Apparatus and method for identifying peaks in liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry data and for forming spectra and chromatograms

A method for analyzing a sample, comprising:

• introducing the sample into a liquid chromatograph for chromatographic separation to a liquid chromatograph output;
• introducing the liquid chromatograph output into a mass spectrometer that outputs a plurality of mass spectra of the sample at discrete times;
• inputting two or more of the plurality of mass spectra into a computer;
• storing the two or more mass spectra in a two-dimensional data matrix;
• specifying a two-dimensional filter to apply to the data matrix;
• applying the two-dimensional filter to the data matrix to generate an output data matrix;
• and
• examining the output data matrix to detect ions in the sample by identifying one or more peaks in the output data matrix, wherein each peak corresponds to an ion in the sample.

A system for analyzing a sample, comprising:

• means for introducing the sample into a liquid chromatograph for chromatographic separation to a liquid chromatograph output;
• means for introducing the liquid chromatograph output into a mass spectrometer that outputs a plurality of mass spectra of the sample at discrete times;
• means for inputting two or more of the plurality of mass spectra into a computer;
• means for storing the two or more mass spectra in a two-dimensional data matrix;
• means for specifying a two-dimensional filter to apply to the data matrix;
• means for applying the two-dimensional filter to the data matrix to generate an output data matrix;
• and
• means for examining the output data matrix to detect ions in the sample by identifying one or more peaks in the output data matrix, wherein each peak corresponds to an ion in the sample.