VACUUM SCIENCE BLOG

What is mass spectrometry 

Mass spectrometry – an analytical technique that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of ions and, in forensic science, one of the best ways for toxicologists to identify and analyse substances.

In the forensic community, it’s heralded as the “gold standard” and the “near universal test” for isolating and assessing unknown agents. As a result, its widest application is in the analysis of drugs (including drug metabolites and drug paraphernalia).

Registration for Space Tech Expo Connect is now Open

The much-anticipated virtual version of the premier trade show for the aerospace industry has launched this week. A highly interactive digital event experience; Space Tech Expo Connect will take place August 10 – 13.

As applications using vacuum technologies evolve and become ever more precise, the vacuum systems and pumps used have even less margin for error than ever before. In every operation that uses vacuum – particularly where incredibly precise instruments are involved (R&D, mass spectrometry) – the preservation of the vacuum is of the utmost importance.

The reality is that unforeseen problems in a vacuum can be catastrophic for the process, the environment and the operator, and one which can prove tricky is a vacuum leak.

The American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) is the largest society in the world of Mass Spectrometry and its applications. Its Annual Conference is held at varying locations in the USA and Canada with around 6,500 participants, some 3,000 posters and 400 oral presentations alongside a large vendor exhibition. This year's conference was planned in Houston, Texas for May 31 - June 4 but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the conference was shifted from a face-to-face event into an online format.

For business and organisations in the vacuum technology space, COVID-19 has changed the way in which they operate indefinitely – with many experiencing the effects in different ways. It has, without a doubt, been a harsh and challenging year, but signs of recovery are on the horizon as government-imposed lockdowns ease and many of these businesses and organisations resume (in some way) operations. .

.Functional Principle 

Diaphragm pumps - also known as membrane pumps - are positive displacements pumps used in the rough vacuum range from 0,5 to 1000 mbar. A membrane (rubber, Viton ® or Teflon® ) is moving up and down in the pump body compressing and exhausting gas coming from the inlet. Inlet and exhaust check valves are actuated by the pressure difference.

In our previous blog, we outlined the importance of vacuum technology in a number of medical procedures and treatments. In part three, we discuss how vacuum technology is fundamental for medical analysis through MRI, Mass Spectrometers and Electron Microscopes.

In our previous blog, we outlined the growing uses of vacuum technology in the medical industry including central vacuum systems and x-rays. In part two, we discuss how vacuum technology is fundamental for the development of Tumour Therapy, Proton Therapy and Heavy Ion Therapy.

Vacuum technology plays an important role in a number of health care and life sciences applications. We find vacuum pumps in all major hospitals and in many analytic instruments used in diagnostics and research. This blog will provide an overview of the medical applications that utilise vacuum technology today.

In December 19, 2019 we mentioned that dry screw pumps in food industry application are more often replacing wet pumps. We found a useful link about dry vacuum pumps in food packaging. Please follow https://blog.leybold.com/disrupting-food-packaging. In this blog, Jim Hupp, an experienced technician working in the Midwest USA explains the advantage of dry pumps compared to other pump types in this industry.