A detection device for detecting the presence of a substance of interest in a sample is described. The device can include a data store comprising executable instructions for at least one convolutional neural network, CNN, configured to process images: and a processor coupled to the data store and configured to execute the instructions to operate the at least one CNN. The detection device can be configured to: obtain spectrometry data, operate a first one of the CNNs to process the spectrometry data to obtain a first CNN output; apply a mask to the spectrometry data to obtain masked data; operate a second one of the CNNs to process the masked data to obtain a second CNN output; and determine if the substance of interest is present in the sample based on both the first CNN output and the second CNN output.

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.

A method for characterizing or quantifying one or more proteins in visible and/or sub-visible particles formed in a sample by detecting the at least one visible or sub-visible particle in the sample, isolating and capturing the at least one visible or sub-visible particle to identify a presence of a protein, and using a mass spectrometer to characterize the protein.

A method for characterizing or quantifying one or more proteins in visible and/or sub-visible particles formed in a sample by detecting the at least one visible or sub-visible particle in the sample, isolating and capturing the at least one visible or sub-visible particle to identify a presence of a protein, and using a mass spectrometer to characterize the protein.

A method of processing an input data stream including at least one data peak (2), comprising: detecting at least one peak (2) in the input data stream having an apex with an amplitude above a predetermined threshold (4); and extrapolating (30) the segment of the peak which has an amplitude above the predetermined threshold (7, 8), based on a shape characteristic of the peak (2), to estimate the amplitude of the segments of the peak which have an amplitude less than said threshold (15, 16).

A capacitive trans-impedance amplifier comprising a voltage amplifier having an inverting input terminal for connection to an input current source. A feed-back capacitor is coupled between the inverting input terminal and the output terminal to accumulate charges received from the input current source and to generate a feed-back voltage accordingly. A calibration unit includes a calibration capacitor electrically coupled, via a calibration switch, to the inverting input terminal and electrically coupled to the feed-back capacitor. The calibration unit is operable to switch the calibration switch to a calibration state permitting a discharge of a quantity of charge from the calibration capacitor to the feed-back capacitor. The capacitive trans-impedance amplifier is arranged to determine a voltage generated across the feed-back capacitor while the calibration switch is in the calibration state and to determine a capacitance value (C=Q/V) for the feed-back capacitor according to the value of the generated voltage (V) and the quantity of charge (Q).

Mass spectrometer based analytical systems and methods in which a feedback control system can be utilized to control the flow of liquid within a sampling probe to adjust and/or maintain the surface profile (e.g., shape) of the liquid-air interface within an open sampling port of the sampling probe. The feedback control systems can automatically monitor and/or detect the surface profile of the liquid-air interface and adjust the flow rate of the sampling liquid to ensure that experimental conditions remain consistent at the time of sample introduction during serial samplings. These can provide stable and reproducible analyte flows of consistent dilution to the ion source, increasing reproducibility and/or accuracy of data generated by MS analysis. Can be used with a change in the desired set point according to the particular experimental workflow (e.g., automated adjustment between an interface corresponding to a sampling set point and a cleaning set point).

An electrostatic linear ion trap has first and second axially aligned ion mirrors separated by a charge detection cylinder axially aligned with each ion mirror. Electric fields are selectively established within the first and second ion mirrors in a manner which causes an ion in the trap to oscillate back and forth through the charge detection cylinder between the first and second ion mirrors with a duty cycle, corresponding to a ratio of time spent by the ion passing through the charge detection cylinder and total time spent traversing a combination of the first and second ion mirrors and the charge detection cylinder during one complete oscillation cycle, of approximately 50%.

An integrated thermal sensor comprising photonic crystal elements that enable photonic elements for photonic sourcing, spectral switching and filtering, sensing of an exposed analyte and detection. In embodiments, applications are disclosed wherein these photonic elements provide a spectrophotometer, a photonic channel switch and a standalone sensor for toxic gases and vapors. An application coupled with a mobile phone is disclosed.

An ion detector for secondary ion mass spectrometer, the detector having an electron emission plate coupled to a first electrical potential and configured to emit electrons upon incidence on ions; a scintillator coupled to a second electrical potential, different from the first electrical potential, the scintillator having a front side facing the electron emission plate and a backside, the scintillator configured to emit photons from the backside upon incidence of electrons on the front side; a lightguide coupled to the backside of the scintillator and confining flow of photons emitted from the backside of the scintillator; and a solid-state photomultiplier coupled to the light guide and having an output configured to output electrical signal corresponding to incidence of photons from the lightguide. A SIMS system includes a plurality of such detectors movable arranged over the focal plane of a mass analyzer.