148 results about "Mass separation" patented technology

This invention is based on size and mass separation of suspended particles, including biological matter, which are made to flow in a spiral channel. On the spiral sections, the inward directed transverse pressure field from fluid shear competes with the outward directed centrifugal force to allow for separation of particles. At high velocity, centrifugal force dominates and particles move outward. At low velocities, transverse pressure dominates and the particles move inward. The magnitudes of the two opposing forces depend on flow velocity, particle size, radius of curvature of the spiral section, channel dimensions, and viscosity of the fluid. At the end of the spiral channel, a parallel array of outlets collects separated particles. For any particle size, the required channel dimension is determined by estimating the transit time to reach the side-wall. This time is a function of flow velocity, channel width, viscosity, and radius of curvature. Larger particles may reach the channel wall earlier than the smaller particles which need more time to reach the side wall. Thus a spiral channel may be envisioned by placing multiple outlets along the channel. This technique is inherently scalable over a large size range from sub-millimeter down to 1 μm.

Ion manipulation systems include ion repulsion by an RF field penetrating through a mesh. Another comprises trapping ions in a symmetric RF field around a mesh. The system uses macroscopic parts, or readily available fine meshes, or miniaturized devices made by MEMS, or flexible PCB methods. One application is ion transfer from gaseous ion sources with focusing at intermediate and elevated gas pressures. Another application is the formation of pulsed ion packets for TOF MS within trap array. Such trapping is preferably accompanied by pulsed switching of RF field and by gas pulses, preferably formed by pulsed vapor desorption. Ion guidance, ion flow manipulation, trapping, preparation of pulsed ion packets, confining ions during fragmentation or exposure to ion to particle reactions and for mass separation are disclosed. Ion chromatography employs an ion passage within a gas flow and through a set of multiple traps with a mass dependent well depth.

The content of the invention comprises a concept of multi-beam ion pre-selection from a single sample, coordinated mobility (against the gas flow) separation, cooling ions in supersonic gas flow and mass separation of thus low divergent ions by single or plural compact high-resolution orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometers both linear or reflectron type with controlled collision-induced dissociation (CID) and multi-channel data recording for the optimization of sample use in the analysis, and obtaining as much useful information about the sample as possible in a reasonably short time.

In an ion implantation system including (a) an ion source (b) a mass analyzing portion, (c) an ion acceleration portion, (d) an ion beam focusing / deflecting portion, and (e) an end station chamber for implanting ions onto a semiconductor substrate. The ion source consists of plural ion sources being connected to the same mass analyzing portion in which any one of the plural ion sources is selected. Mass-separated ions from the ion source are led to the acceleration portion, and a stencil mask is arranged approximately to the semiconductor substrate in the end station chamber.

The content of the invention comprises a concept of multi-beam ion pre-selection from a single sample, coordinated mobility (against the gas flow) separation, cooling ions in supersonic gas flow and mass separation of thus low divergent ions by single or plural compact high-resolution orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometers both linear or reflectron type with controlled collision-induced dissociation (CID) and multi-channel data recording for the optimization of sample use in the analysis, and obtaining as much useful information about the sample as possible in a reasonably short time.

A TOF mass analyzer having multiple flight paths is described. The TOF mass analyzer includes a pulsed ion source that generates a packet of ions and that accelerates the packet of ions. An ion deflector directs a first group of ions from the packet of ions to a first ion path, and a second group of ions to a second ion path for each of a first and second predetermined time interval after the pulsed ion source generates the packet of ions. A first TOF mass separator separates the first group of ions according to their mass to-charge ratio and a first detector is positioned to receive the first group of ions A second TOF mass separator separates a second group of ions according to their mass to-charge ratio and a second detector is positioned to receive the second group of ions. Additional ion paths may be employed, and any type of TOF mass separator may be used in each ion path.

