Patent ID: 6847035

Claim:
A device for determining the mass of a particle, groups of similar mass particles or the like ionized from a sample, comprising means for ionizing a sample or portion of a sample and a flight chamber ( 9 ); a source ( 19 ) of electromagnetic radiation having a first beam ( 21 ) directed onto the nominal flight path FP nom that the particle ( 15 ) is intended to take through said flight chamber ( 9 ); first electromagnetic radiation detection means ( 11 ) arranged to detect scattered electromagnetic radiation from said first beam ( 21 ); control means ( 23 ) for determining the time between a) said sample or portion of a sample being ionized and b) electromagnetic radiation ( 25 ) scattered by the particle, groups of similar mass particles or the like ionized from said sample or portion of a sample being detected by first electromagnetic radiation detection means ( 11 ).