Dynamic background signal exclusion in chromatography/mass spectrometry data-dependent, data acquisition

1. A method of obtaining mass spectrographic data of a substance, comprising:

a) subjecting the substance to a chromatographic process and ionizing the output thereof;

b) obtaining a current mass spectrogram of said output;

c) identifying at least one ion having a fast rising mass signal by comparing the current mass spectrum obtained in step (b) against one or more previously acquired mass spectrums of said output; and

d) fragmenting said identified ion and recording a mass spectrum resulting therefrom.

2. A method according to claim 1 , including repeating steps 1(b) to 1(d) for different portions of said output.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein ions having fast rising mass signals are identified by subtracting one of said previously acquired mass spectrums from said current mass spectrum.

4. A method according to claim 2 , wherein ions having fast rising mass signals are identified by subtracting an average of a plurality of said previously acquired mass spectrums from said current mass spectrum.

5. A method according to claim 2 , wherein ions having fast rising mass signals are identified by determining a percentage change in the value of each mass signal in said current mass spectrum against the value of the signal in one of said previously acquired mass spectrums.

6. A method according to claim 2 , wherein ions having fast rising mass signals are identified by determining a percentage change in the value of each mass signal in said current mass spectrum against the average value of the signal in a plurality of said previously acquired mass spectrums.

7. A method according to claim 2 , including placing at least one identified ion on a dynamic exclusion list thereby to enable the identification of other, fast rising ion(s).

8. A method according to claim 2 , including conducting a precursor scan prior to carrying out steps 1(b) to 1(d).

9. A method according to claim 2 , including conducting a neutral loss scan prior to carrying out steps 1(b) to 1(d).

10. A method according to claim 2 , including comparing the mass spectrum obtained from the fragmentation an identified ion against a database of mass spectrums in order to automatically identify an eluting compound.

11. A mass spectrometer system, comprising:

a) a chromatography column;

b) a mass spectrometer, including an ion source for ionizing the output of the chromatographic column, the mass spectrometer being capable of isolating, fragmenting and mass analyzing an ion of selected mass; and

c) a data-dependent, data acquisition controller programmed to operate the mass spectrometer so as to:

i) obtain a current mass spectrogram of said output,

ii) identify one or more ions having fast rising mass signals by comparing the current mass spectrum against one or more previously acquired mass spectra of said output, and

iii) fragmenting of said identified ions and recording a mass spectrum resulting therefrom.

12. A system according to claim 11 , wherein, for different portions of said output, said controller repeatedly obtains a current mass spectrogram of said output, identifies one or more ions having fast rising mass signals by comparing the current mass spectrum against one or more previously acquired mass spectrums of said output, fragments said identified ion(s) and records a mass spectrum resulting therefrom.

13. A system according to claim 11 , wherein ions having fast rising mass signals are identified by subtracting one of said previously acquired mass spectrums from said current mass spectrum.

14. A system according to claim 11 , wherein ions having fast rising mass signals are identified by subtracting an average of a plurality of said previously acquired mass spectrums from said current mass spectrum.

15. A system according to claim 11 , wherein ions having fast rising mass signals are identified by determining a percentage change in the value of each mass signal in said current mass spectrum against its value in one of said previously acquired mass spectrums.

16. A system according to claim 11 , wherein ions having fast rising mass signals are identified by determining a percentage change in the value of each mass signal in said current mass spectrum against its average value in a plurality of said previously acquired mass spectrums.

17. A system according to claim 11 , including placing an identified ion on a dynamic exclusion list thereby to enable the identification of other fast rising ions.

18. A system according to claim 11 , including conducting a precursor scan prior to identifying fast rising mass signals.

19. A system according to claim 11 , including conducting a neutral loss scan prior to identifying fast rising mass signals.

20. A system according to claim 11 , including means for comparing the mass spectrum obtained from the fragmentation of an identified ion against a database of mass spectrums in order to automatically identify an eluting compound.