Man-Portable and Fieldable Mass Spectrometer for Sequencing Peptides

BaySpec Inc., in collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, proposes to develop a new portable multi-order mass spectrometry system that can sequence peptides derived from biological agents including bacteria, viruses, and toxins. During Phase I stage, a fully functional prototype instrument, based on an innovative design concept, was successfully built and the performance evaluation of the instrument confirmed all the design specifications. The focus of the phase II project will be on the development of pre-production prototype of the new miniature mass spectrometer that can be tested in a relative environment outside of a laboratory setting and meet the weight, size, and power consumption requirements. Improving upon the phase I instrument platform, the critical components of the phase II pre-production prototype instrument will also be redesigned/refined to meet the resolution, sensitivity, and mass range requirements. Instrument control and data acquisition software will be developed and implemented in the embedded computer to allow automated instrument parameter optimization, calibration, and MS and data dependent MS/MS analysis.