While applying a square wave voltage to the ion electrode (21) so that ions already captured in the ion trap (20) do not disperse, the timing of irradiating a laser light for ion generation is controlled in such a manner that ions reach the ion inlet (25) at a predetermined timing of a cycle of the voltage. In the case of a positive ion (cation) for example, the timing of laser light irradiation is adjusted in such a manner that the target ions reach the ion inlet (25) in the low level period of a cycle of the square wave voltage. By injecting ions in addition to the ions already captured in the ion trap (20) in this manner, the amount of ions can be increased, and by performing a mass separation and detection after that, the signal intensity in one mass analysis can be increased. Accordingly, by decreasing the number of repetitions of the mass analysis for summing up mass profiles, the measuring time can be shortened.

A mass spectrometry system for continuous control of environment based on the use of an aerosol TOF MS that provides operation with a high duty cycle of up to 98% and can be realized in the form of a mobile unit having a data acquisition and analysis system with three levels of data correlation on the basis of constant interaction between various actuating mechanisms of the system via a central processing unit. The TOF MS is based on the use of quadrupole lenses with angular gradient of the electrostatic field. On the entrance side, the TOF MS contains an ion-optic system that is used for focusing, aligning, and time-modulating the ionized flow of particles and a deflector modulator that provides alternating deflections of the flow of particles between two positions for aligning the flow with two inlet openings into the TOF MS. As a result, two independently analyzed discrete flows of particles pass through the ion mass separation chamber of the TOF MS without interference with each other. The charged particles fly in direct and return paths along helical trajectories which extend the length of the flight time. The time of the collision and the magnitude of the collision pulse will contain information about the M / Z ratio for the particles being registered. Multiplication of a single flow of particles into a plurality of independent and spatially separated flows propagating in one chamber increases efficiency of the TOF MS and makes it possible to use it in continuous and high-duty applications with the duty cycle as high as 98%, which is unattainable with any known device of this class. The system can be mounted either on an underwater and ground vehicle, or on an aircraft.

A mass spectrometer includes an ion source, an extraction device, a TOF mass analyzer, an ion trap mass analyzer, and an ion guiding optical element which guides at least one of extracted ions from the ion source and extracted ion fragments into the TOF mass analyzer in a normal mode of operation and into the IT mass analyzer in a tandem mode of operation. The apparatus operates by producing ions from a sample, extracting the ions from the ion source, selecting between the TOF mass analyzer and the IT mass analyzer, directing extracted ions to the selected mass analyzer, mass-separating the directed ions and fragments of the directed ions according to a mass-to-charge ratio, detecting mass-separated ions with the selected mass analyzer, and producing at least one of a normal mass spectrum and a tandem mass spectrum.

A mass spectrometer includes an ion source, an extraction device, a TOF mass analyzer, an ion trap mass analyzer, and an ion guiding optical element which guides at least one of extracted ions from the ion source and extracted ion fragments into the TOF mass analyzer in a normal mode of operation and into the IT mass analyzer in a tandem mode of operation. The apparatus operates by producing ions from a sample, extracting the ions from the ion source, selecting between the TOF mass analyzer and the IT mass analyzer, directing extracted ions to the selected mass analyzer, mass-separating the directed ions and fragments of the directed ions according to a mass-to-charge ratio, detecting mass-separated ions with the selected mass analyzer, and producing at least one of a normal mass spectrum and a tandem mass spectrum.

A CID gas is introduced into a collision cell (14). An application voltage is set so that mass separation is not substantially effected by a third-stage quadrupole (17). While mass scanning in a predetermined range is effected by a first-stage quadrupole (13), mass spectrometry of a reference sample whose mass / charge ratio is known is effected. Various species of product ions originated from precursor ions selected by the first-stage quadrupole (13) are not separated, reach a detector (18), and are detected. Therefore, a data processing unit (25) acquires the relation between the voltage applied to the first-stage quadrupole (13) and the determined mass / charge ratio of the ions on the basis of the detected data. The relation reflects the time delay at the collision cell and is stored in a calibration data storage unit (26). By using the relation for neutral loss scanning measurement, the mass variation due to the time delay at the collision cell (14) is solved, and product ions over the whole mass range can be detected with high sensitivity. A mass spectrum having a high-accuracy mass axis can be created.

