A linear ion trap includes at least two discrete trapping regions for processing ions and at least one gas pulse valve for applying pulses of gas to dynamically control pressure in the at least two discrete trapping regions. A RF electrical potential generator produces two RF waveforms, each applied to a pair of pole electrodes of the linear ion trap forming a RF trapping field component to trap ions radially. A multi-output DC electrical potential generator produces multiple DC field components superimposed to the RF trapping field component and distributed across the length of the linear ion trap to control ions axially. A control unit is configured to switch the DC electrical potentials and corresponding DC field components collectively forming a first trapping region of the at least two discrete trapping regions that is populated with ions to alter ion potential energy from a first level to a second level, and to enable at least a first ion processing step in at least one of the first and second levels.

The invention relates to the detection of fatty acids. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for detecting very long chain fatty acids and branched chain fatty acids by mass spectrometry.

A mass spectrometry system and a working method and an application thereof, and a sampling device. The mass spectrometry system includes an ion source, a sampling device and a mass spectrometer. The sampling device includes: a guide rail; a support adapted to move on the guide rail; a bearing member made from a hydrophobic material with two ends being fixed to the support; a plurality of containers for containing samples arranged on the support; a plurality of transport members made from a hydrophilic material and including a first portion provided on the bearing member and a second portion connected to the first portion and extending into each container; adjacent transport members being not in contact; and a drive module configured to drive the support to move on the guide rail such that a central axis of an exit port of the ion source passes through the first portion.

A sample preparation apparatus for an elemental analysis system comprising a sample combustion and/or reduction and/or pyrolysis arrangement for receiving a sample of material to be analyzed, and producing therefrom a sample gas flow containing atoms, molecules and/or compounds; a gas chromatography (GC) column into which the sample gas flow is directed; a heater for heating at least a part of the GC column; and a controller for controlling the heater. The controller is configured to control the heater so as to increase the temperature of at least the part of the GC column while the sample gas flow in the GC column elutes.

An object of the invention is to provide a mass spectrometer system capable of obtaining a mass spectrum with high resolution as the mass number of an ion becomes higher. In the mass spectrometer system of the invention, a control unit 8 controls a mass spectrometry unit 4 so that a direct current voltage U, an amplitude V of a radio-frequency voltage, and a frequency F of the radio-frequency voltage, which are applied to a quadrupole electrode 13, are increased as a mass-to-charge ratio m/z of an ion of a target for mass spectrometry becomes larger. By controlling in this manner, the ion frequency when the ion passes through the inside of the mass spectrometry unit 4 is increased as the mass number of an ion becomes higher, and therefore, it is possible to obtain the mass spectrum with higher resolution.

A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer and an ion gate. A collision cell is arranged downstream of the ion gate. The operation of the ion mobility spectrometer and the ion gate are synchronized so that only ions having a particular mass to charge ration and a desired charge state are onwardly transmitted to the collision cell.

A system for trapping an ion, including one or more lane elements in a substrate, one or more direct current (DC) elements in the substrate and connected to an electrode controller, one or more radio frequency (RF) electrodes, an RF controller connected to the one or more RF electrodes and configured to provide an RF signal to the one or more RF electrodes, one or more magnetic coils each having a portion associated with at least a portion of a DC element of the one or more DC elements and configured to be superconductive below a critical superconducting temperature, and a magnetic coil controller connected to each magnetic coil of the one or more magnetic coils, where the magnetic coil controller is configured to control the superconductivity and the magnetic flux of each magnetic coil of the one or more magnetic coils in relation to a source magnetic field.

Apparatus and methods for controlling contamination of components contained within the high-vacuum chambers of mass spectrometer systems are provided. The apparatus and methods employ a beam of neutral gas injected in a contra-flow configuration to incoming particle stream from the ionization chamber. The contra-flow can be in the directly opposite counter-flow direction (e.g., 180 degrees) or at a cross-flow angle to the incoming ion stream (e.g., flowing at an angle between about 10 degrees and 170 degrees). The contra-flow disrupts the axial gas flow and diverts neutral molecules and other undesirable contaminants before they reach the high vacuum stages (e.g., beyond the IQ0 orifice) of the spectrometer. By reducing the transmission of contaminants into the sensitive components housed deep within the mass spectrometer, the present invention can increase throughput, improve robustness, and/or decrease the downtime typically required to vent/disassemble/clean the fouled components.

A method of operating an electrostatic trapping mass analyzer, comprising: introducing a sample of ions into a trapping region of the mass analyzer, wherein a trapping field within the trapping region is such that the ions exhibit radial motion with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the trapping region while undergoing harmonic motion in a dimension defined by the central longitudinal axis, the frequency of harmonic motion of a particular ion being a function of its mass-to-charge ratio; superimposing a modulation field onto the trapping field within the trapping region, the modulation field acting to either increase or reduce the harmonic motion energies of the ions by an amount varying according to the frequency of harmonic motion; and acquiring a mass spectrum of the ions in the trapping region by measuring a signal representative of an image current induced by the harmonic motion of the ions.

The invention relates to the detection of fatty acids. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for detecting very long chain fatty acids and branched chain fatty acids by mass spectrometry.