The invention generally relates to apparatuses for focusing ions at or above ambient pressure and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention provides an apparatus for focusing ions that includes an electrode having a cavity, at least one inlet within the electrode configured to operatively couple with an ionization source, such that discharge generated by the ionization source is injected into the cavity of the electrode, and an outlet. The cavity in the electrode is shaped such that upon application of voltage to the electrode, ions within the cavity are focused and directed to the outlet, which is positioned such that a proximal end of the outlet receives the focused ions and a distal end of the outlet is open to ambient pressure.

An ion source is disclosed that alternates between ionizing analytes in a sample by electrospray ionization and impact ionization.

A business method for use in classifying patient samples. The method includes steps of collecting case samples representing a clinical phenotypic state and control samples representing patients without said clinical phenotypic state. Preferably the system uses a mass spectrometry platform system to identify patterns of polypeptides in said case samples and in the control samples without regard to the specific identity of at least some of said polypeptides. Based on identified representative patterns of the state, the business method provides for the marketing of diagnostic products using representative patterns. The present invention relates to systems and methods for identifying new markers, diagnosing patients with a biological state of interest, and marketing/commercializing such diagnostics. The present invention relates to systems and methods of greater sensitivity, specificity, and/or cost effectiveness.

In a mass spectrometer according to the present invention, when MRM measurements for a plurality of MRM transitions need to be performed within one cycle, a measurement order rearranger determines an analysis sequence by sorting the measurement in ascending order of the absolute value of an optimum application voltage (an application voltage which gives the highest ionization efficiency) to the nozzle of the ESI probe. An analysis controller performs the analysis by controlling the high-voltage power source and other relevant units according to the determined analysis sequence. Since the voltage applied to the nozzle within one cycle has no period in which the voltage is changed in the decreasing direction with the same polarity, the cycle time becomes shorter than in a conventional device.

The present disclosure describes devices and methods capable of generating multi-phase emulsions, including double emulsion droplets in a gas phase. The present disclosure also describes interfaces for coupling a multi-phase emulsion droplet source to an analytical instrument such as a mass spectrometer. The present disclosure further describes methods, systems, and apparatuses for using the devices and interfaces described to perform analysis, including mass spectrometry. The present disclosure also describes methods, systems, and apparatuses for generating and using multi-phase emulsions to perform analysis.

Disclosed herein is a system for desorbing and detecting an analyte sorbed on a solid phase microextraction (SPME) device. The system includes a desorption chamber sized to accept the SPME device while defining a void volume of less than about 50 μL; a flow injector in fluid connection with the desorption chamber, the desorption chamber and the flow injector being fluidly connected by at least a flow-insulating fluid connector; a solvent source in fluid connection with the flow injector; and a fluid switch that: in a desorption position, allows the solvent to be sprayed from the flow injector while flow-insulating any desorption solution in the desorption chamber, and in an detecting position, turns off the solvent source while maintaining the fluid connection between the flow injector and the desorption chamber, transferring the desorption solution through the flow-insulating fluid connector to the flow injector as a substantially undiluted plug of liquid.

Before a sample is pierced with a probe of a PESI ion source, a total ion current is measured under a condition with no voltage applied from a high voltage generator to the probe as well as under a condition with the voltage applied. If the probe is properly attached to the holder, a considerable difference in total ion current occurs between the period with no voltage applied and the period with the voltage applied. By comparison, if the probe is improperly attached, no significant difference in the total ion current occurs between the period with no voltage applied and the period with the voltage applied. Referring to a threshold determined under the normal condition, a probe attachment checker detects an insufficient attachment of the probe by checking the difference in the total ion current, and displays an error message on a display unit if an improper attachment is detected.

Provided in the present disclosure is a spray ionization device comprising: a first tube that has a first flow path in which a liquid can flow, the first tube having a first outlet on one end thereof from which the liquid is sprayed; a second tube that surrounds the first tube with a gap therebetween and has a second flow path in which a gas can flow, the second tube having a second outlet on the one end thereof and the second flow path being defined by the outer peripheral surface of the first tube and the inner peripheral surface of the second tube; and an electrode contacting the liquid flowing through the first flow path, the electrode being able to apply a voltage to the liquid by means of a power source connected to the electrode, wherein charged droplets of the liquid can be sprayed from the second outlet.

Methods for quantifying biospecimen sample integrity using oxidation. Embodiments include assessing ex vivo oxidation of a biospecimen sample by quantifying a difference in protein oxidation of the biospecimen sample in comparison to protein oxidation of a portion of the biospecimen sample intentionally incubated to cause oxidation to hit its maximum value. The difference in a level of oxidation in the biospecimen sample and the potion of the biospecimen sample is then inversely proportional to the degree of ex vivo oxidation.

An interface for receiving ions in a carrier gas from an atmospheric pressure ion source at a spectrometer that is configured to analyse the received ions at a lower pressure includes an interface vacuum chamber having a downstream aperture; a support assembly defining an axial bore arranged to allow a removable capillary tube to extend therethrough; ions being received from the atmospheric pressure ion source through the capillary tube and directed towards the downstream aperture; and a jet disruptor, positioned downstream from the axial bore and configured to disrupt gas flow between the axial bore and the downstream aperture only when the capillary tube is not fully inserted through the axial bore.