A method of mass spectral analysis in an analytical electrostatic trap (14) is disclosed. The electrostatic trap (14) defines an electrostatic field volume and includes trap electrodes having static and non-ramped potentials. The method comprises injecting a continuous ion beam into the electrostatic field volume.

A mass spectrometer includes a position controller that adjusts a position of a sample plate, an image acquirer that acquires an image of a sample/matrix mixture on the sample plate, a laser light emitter that emits laser light to the sample/matrix mixture, a detector that detects ions generated from the sample/matrix mixture by the emission of the laser light by the laser light emitter, and a controller that acquires an image of a sample plate identification code displayed on the sample plate by utilizing the image acquirer and specifies plate identification information of the sample plate from the image of the sample plate identification code.

In one embodiment, a power source for providing high-voltage radio-frequency (RF) energy to an instrument such as a mass spectrometer includes an RF power amplifier having an output, an oscillating RF signal generator configured to provide first and second RF signals respectively oscillating at first and second frequencies to the RF power amplifier, and a step-up circuit for magnifying the RF power amplifier output. The step-up circuit includes an LC resonator network tuned to the first and second frequencies, and an output for providing the magnified voltage to a rod assembly of the mass spectrometer.

An apparatus is disclosed comprising a first device for generating aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of a target, an inlet conduit to an ion analyser or mass spectrometer, the inlet conduit having an inlet through which the aerosol, smoke or vapour passes, and a Venturi pump arrangement arranged and adapted to direct the aerosol, smoke or vapour towards the inlet.

A laser coaxial ion excitation device includes an optical center and an ion transmission channel. The optical center is hollow, the optical center is coaxial with the ion transmission channel, the ion transmission channel is perpendicular to the matrix carrier, laser focusing spots are focused in a non-uniform way, and a light path comprises, but not limited to, a laser transmission light path, a visually monitoring light path, a visual illumination light path and an optical intensity monitoring light path.

Disclosed are embodiments directed to a multi-ion identification device, a system and method using the same to utilize chemical ionization in multiple adduct formation from the substances in the sampled gas of a gas sample being addressed to be analyzed in a mass analyzer. The multi-ion identification device includes a buffering region to have the sample flow turbulence decayed before the sample flow entrance to the ionization region)) utilizing chemical ionization by reagents from an ensemble of reagent ion towers.

A device includes a first surface, a second surface and a controller. The second surface is adjacent to the first surface. The first and the second surfaces define a first ion channel therebetween. The first ion channel extends along a first direction. The second surface includes a first plurality of electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode along a second direction lateral to the first direction. The first plurality of electrodes extends along the first direction. The first electrode is configured to receive a first voltage signal and generate at least a portion of a pseudopotential that inhibits ions in the first ion channel from approaching the second surface. The second plurality of electrodes is located between the first electrode and the second electrode and arranged along the first direction. The second plurality of electrodes are configured to receive a second voltage signal to generate a first traveling drive potential that travels along the first direction. The first traveling drive potential is configured to guide ions along the first ion channel. The device further includes a controller electrically coupled to the first and the second surface. The controller is configured to generate the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal.

A conversion circuit is arranged for converting an ion detection current (i.sub.D) produced by an ion detector into an ion detection signal (P). The conversion circuit comprises: an input stage for converting the ion detection current (i.sub.D) into an ion detection voltage (V.sub.D), an output stage for converting the ion detection voltage into the detection signal (P), the output stage being arranged for drawing a first current dependent on the ion detection voltage, and a supplementary stage for providing a second current (i.sub.S) dependent on the ion detection voltage to the output stage.

The second current may be substantially equal to the first current.

A mass selective ion trapping device includes a linear ion trap and a RF control circuitry. The ion trap includes a plurality of trap electrodes configured for generating a quadrupolar trapping field in a trap interior and for mass selective ejection of ions from the trap interior. The RF control circuitry is configured to apply a balanced AC voltage to the trap electrodes during a first period of time such that an AC voltage applied to a first pair of trap electrodes is of the same magnitude and of opposite sign to an AC voltage applied to a second pair of trap electrodes; apply unbalanced RF voltage to the second pair of trap electrodes during a second period of time; ramp the balanced AC voltage down and the unbalanced RF voltage up during a transition period; and eject ions from the linear ion trap after the second period of time.

The present invention comprises novel methods of continuously monitoring the performance of an atmospheric pressure ionization (API) system. The methods of the invention allow for improved quality monitoring of the processes that leads to the formation of ions at atmospheric pressure. The methods of the invention further allow for continuously monitoring for the quality of the ion formation process in API without the addition of extraneous material (such as labelled compounds or control known compounds) to the system being monitored.