Multiplexing of ions for improved sensitivity

A method for multiplexed precursor ion selection using a filtered noise field (FNF), comprising:

• selecting two or more different precursor ions from a continuous beam of ions in a first quadrupole Q0 using a processor by calculating an FNF waveform that includes notches for frequency components corresponding to the two or more different precursor ions;
• applying the calculated FNF waveform to rods or electrodes in the first quadrupole Q0 using the processor by sending information to a mass spectrometer, which includes
• an ion source that provides the continuous beam of ions,
• the first quadrupole Q0 that receives the continuous beam of ions, so that the first quadrupole Q0 applies the calculated FNF waveform to rods or electrodes in the first quadrupole Q0 to excite a mass range of the continuous beam of ions with a comb of frequency components and notches to select the two or more different precursor ions within the mass range and transmit the two or more different precursor ions and the precursor ions outside of the mass range, wherein the frequency components remove corresponding precursor ions from the continuous beam of ions and the notches prevent the removal of the two or more different precursor ions within the mass range and wherein the two or more different precursor ions and the precursor ions outside of the mass range are selected and transmitted at the same time by applying the calculated FNF waveform to the rods or electrodes in the first quadrupole Q0, and
• a second quadrupole Q1 that receives the two or more different precursor ions and the precursor ions outside of the mass range transmitted from the first quadrupole Q0 and is adapted to apply a radio frequency (RF) potential and a resolving direct current (DC) potential to excite the received ions to remove the precursor ions outside of the mass range;
• calculating an RF potential and a DC potential to be applied to excite the received ions in order to remove the precursor ions outside of the mass range that includes the two or more different precursor ions;
• and
• sending additional control information to the mass spectrometer so that the second quadrupole Q1 applies the calculated RF potential and DC potential to excite the received ions and remove the precursor ions outside of the mass range.

A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory and tangible computer-readable storage medium whose contents include a program with instructions being executed on a processor so as to perform a method for multiplexed precursor ion selection using a filtered noise field (FNF), comprising:

• providing a system, wherein the system comprises one or more distinct software modules, and wherein the distinct software modules comprise an analysis module and a control module;
• selecting two or more different precursor ions from a continuous beam of ions in a first quadrupole Q0 using the analysis module by calculating an FNF waveform that includes notches for frequency components corresponding to the two or more different precursor ions;
• applying the calculated FNF waveform to rods or electrodes in the first quadrupole Q0 using the control module by sending information to a mass spectrometer, which includes
• an ion source that provides the continuous beam of ions,
• the first quadrupole Q0 that receives the continuous beam of ions, so that the first quadrupole Q0 applies the calculated FNF waveform to the rods or electrodes in the first quadrupole Q0 to excite a mass range of the continuous beam of ions with a comb of frequency components and notches to select two or more different precursor ions within the mass range and transmit the two or more different precursor ions and the precursor ions outside of the mass range, wherein the frequency components remove corresponding precursor ions from the continuous beam of ions and the notches prevent the removal of the two or more different precursor ions within the mass range and wherein the two or more different precursor ions and the precursor ions outside of the mass range are selected and transmitted at the same time by applying the calculated FNF waveform to the rods or electrodes in the first quadrupole Q0, and
• a second quadrupole Q1 that receives the two or more different precursor ions and the precursor ions outside of the mass range transmitted from the first quadrupole Q0 and is adapted to apply a radio frequency (RF) potential and a resolving direct current (DC) potential to excite the received ions to remove the precursor ions outside of the mass range;
• calculating an RF potential and a DC potential to be applied to excite the received ions in order to remove the precursor ions outside of the mass range that includes the two or more different precursor ions;
• and
• sending additional control information to the mass spectrometer so that the second quadrupole Q1 applies the calculated RF potential and DC potential to excite the received ions and remove the precursor ions outside of the mass range.