Thermo Fisher Scientific Introduces New MALDI LTQ XL Mass Spectrometer with ImageQuest Software for Tissue Imaging

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today launched a new, sensitive tissue-imaging platform, combining its Thermo Scientific MALDI LTQ XL™ mass spectrometer with ImageQuest™ software. This platform makes it easier for scientists to analyze whole tissue, biological and polymer samples without extensive sample preparation. The new system will be showcased at the Thermo Scientific booth 1741 at PITTCON 2008, being held March 3–6 in New Orleans.

The addition of MALDI (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization) to the LTQ XL linear ion trap provides information-rich spectra that are essential for the analysis of digested proteins, peptides and post-translational modifications (PTMs). This tissue-imaging solution provides researchers with unparalleled sensitivity and unmatched MSn spectral quality of linear ion trap technology as well as faster sample analysis, compared with the standard practice of homogenizing and extracting from tissue.

For small molecule applications, the Thermo Scientific MALDI LTQ XL with ImageQuest software offers pathologists and pharmaceutical researchers a complete package for the acquisition and presentation of MS images directly from tissue samples. Intuitive ImageQuest software enables the visualization of imaging data, creating two-dimensional and three-dimensional maps of analyzed tissue for the optimal display of data.

The MALDI LTQ XL instrument provides extensive benefits to research institutions, mass spectrometry service facilities and pharmaceutical laboratories, particularly for drug discovery applications and high-throughput, bottom-up protein identification. The new MALDI LTQ XL with ImageQuest platform is also available for the Thermo Scientific LTQ Orbitrap hybrid series mass spectrometers.