An ion source assembly for use in a mass spectrometer comprises a first anode defining a first ionization volume and a first electron source positioned proximate the first anode and configured to generate electrons that pass through the first anode and into the first ionization volume. The ions source assembly further includes a second anode defining a second ionization volume and a second electron source positioned proximate to the second anode and configured to generate to generate electrons that pass through the second anode and into the second ionization volume. At least one optical element is positioned proximate the first ionization volume and defines an aperture. The first and second anodes and the first and second ionization volumes are positioned along an ion optical axis of the mass spectrometer, and the first anode is positioned between the second anode and the aperture.

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 time-of-flight, TOF, mass spectrometer, MS, comprising: an ion source for supplying a group of ions, including a first ion having a first mass-to-charge ratio m.sub.1/z.sub.1, a second ion having a second mass-to-charge ratio m.sub.2/z.sub.2 and a third ion having a third mass-to-charge ratio m.sub.3/z.sub.3 wherein m.sub.3/z.sub.3>m.sub.2/z.sub.2>at a time t.sub.0; a first set of electrodes, including a first electrode, and a second set of electrodes, including a first electrode and an Nth electrode, wherein the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes are mutually spaced apart by a gap therebetween; an ion detector for detecting the ions; a set of power supplies, including a first power supply, electrically coupled to the first set of electrodes and to the second set of electrodes; and a controller configured to control the set of power supplies to apply respective potentials to the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes; wherein the controller is configured to control the set of power supplies to: provide a first substantially field-free region between the ion source and the first set of electrodes to allow the group of ions to expand theretowards and/or therein, at the time t0; apply an extraction potential V.sub.extraction to the first set of electrodes at a time t.sub.extraction>t.sub.0, to extract the expanded group of ions, while maintaining a second substantially field-free region beyond the first set of electrodes, in the gap between the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes; and optionally, change an acceleration potential V.sub.acceleration applied to the second set of electrodes during a time period Δt=t.sub.off−t.sub.on, wherein ton>t.sub.extraction, to vary acceleration of the extracted group of ions based, at least in part, on respective mass-to-charge ratios.

In one aspect, an ion guide assembly for use in a mass spectrometry system is disclosed, which comprises a first plurality of multipole rods that are arranged to allow passage of ions therebetween, a second plurality of multipole rods that are arranged to allow passage of ions therebetween, and a board disposed between the first and second plurality of rods, the board comprising an ion lens. The first and second plurality of rods are coupled to the board, and the rods of the first plurality of rods are pairwise aligned with, and coupled to, rods of the second plurality of rods.

A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

An ion analyzer including: a base member fixed to a ion outflow port and having a cylindrical concave part; a cylindrical first conductive member accommodated in the concave part; a first ion flow controller fixed to an exposed end of the first conductive member; a cylindrical insulating member inserted into the first conductive member; a rod-shaped second conductive member inserted into the insulating member; a second ion flow controller being fixed to an exposed end of the second conductive member; a first power feeding unit that, when accommodated in the concave part, comes into contact with the first conductive member; and a second power feeding unit that, when accommodated in the concave part, comes into contact with the second conductive member when the first conductive member accommodates the second conductive member and the insulating member.

A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

Disclosed herein is an ion guide for guiding an ion beam along an ion path, said ion guide having a longitudinal axis which corresponds to said ion path. Said ion guide comprises a plurality of electrode plates which are arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, each electrode plate having an opening and being arranged such that said longitudinal axis extends through its respective opening, wherein said openings collectively define an ion guide volume. The ion guide extends or is configured to extend through a separation wall separating adjacent first and second pumping chambers. The ion guide has a first portion, in which gaps are formed between at least some of said electrode plates such that uncharged gas can escape from said ion guide volume, wherein said first portion is completely located in said first pumping chamber. A second portion, in which sealing elements are arranged between adjacent electrode plates, prevents neutral gas from escaping from that portion of the ion guide volume between adjacent electrode plates, said second portion extends at least from said separation wall into said second pumping chamber.

An ion manipulation device and systems and methods for controlling the ion manipulation device. The ion manipulation device includes a pair of counter-facing surfaces and a plurality of electrodes arranged in one or more linear array on each of the counter-facing surfaces. At least one RF power source is coupled to the electrodes and configured to apply an RF potential to the electrodes to create an electric field that inhibits charged particles from approaching the counter-facing surfaces. At least one DC power source is coupled to the electrodes and configured to apply a DC potential to affect the movement of ions between the counter-facing surfaces in a direction parallel to the counter-facing surfaces. The DC potential and the RF potential are applied to the electrodes simultaneously.

A method of manufacturing a multipole device includes the steps of: (a) forming an intermediate device by assembling a plurality of components including a plurality of precursor multipole electrodes, wherein the plurality of precursor multipole electrodes in the assembled device extend along and are distributed around a central axis; (b) forming a multipole device from the intermediate device by machining the precursor multipole electrodes within the intermediate device to provide a plurality of multipole electrodes having a predetermined spatial relationship; wherein a first component of the multipole device that includes a multipole electrode is attached non-permanently to a second component of the multipole device, the first component including a first alignment formation, and the second component including a second alignment portion configured to engage with the first alignment formation on the first component so as to facilitate alignment of the first component and the second component when the first component and the second component are attached, thereby allowing the first component to be detached from and then reattached to the second component while retaining the predetermined spatial relationship between the plurality of multipole electrodes.