A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: (a) using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target in vitro or ex vivo cell population; (b) mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and (c) analysing said spectrometric data in order to identify and/or characterise said target cell population or one or more cells and/or compounds present in said target cell population.

A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a rotatable isolation valve 1 having a curved, spherical, cylindrical or concave portion. At least a portion of an ion guide 2 is positioned so as to extend within a swept volume of the isolation valve 1 enabling the ion guide 2 to be positioned close to a second downstream ion guide 3 and for ions to be transmitted from the first 2 ion guide to the second ion guide 3 with high ion transmission efficiency.

The present invention relates to an assembly comprising a vacuum chamber and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer wherein the time-of-flight mass spectrometer is contained within the vacuum chamber. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the second electrode being spaced apart from the first electrode at a distance defining a portion of an ion-flight path therebetween. The assembly further comprising a first support for supporting the first electrode, the first support arranged between an inner surface of the vacuum chamber and the first electrode. The first support is configured to permit relative movement between at least a portion of the inner surface of the vacuum chamber and the first electrode. The inner surface of the vacuum chamber and the first electrode are thermally coupled. The present invention also relates to a multi-reflection time-of-flight mass analyser. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for out-gassing to remove contaminants from surfaces within a vacuum chamber by heating and subsequently cooling the surfaces.

A method of spectrometric analysis comprises obtaining one or more sample spectra for an aerosol, smoke or vapour sample. The one or more sample spectra are subjected to pre-processing and then multivariate and/or library based analysis so as to classify the aerosol, smoke or vapour sample. The results of the analysis are used for various surgical or non-surgical applications.

Embodiments of systems, devices, and methods relate to an electrode standoff isolator. An example electrode standoff isolator includes a plurality of adj acent insulative segments positioned between a proximal end and a distal end of the electrode standoff isolator. A geometry of the adjacent insulative is configured to guard a surface area of the electrode standoff isolator against deposition of a conductive layer of gaseous phase materials from a filament of an ion source.

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 set of acceleration electrodes for the acceleration of charged particles in a vacuum ion optical system, wherein each acceleration electrode comprises a conical section and at least an elongated leg protruding from the conical section, the elongated leg and any further elongated leg each being configured as a mechanical support and as an electrical connection between the conical section and an intended source of electric potential.

An ion funnel fabricated from at least three faces that are each formed from a printed circuit board is described. In one aspect the faces are arranged edge to edge and there is provided a set of guard rails proximal to the edges to bias ions away from the edges. In another aspect slots are provided within the circuit board to facilitate an escape of gases from within the funnel.

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.

An ion guide assembly (2) is disclosed comprising: two planar mounting components (4); and first and second ion guides (6,8) mounted on the two planar mounting components such that the ion guides are spaced apart from each other, wherein at least one of the planar mounting components has an aperture (14) therethrough that is located between the positions on said at least one mounting component at which the first and second ion guides are mounted; and an ion optical device sized and configured to be inserted through the aperture in the planar mounting component and into the space between the first and second ion guides.