METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY

摘要

The present invention relates to mass spectrometry and, more particularly, to the scheduling of the steps involved in performing mass spectrometry. The present invention will be of particular benefit to types of mass spectrometry that generate large quantities of data and hence give rise to lengthy data-processing. The present invention provides a method of mass spectrometry comprising a plurality of cycles, each cycle comprising the steps of (a) preparing ions to be analysed by a mass spectrometer; (b) using a detector of the mass spectrometer to collect data from the ions prepared in step (a); and (c) processing the data collected in step (b) with processing means; wherein at least a part of step (a) and/or a part of step (b) of a cycle is performed concurrently with part (c) of a previous cycle.