurement conditions as the case may be, performing the quadrupolar 2ω-detection at least twice, where the phase of the ion excitation radio frequency is turned by 180° in the second measurement. From the sum transient, a Fourier-transformed spectrum is derived. As a result, the broad band spectra of complex substance mixtures like crude oil become cleaner, and misinterpretations of false (harmonic) peaks are minimized.

A system for testing the chemical content of a plurality of plastic containers continuously moving along a test line. The system includes a detector maintained at a first vacuum level for sequentially receiving a sample of air from each of the plurality of plastic containers as they move along the test line and for detecting the chemical content of each of the samples. There is a conduit including a first end proximate the plurality of plastic containers and a second, remote end. There is a sensor module interfacing the conduit between its first end and the second ends. There is also a vacuum pump interconnected to the second end of the conduit to maintain the interior of the conduit at a second, lower vacuum level and to establish an airflow rate to sequentially withdraw and transport air samples from the plastic containers to the sensor module.

A system for testing the chemical content of a plurality of plastic containers continuously moving along a test line. The system includes a detector maintained at a first vacuum level for sequentially receiving a sample of air from each of the plurality of plastic containers as they move along the test line and for detecting the chemical content of each of the samples. There is a conduit including a first end proximate the plurality of plastic containers and a second, remote end. There is a sensor module interfacing the conduit between its first end and the second ends. There is also a vacuum pump interconnected to the second end of the conduit to maintain the interior of the conduit at a second, lower vacuum level and to establish an airflow rate to sequentially withdraw and transport air samples from the plastic containers to the sensor module.

A method is disclosed for predicting in advance whether a melanoma patient is likely to benefit from high dose IL2 therapy in treatment of the cancer. The method makes use of mass spectrometry data obtained from a blood-based sample of the patient and a computer configured as a classifier and making use of a reference set of mass spectral data obtained from a development set of blood-based samples from other melanoma patients. A variety of classifiers for making this prediction are disclosed, including a classifier developed from a set of blood-based samples obtained from melanoma patients treated with high dose IL2 as well as melanoma patients treated with an anti-PD-1 immunotherapy drug. The classifiers developed from anti-PD-1 and IL2 patient sample cohorts can also be used in combination to guide treatment of a melanoma patient.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: (a) using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target in vitro or ex vivo cell population; (b) mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and (c) analysing said spectrometric data in order to identify and/or characterise said target cell population or one or more cells and/or compounds present in said target cell population.

A mass spectrometer, MS, 100 is described. The MS 100 comprises: a first chamber 110, comprising a set of ports P close able by respective doors, for receiving sample plates including respective unique device identifiers, UDIs, therein and/or there through, wherein the set of ports P includes a first port P1 having a first door D1 and a second port P2 having a second door D2; a second chamber 120, fluidically couple able with the first chamber 110 via the second port P2, wherein the second chamber 120 is fluidically coupled to and/or comprises an ion source 130, an analyser 140 and an ion detector 150, for mass spectrometry of samples included on the sample plates received therein; and an imager 160, coupled to the second chamber 120, configured to image the UDIs of the sample plates; a controller 170 configured to control the imager 160; wherein the MS 100 is arrangeable in: a first arrangement, wherein a first sample plate 1A of a set of sample plates 1 is received in the first chamber 110 via the first port P1, wherein the first door D1 is open and wherein the second door D2 is closed, and wherein the first sample plate 1A includes a first UDI U1A of a set of UDIs; a second arrangement, wherein the first sample plate 1A is in the first chamber 110, wherein the first door D1 is closed and wherein the second door D2 is closed; and a third arrangement, wherein the first sample plate 1A is received in the second chamber 120 via the second port P2, wherein the second door D2 is closed; wherein the controller 170 is configured to control the imager 160 to image the first UDI U1A of the first sample plate 1A, when the MS 100 is arranged in the third arrangement.

A mass spectrometer, MS, 100 is described. A mass spectrometer comprises: a set of chambers, for receiving sample plate holders therein and/or therethrough, wherein the sample plate holders are arranged to hold respective subsets of sample plates therein and/or thereon and wherein the sample plate holders include respective identifiers, wherein the set of chambers is fluidically coupled to and/or comprises an ion source, an analyser and an ion detector, for mass spectrometry of samples included on the sample plates received therein; a reader configured to read a first identifier, of a set of identifiers, included on a first sample plate holder, of a set of sample plate holders, optionally including a first sample plate, of a set of sample plates, held therein and/or thereon, received in the set of chambers; and a controller configured to control the reader to read the first identifier of the first sample plate holder received in the set of chambers.

An ADE device identifies an identifiable sequence of one or more ejections from at least one sample using a different value or pattern of values for one or more ADE parameters. The identifiable one or more ejections are performed to produce one or more mass peaks that have a different feature value or pattern of feature values for one or more peak features than other mass peaks produced. Ejection times are stored. One or more detected peaks with the different feature values or pattern of feature values are identified as produced by the identifiable one or more ejections. A delay time is calculated from the time of the identifiable ejections and the time of the identified detected peaks and the peaks are aligned with samples using delay time, stored times, and order of the samples.

A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a rotatable isolation valve 1 having a curved, spherical, cylindrical or concave portion. At least a portion of an ion guide 2 is positioned so as to extend within a swept volume of the isolation valve 1 enabling the ion guide 2 to be positioned close to a second downstream ion guide 3 and for ions to be transmitted from the first 2 ion guide to the second ion guide 3 with high ion transmission efficiency.

The invention generally relates to mass spectrometers that utilize ionic wind and methods of use thereof.