A mass analysis of a standard sample having a known mass-to-charge ratio is carried out by performing a mass scan at a first-stage quadrupole (13) over a predetermined mass range, under the condition that a collision induced dissociation (CID) gas is introduced into a collision cell (14) and a voltage applied to a third-stage quadrupole (17) is set so that no substantial mass separation occurs in this quadrupole. Various kinds of product ions originating from a precursor ion selected by the first-stage quadrupole (13) arrive at and are detected by a detector (18) without being mass separated. Accordingly, based on the detection data, a data processor (25) can obtain a relationship between the voltage applied to the first-stage quadrupole (13) and the mass-to-charge ratio of the selected ions, with a time delay in the collision cell (14) reflected in that relationship. This relationship is stored in a calibration data memory (26), to be utilized in a neutral loss scan measurement or the like. By using this relationship, a mass shift due to the time delay in the collision cell (14) can be cancelled, so that the product ions can be detected with high sensitivity over the entire mass range. Furthermore, a mass spectrum having an accurate mass axis can be created.

A method of analysing ions is disclosed comprising performing an initial multi-dimensional survey scan comprising separating parent ions according to a first physico-chemical property (e.g. ion mobility) and then separating the parent ions according to a second physico-chemical property (e.g. mass to charge ratio). A plurality of parent ions of interest are then determined from the initial multi-dimensional survey scan. Once parent ions of interest have been determined, the plurality of parent ions of interest are sequentially selected based upon the first and second physico-chemical properties during a single cycle of separation. The parent ions of interest may then be fragmented and corresponding fragment ions may then be mass analysed.

A mass analysis of a standard sample having a known mass-to-charge ratio is carried out by performing a mass scan at a first-stage quadrupole (13) over a predetermined mass range, under the condition that a collision induced dissociation (CID) gas is introduced into a collision cell (14) and a voltage applied to a third-stage quadrupole (17) is set so that no substantial mass separation occurs in this quadrupole. Various kinds of product ions originating from a precursor ion selected by the first-stage quadrupole (13) arrive at and are detected by a detector (18) without being mass separated. Accordingly, based on the detection data, a data processor (25) can obtain a relationship between the voltage applied to the first-stage quadrupole (13) and the mass-to-charge ratio of the selected ions, with a time delay in the collision cell (14) reflected in that relationship. This relationship is stored in a calibration data memory (26), to be utilized in a neutral loss scan measurement or the like. By using this relationship, a mass shift due to the time delay in the collision cell (14) can be cancelled, so that the product ions can be detected with high sensitivity over the entire mass range. Furthermore, a mass spectrum having an accurate mass axis can be created.

While applying a square wave voltage to the ion electrode (21) so that ions already captured in the ion trap (20) do not disperse, the frequency of the square wave voltage is temporarily increased at the timing when the ions generated in response to the short time irradiation of a laser light reach the ion inlet (25). This decreases the Mathieu parameter qz, and the potential well becomes shallow, which makes it easy for ions to enter the ion trap (20). Although the ions that have been already captured become more likely to disperse, the frequency of the square wave voltage is decreased before they deviate from the stable orbit. Thus, the dispersion of the ions can also be avoided. Accordingly, while the number of captured ions is not decreased, new ions are further added, and thereby the amount of ions can be increased. By performing a mass separation and detection after that, the signal intensity in one mass analysis can be increased. Thereby, the number of repetition of the mass analysis for summing up the mass profiles can be decreased, and the signal intensity can be increased while decreasing the measuring time.

A novel method and apparatus for Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FTICR-MS). The FTICR-MS apparatus has a pre-ICR mass separation and filtering device capable of receiving ionized molecules with a plurality of mass to charge (M / Z) sub-ranges. The pre-ICR mass separation and filtering device divides the ionized molecules into a plurality of smaller packets, each of the smaller packets is within one of the M / Z sub-ranges. A magnet in the FTICR-MS apparatus provides a controlled magnetic field. A plurality of ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) cells are arranged in series in the controlled magnetic field and operate independently. An ion trapping device connects the pre-ICR mass separation and filtering device, and stores one of the plurality of smaller packets, prior to sending it to one of the plurality of ICR cells.

