Mix two parts quadrupole, one part ion trap, and stir: Applied Biosystems, MDS Sciex unveil a hybrid triple-quad/ion trap mass spectrometer. (Tools & Technology).(Brief Article)

Last October, long-time mass spectroscopist Gerard Hopfgartner got a new toy. Applied Biosystems (AB) and its partner, MDS Sciex, sent Hopfgartner, professor of pharmaceutical analytical chemistry at the University of Geneva, a prototype instrument that combines the attributes of triple-quadrupole and ion trap mass spectrometers in a novel, hybrid configuration. Hopfgartner uses the instrument for both small-molecule and proteomics applications, and says he has been "personally quite impressed" with its performance so far. Now the rest of the mass spec community can take a gander as well: The two companies--from Foster City, Calif., and Concord, Ontario, respectively--officially launched the …