Increase the resolution of mass spectrometry

Bruker Daltonics has announced Focus, a novel technology (patent applied for) for increasing the resolution of Esi-Tof systems significantly.

The company's new bench-top electrospray ionisation time-of-flight (Esi-Tof) mass spectrometer, called Microtof, was introduced in 2003.

It has quickly become the preferred high-performance choice for customers performing demanding research in drug development, metabonomics, discovery of peptide biomarkers, combichem analysis, etc with robust, compact bench-top Esi-Tof systems.

The Microtof system achieves 10k resolution and robust 3ppm mass accuracy without resorting to so-called W-reflection, during which typically more than 70% of the ions to be measured are lost, compared to normal V-reflection operation.

Such an ion signal loss to gain resolution is unacceptable for most customers and applications.

The new Focus technology, available as a cost-effective $20,000 factory-option for new systems purchases, enables superior resolution of 15k across essentially the entire mass spectrum.

With the Focus option, the Microtof is said to be the unrivalled performance leader in the bench-top Esi-Tof market, outperforming most floor-standing Q-q-Tof type instruments in terms of resolution. Michael Schubert, managing director for R and D at Bruker Daltonik, explained: "As the Focus technology utilises multiple advances in time-of-flight ion optics and ion detection, and not W-reflection, it does not suffer from any loss of ion transmission.

"We believe the Focus capability will be very useful for customers performing drug development, academic or clinical research.

"It is available for new systems orders effective immediately".

For pharmaceutical customers, the Microtof system offers software tools to support customers in achieving 21 CFR Part 11 compliance.

Bruker Daltonics also offers optional IQ, OQ and PV services to FDA-regulated customers.