A mass analysis of a sample having a known mass-to-charge ratio is carried out by performing a scan at a first-stage quadrupole over a predetermined mass range, under the condition that a collision induced dissociation gas is introduced into a collision cell and a voltage applied to a third-stage quadrupole is set so that no substantial mass separation occurs in this quadrupole. Various product ions originating from a precursor ion selected by the first-stage quadrupole arrive at and are detected by a detector without being mass separated. Accordingly, based on the detection data, a data processor can obtain a relationship between the voltage applied to the first-stage quadrupole and the mass-to-charge ratio of the selected ions, with a time delay in the collision cell reflected in that relationship. This relationship is stored in a calibration data memory, to be utilized in a neutral loss scan measurement or the like.

An ion beam apparatus comprises an ion source 2 which extracts an ion beam 4, a mass separation electromagnet 6 which separates an ion beam 4 of desired mass from the ion beam 4 extracted from the ion source 2, a scanner 12 which scans the injected ion beam 4 with a given scan center as center within a given scan surface, an electrostatic deflector 30 which deflects the ion beam through 90° so that an ion beam of desired energy in said ion beam travels in a direction perpendicular to said scan surface within a circular-arc-shaped deflection zone centered on the scan center, and a scanning mechanism 54 which retains a target 50 and which mechanically, reciprocally moves the target 54 in a direction in which the target crosses the ion beam passed from the electrostatic deflector 30 at a given angle.

A gas chromatography / mass spectrometry system includes two sample introduction parts, a gas chromatography part having two columns, a column oven for housing the two columns in a parallel configuration, an interface part through which an outlet end of each of the two columns is inserted, and a mass spectrometry part. The mass spectrometry part has an ionization chamber to which the outlet ends of the columns inserted through the interface part are connected, a mass separation part, an ion detector, and a vacuum chamber for housing the ionization chamber, the mass separation part, and the detector. Because the outlet ends of the parallel columns are both connected to the ionization chamber, the carrier gas flow and line velocity are the same as though there is one column, thereby avoiding line stagnation. Since analyses can be performed selectively with a single system, results having high reliability and precision can be obtained.

An aerosol TOF MS of the present invention is based on the use of quadrupole lenses with angular gradient of the electrostatic field. On the entrance side, the TOF MS contains an ion-optic system that is used for focusing, aligning, and time-modulating the ionized flow of particles and a deflector modulator that provides alternating deflections of the flow of particles between two positions for aligning the flow with two inlet openings into the TOF MS. As a result, two independently analyzed discrete flows of particles pass through the ion mass separation chamber of the TOF MS without interference with each other. The charged particles fly in direct and return paths along helical trajectories which extend the length of the flight time. The time of the collision and the magnitude of the collision pulse will contain information about the M / Z ratio for the particles being registered. Multiplication of a single flow of particles into a plurality of independent and spatially separated flows propagating in one chamber increases efficiency of the TOF MS and makes it possible to use it in continuous and high-duty applications with the duty cycle as high as 98%, which is unattainable with any known device of this class.

A mass spectrometer having an ion source section capable of creating positive ions and negative ions at high efficiency. The ion source is comprised of an ion source section for creating ions of a sample gas, a mass spectrometric section for conducting mass separation of created ions, linear RF generating multipole electrodes, magnetic fields generation means, a sample gas introduction system, a reaction gas introduction system and an electron source in which the linear RF generating multipole electrodes generate linear RF multipole electric fields. A static magnetic fields is applied in parallel on the center axis where the linear RF multipole electric fields are zero. A sample gas and a reagent gas are introduced into the ion source section. Electrons are injected for creating reaction of the positive ions or negative ions.

