A detector system comprises a first analytical stage configured to isolate ions from a sample, a field induced fragmentation stage configured to fragment the ions, a second analytical stage configured to characterize the ions, and at least one detector. The first analytical stage and the second analytical stage each comprise a differential mobility spectrometer. The field induced fragmentation stage comprises strips configured to create an electric field therebetween. In certain embodiments, the system further comprises a port configured between the first analytical stage and the field induced fragmentation stage, configured to introduce a reagent.

A detector system comprises a first analytical stage configured to isolate ions from a sample, a field induced fragmentation stage configured to fragment the ions, a second analytical stage configured to characterize the ions, and at least one detector. The first analytical stage and the second analytical stage each comprise a differential mobility spectrometer. The field induced fragmentation stage comprises strips configured to create an electric field therebetween. In certain embodiments, the system further comprises a port configured between the first analytical stage and the field induced fragmentation stage, configured to introduce a reagent.

A device for performing field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry, “FAIMS”, including a power supply that applies voltage waveforms to first and second segmented planar electrodes to produce an asymmetric time dependent electric field in an analytical gap for FAIMS analysis of ions . The voltage waveforms are configured such that the asymmetric time dependent electric field has curved contours of equal field strength when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the analytical axis so as to focus ions having different differential mobilities towards different spatial domains, each spatial domain extending along a respective curved contour of equal field strength when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the analytical axis. A focus controller is configured to allow a user to change the curvature of the contours of equal field strength so as to change the strength of focussing provided by the asymmetric time dependent electric field.

A device for performing field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry, “FAIMS”, including a power supply that applies voltage waveforms to first and second segmented planar electrodes to produce an asymmetric time dependent electric field in an analytical gap for FAIMS analysis of ions . The voltage waveforms are configured such that the asymmetric time dependent electric field has curved contours of equal field strength when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the analytical axis so as to focus ions having different differential mobilities towards different spatial domains, each spatial domain extending along a respective curved contour of equal field strength when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the analytical axis. A focus controller is configured to allow a user to change the curvature of the contours of equal field strength so as to change the strength of focussing provided by the asymmetric time dependent electric field.

Adjusting compensation voltage (CV) parameters of an ion mobility device is described. In one instance, the CV parameters are adjusted to reflect a different CV range, a number of CV steps, or a CV step size to increase throughput of a mass spectrometer.

Adjusting compensation voltage (CV) parameters of an ion mobility device is described. In one instance, the CV parameters are adjusted to reflect a different CV range, a number of CV steps, or a CV step size to increase throughput of a mass spectrometer.

We describe a method and apparatus for detecting humidity using a Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS) system. The system may comprise an ionizer for generating ions within a gas sample, wherein each ion has an associated ion mobility; an ion filter for separating the ions by applying a compensation field and a dispersion field to the generated ions; a detector for detecting an output from the ion filter; and a processor. The processor may be configured to extract a spectrum of peak intensity of the detected output as a function of the compensation field and the dispersion field; calculate a turning point for the extracted spectrum; determine operating parameters of the field asymmetric ion mobility system; obtain, from a database, a plurality of known turning points each of which have an associated humidity and each of which were obtained using a field asymmetric ion mobility system having operating parameters aligned with the determined operating parameters; and determine the humidity by comparing the calculated turning point with known turning points.

We describe a method and apparatus for detecting humidity using a Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS) system. The system may comprise an ionizer for generating ions within a gas sample, wherein each ion has an associated ion mobility; an ion filter for separating the ions by applying a compensation field and a dispersion field to the generated ions; a detector for detecting an output from the ion filter; and a processor. The processor may be configured to extract a spectrum of peak intensity of the detected output as a function of the compensation field and the dispersion field; calculate a turning point for the extracted spectrum; determine operating parameters of the field asymmetric ion mobility system; obtain, from a database, a plurality of known turning points each of which have an associated humidity and each of which were obtained using a field asymmetric ion mobility system having operating parameters aligned with the determined operating parameters; and determine the humidity by comparing the calculated turning point with known turning points.

A method of spectrometric analysis comprises obtaining one or more sample spectra for an aerosol, smoke or vapour sample. The one or more sample spectra are subjected to pre-processing and then multivariate and/or library based analysis so as to classify the aerosol, smoke or vapour sample. The results of the analysis are used for various surgical or non-surgical applications.

A method of spectrometric analysis comprises obtaining one or more sample spectra for an aerosol, smoke or vapour sample. The one or more sample spectra are subjected to pre-processing and then multivariate and/or library based analysis so as to classify the aerosol, smoke or vapour sample. The results of the analysis are used for various surgical or non-surgical applications.