Patent ID: 8190375
Filing Date: 2012-05-29
Classification: G01N,G16B,G16C,H01J

Abstract:
1. A method for characterizing a sample containing at least one compound, wherein a computer system controls a time resolved detection system and a mass resolved detection system, the method comprising: a) generating, with the computer system, a three-dimensional first set of data by analyzing the sample using at least one time resolved separation technique and at least one mass resolved separation technique, wherein the first set of data comprises at least one signal I as a function of a mass variable over a first range of measurement and of a time variable over a second range of measurement, the mass variable being derived from a mass of the sample, and the time variable being representative of a progression of time for the time resolved separation technique; b) dividing, with the computer system, the first range of measurement into at least two mass variable intervals and selecting an extracted signal for each mass variable interval, wherein the extracted signal is a function of the time variable; then c) dividing, with the computer system, the second range of measurement into at least two variable time intervals and selecting at least one characteristic value for each time variable interval and for each extracted signal, whereby a characteristic sample profile is generated, the characteristic sample profile comprising the at least one characteristic value as a function of the respective time variable interval and of the respective mass variable interval.