The invention discloses an umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) separation culture and amplification method. The umbilical cord MSC separation culture and amplification method comprises the steps of (1) clearing, (2) treatment, (3) culture, and (4) inoculation and passage. The umbilical cord MSC method obtained by adopting a tissue mass separation method is simple, the cost is low, cell activity is good, purity is high, the final harvested cell concentration is high, the obtained MSC method is simple, MSCs can be quickly and efficiently separated, the culture time is shortened, after culture is conducted for 4-5 days, it can be seen that the cells climb out from tissue masses, the final harvested cell concentration is high, and the entire umbilical cord MSC culture process can be standardized, programmed and normalized.

A method of separating ions according to their time of flight is provided comprising: a. providing an analyzer comprising two opposing ion mirrors, each mirror comprising inner and outer field-defining electrode systems elongated along an analyzer axis with the outer field-defining electrode system surrounding the inner field-defining electrode system and creating therebetween an analyzer volume; b. injecting ions into the analyzer volume or creating ions within the analyzer volume so that they separate according to their time of flight as they travel along a main flight path while undergoing a plurality of axial oscillations in the direction of the analyzer axis and a plurality of radial oscillations while orbiting about one or more inner field-defining electrodes; c. the plurality of axial oscillations and plurality of radial oscillations causing the separated ions to intercept an exit port after a predetermined number of orbits. Also provided is an analyzer for performing the method, comprising: the two opposing ion mirrors which abut at a first plane, wherein the outer field-defining electrode system of one mirror comprises two sections, the sections abutting at a second plane, comprising a first section between the first plane and the second plane, and a second section adjacent the first section and wherein the first section has at least a portion which extends radially from the analyzer axis a greater extent than an adjacent portion of the second section at the second plane.

The content of the invention comprises a concept of multi-beam ion pre-selection from a single sample, coordinated mobility (against the gas flow) separation, cooling ions in supersonic gas flow and mass separation of thus low divergent ions by single or plural compact high-resolution orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometers both linear or reflectron type with controlled collision-induced dissociation (CID) and multi-channel data recording for the optimization of sample use in the analysis, and obtaining as much useful information about the sample as possible in a reasonably short time.

An ion beam apparatus comprises an ion source 2 which extracts an ion beam 4, a mass separation electromagnet 6 which separates an ion beam 4 of desired mass from the ion beam 4 extracted from the ion source 2, a scanner 12 which scans the injected ion beam 4 with a given scan center as center within a given scan surface, an electrostatic deflector 30 which deflects the ion beam through 90° so that an ion beam of desired energy in said ion beam travels in a direction perpendicular to said scan surface within a circular-arc-shaped deflection zone centered on the scan center, and a scanning mechanism 54 which retains a target 50 and which mechanically, reciprocally moves the target 54 in a direction in which the target crosses the ion beam passed from the electrostatic deflector 30 at a given angle.

A mass spectrometer has an ionizing portion for ionizing a sample, a mass spectrometric portion for subjecting a sample ion to mass separation and detecting the sample ion and a control portion for controlling operation of a total of the apparatus. The mass spectrometer is provided with a colliding portion provided at an ion path until a sample ion generated by the ionizing portion is introduced to amass spectrometric portion and a gas introducing portion for introducing one kind or more of gases selected from two kinds or more of gases into the colliding portion. By carrying out analysis by using the apparatus, highly accurate mass spectrometry can be carried out.

A mass spectrometry system for continuous control of environment based on the use of an aerosol TOF MS that provides operation with a high duty cycle of up to 98% and can be realized in the form of a mobile unit having a data acquisition and analysis system with three levels of data correlation on the basis of constant interaction between various actuating mechanisms of the system via a central processing unit. The TOF MS is based on the use of quadrupole lenses with angular gradient of the electrostatic field. As a result, two independently analyzed discrete flows of particles pass through the ion mass separation chamber of the TOF MS without interference with each other. The system can be mounted either on an underwater and ground vehicle, or on an aircraft.