The invention generally relates to systems and methods for continuous or batch wise sampling of a surface for analysis of trace chemical constituents that may be present on the surface by mass spectrometry. Integration of time and place of the sampling and analysis processes allows real-time on-the-spot response to the analytical data and can take into account that material is not necessarily uniformly distributed on a surface. A further feature of the systems and methods of the invention is that the swabbing process also cleans the surface being analyzed. Accordingly, systems and methods of the invention provide an integrated approach that allows for a surface to be cleaned, sampled and analyzed in real-time, providing a faster and more efficient way to verify or validate whether a manufacturing vessel is sufficiently clean to start another production.

A miniature mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an atmospheric pressure ionisation source and a first vacuum chamber having an atmospheric pressure sampling orifice or capillary, a second vacuum chamber located downstream of the first vacuum chamber and a third vacuum chamber located downstream of the second vacuum chamber. An ion detector is located in the third vacuum chamber. A first RF ion guide is located within the first vacuum chamber and a second RF ion guide is located within the second vacuum chamber. The ion path length from the atmospheric pressure sampling orifice or capillary to an ion detecting surface of the ion detector is 400 mm. The mass spectrometer further comprises a tandem quadrupole mass analyser, a 3D ion trap mass analyser, a 2D or linear ion trap mass analyser, a Time of Flight mass analyser, a quadrupole-Time of Flight mass analyser or an electrostatic mass analyser arranged in the third vacuum chamber. The product of the pressure P.sub.1 in the vicinity of the first RF ion guide and the length L.sub.1 of the first RF ion guide is in the range 10-100 mbar-cm and the product of the pressure P.sub.2 in the vicinity of the second RF ion guide and the length L.sub.2 of the second RF ion guide is in the range 0.05-0.3 mbar-cm.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for performing multiple precursor, neutral loss and product ion scans in a single ion trap. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems including a mass spectrometer having a single ion trap, and a central processing unit (CPU), and storage coupled to the CPU for storing instructions that when executed by the CPU cause the system to apply at least one of the following ion scans to a single ion population in the single ion trap: multiple precursor ion scans, a plurality of segmented neutral loss scans, or multiple simultaneous neutral loss scans.

A miniature time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) was developed for a NASA/ASTID program beginning 2008. The primary targeted application for this technology is the detection of non-volatile (refractory) and biological materials on landed planetary missions. Both atmospheric and airless bodies are potential candidate destinations for the purpose of characterizing mineralogy, and searching for evidence of existing or extant biological activity.

The present disclosure provides an ion mobility spectrometer, which comprises: a power supply circuit, configured to provide a power supply voltage; a corona discharge configured to generate ions to be subjected to measurement, through corona discharge; an ion migration circuit configured to control migration of the ions; a migration zone structure configured to realize, under control of the ion migration circuit, mobility spectrum measurement of the ions which pass through the migration zone structure; a redundant charge extraction electrode arranged between the corona discharge structure and the migration zone structure, so that the ions which are generated by the corona discharge structure can pass therethrough to reach the migration zone structure; and a redundant charge extraction circuit, wherein the redundant charge extraction electrode is connected to the ground through the redundant charge extraction circuit.

The invention generally relates to zero volt mass spectrometry probes and systems. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a system including a mass spectrometry probe including a porous material, and a mass spectrometer (bench-top or miniature mass spectrometer). The system operates without an application of voltage to the probe. In certain embodiments, the probe is oriented such that a distal end faces an inlet of the mass spectrometer. In other embodiments, the distal end of the probe is 5 mm or less from an inlet of the mass spectrometer.

A switch for coupling a first ion manipulation device to a second ion manipulation device comprises a first surface and a second surface, at least one first electrode coupled to each of the first and second surface and configured to receive a first voltage and generate a first potential, and at least one second electrode coupled to each of the first and second surface and configured to receive a second voltage and generate a second potential, wherein the first potential inhibits the motion of ions along a first direction and the second potential inhibits the motion of ions along a second direction different from the first direction.

Two complementary approaches to the science of IMS technology, IMS and differential IMS (DIMS), are combined into a single instrument to provide improvements in interference rejection without sacrificing detection sensitivity. The technology is applicable to, inter alia, the analysis of trace quantities of toxic or otherwise dangerous organic chemical materials. The approach improves both sensitivity and specificity (interference rejection) of field detection instrumentation.

A miniature electrode apparatus is disclosed for trapping charged particles, the apparatus including, along a longitudinal direction: a first end cap electrode; a central electrode having an aperture; and a second end cap electrode. The aperture is elongated in the lateral plane and extends through the central electrode along the longitudinal direction and the central electrode surrounds the aperture in a lateral plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to define a transverse cavity for trapping charged particles.

A miniature, low cost mass spectrometer capable of unit resolution over a mass range of 10 to 50 AMU. The mass spectrometer incorporates several features that enhance the performance of the design over comparable instruments. An efficient ion source enables relatively low power consumption without sacrificing measurement resolution. Variable geometry mechanical filters allow for variable resolution. An onboard ion pump removes the need for an external pumping source. A magnet and magnetic yoke produce magnetic field regions with different flux densities to run the ion pump and a magnetic sector mass analyzer. An onboard digital controller and power conversion circuit inside the vacuum chamber allows a large degree of flexibility over the operation of the mass spectrometer while eliminating the need for high-voltage electrical feedthroughs. The miniature mass spectrometer senses fractions of a percentage of inlet gas and returns mass spectra data to a computer.