Axima Performance MALDI TOF TOF Mass Spectrometer

Description

The Shimadzu AXIMA Performance is a MALDI TOF-TOF mass spectrometer intended for high-performance applications requiring detailed structural information. It is designed to deliver high-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) MS/MS spectra, with a laboratory frame collisional energy of 20 keV. The system features a newly redesigned curved-field reflectron and achieves a mass resolution greater than 20,000 FWHM in reflectron mode. A key feature is its gating technology for precursor ion selection, which provides a resolution exceeding 400 FWHM for isolating ions of interest, aiming to prevent spectral overlap from analytes with similar masses. The instrument employs near-axis laser irradiation intended to enhance ion transmission and sensitivity across all operational modes. It offers both high-resolution reflectron mode for applications like peptide mass fingerprinting and a linear mode optimized for analyzing high-mass compounds and complexes. The design is described as gridless to avoid signal loss in MS/MS experiments. Sample consumption is noted to be low, allowing multiple experiments from a single sample spot. The system supports analysis of a broad range of sample classes, including proteins, polymers, oligonucleotides, metabolites, and small molecules. Compatible sample targets include 96- or 384-well microtiter plates and various adaptors. Like other AXIMA systems, it can be integrated with robotic sample preparation devices such as the AccuSpot spotter and CHIP chemical printer for specialized platforms in tissue imaging or automated polymer analysis.