Analytical Instruments, Assemblies, and Methods

Abstract

Person-portable mass analysis instrumentation configured to perform nultidimensional mass analysis is provided. Mass analysis instrumentation can include a housing encompassing components of the instrumentation with the housing of the instrumentation defining a space having a volume of equal to or less than about 100,000 cm3. Instrument assemblies are also provided that can include a housing coupled to an instrument component isolation assembly, wherein the component isolation assembly is isolated from an environment exterior to the housing. Exemplary instrument assemblies can include at least first and second components configured to provide analysis with a housing of the instrument at least partially encompassing the first and second components and the first component being rigidly affixed to the housing. An isolation assembly can also be provided that is rigidly affixed to the second component with the isolation assembly being isolated from received inputs of the housing.

Description

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 580,144, filed Jun. 15, 2004 entitled Instrument Assemblies and Methods, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 580,582, filed Jun. 16, 2004, entitled Mass Spectrometry Instruments, the entirety of which are incorporated by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present disclosure relates to analytical instruments, instrumentation, instrument assemblies, and analytical methods. More specific embodiments include mass analysis instrumentation as well as mass analysis methods. BACKGROUND ART [0003] Analytical instrumentation and particularly mass analysis instrumentation can be utilized to determine both the identity and amount of unknown compounds and mixtures. It is desirable to determine the identity and amount of unknown compounds and mixtures at their point of origin rather than obtaining a sample and transporting that sample to a laboratory for analysis, at least ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] According to an embodiment, person-portable mass analysis instrumentation configured to perform multidimensional mass analysis are provided. Mass analysis instrumentation can include a mass analysis component coupled to a sample preparation component with a consumables-generation component coupled to the sample preparation component. The consu

Problems solved by technology

It is desirable to determine the identity and amount of unknown compounds and mixtures at their point of origin rather than obtaining a sample and transporting that sample to a laboratory for analysis, at least in that sampling and transportation of samples can contaminate the sample obtained and / or because sampling is not practical.

Furthermore, it may be important to quickly ascertain the identity and amount of unknown compounds and sampling and transportation of the sample does not facilitate quick analysis.

Typically analytical instrumentation of this sophistication is limited to laboratory use only and cannot be used in the field for practical reasons such as size or fragility.

In the field, for example, instruments are not sheltered from inputs from the environment, the instruments can be exposed to travel which can jar and / or shock the instrument or other adverse conditions may occur.

Accordingly, mass spectrometers may be limited to laboratory use for a variety of reasons, including the fragility of the mass spectrometer's vacuum system, which the instrument may be reliant upon to reduce the operating pressure within a mass spectrometer's mass analyzer.

Depending on the type of mass analyzer used, higher pressure can cause a change in ion flight path, de-phasing of ion motion, etc., which can lead to the acquisition of erroneous data.

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