US 12,339,261 B2
Method and apparatus for mass analysing a sample
Sonja Klee, Reutigen (CH); Steffen Bräkling, Thun (CH); Marc Gonin, Thun (CH); Urs Rohner, Thun (CH); and Carsten Stoermer, Thun (CH)
Assigned to TOFWERK AG, Thun (CH)
Filed by TOFWERK AG, Thun (CH)
Filed on Apr. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/724,735.
Claims priority of application No. 21 169 458 (EP), filed on Apr. 20, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0334092 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 30/72 (2006.01); G01N 30/86 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 30/7266 (2013.01) [G01N 30/8644 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for mass analysing a sample by ionising said sample to first sample ions and to second sample ions and by obtaining mass spectra from said first sample ions and said second sample ions with a mass analyser, including
a) repeatedly, obtaining a first assay from said sample, transferring said first assay past any chromatography column to a first ion source and ionising said first assay by said first ion source to said first sample ions, transferring said first sample ions obtained from the respective said first assay to said mass analyser and obtaining at least one first mass spectrum with said mass analyser from said first sample ions obtained from the respective said first assay and ionised by and transferred from said first ion source, and
b) at least once, obtaining a second assay from said sample within a time window being associated with the respective said second assay and having a window width, transferring the respective said second assay for chromatographic separation via a chromatography column to at least one second ion source in that after being chromatographically separated, the respective said second assay eluting from said chromatography column is transferred to said at least one second ion source, ionising the respective said second assay by said at least one second ion source to said second sample ions, transferring said second sample ions obtained from the respective said second assay to said mass analyser and obtaining at least one second mass spectrum with said mass analyser from said second sample ions obtained from the respective said second assay which has been ionised by and transferred from said at least one second ion source, and
c) assigning each one of said at least one second mass spectrum to one or more of said at least one first mass spectrum from said first sample ions obtained from one of said first assays which has been obtained from said sample within said time window associated with the respective said second assay which has been chromatographically separated and ionised by said at least one second ion source to said second sample ions from which the respective one of said at least one second mass spectrum has been obtained.