Technology
ASTON Platform
ATON Platform
Mass Spectrometry
Mass spectrometers are available in various sizes, capabilities, and price ranges and have utility in vastly different applications. Mass spec measures the mass of a molecule after ionizing the molecule to a gas-phase anion. The instrument imparts an electrical charge to molecules and converts the resultant flux of electrically charged ions into a proportional electrical current that a data system then reads. The data system converts the current to digital information, displaying it as a mass spectrum.
A wide variety of applications beyond our initial entry in advanced semiconductor manufacturing creates a large potential market for ASTON for the foreseeable future. Researchers from various disciplines within chemistry, biochemistry, and physics regularly depend on mass spectrometric analysis.
- Oil and Gas
Natural fuels are complex mixtures. The value depends on composition and contamination levels. The ASTON platform is well suited for fast, accurate analysis of natural gas samples. - Pharmaceutical
Scientists rely on the specificity, dynamic range, and sensitivity of MS to differentiate closely related metabolites and thus identify and quantify metabolites. Particularly in drug discovery, where compound identification and purity from synthesis and early pharmacokinetics are determined, MS has proved indispensable. - Life Science Research
Biochemists use MS for protein, peptide and oligonucleotide analysis. They monitor enzyme reactions, confirm amino acid sequences, identify proteins, monitor protein-ligand complex formation under physiological conditions. - Environment
Food safety and environmental researchers use MS in water quality studies and to measure pesticide residues in foods.
ASTON Differentiation
HyperQuad Technology
- The hyperbolic quadrupole sensor provides greater sensitivity, even at high sample rates.
- 10 parts per billion sensitivity
- Broad dynamic range, accuracy, repeatability, and stability
Plasma Ionization Method
- The ASTON μ-Plasma ion source was developed to work in corrosive gas conditions and match a typical preventive maintenance cycle of ~500 RF hours for semiconductor process tools
- Uniquely, ASTON takes advantage of using the process cleaning gases to clean itself of condensing particles during the normal chamber clean cycles
Advanced Vacuum Controller (AVC)
- AVC integrates with the process chambers for fast changes in process gases
- Measures dwell times as low as 1 msec, or up to 1000 data points per second
Optical Spectroscopy
The ATON System delivers quantitative, lab-quality multiplex panel results in minutes in an easy-to-use platform.
A laser delivers pulses to the sample, which causes the molecules to vibrate. Sensors collect scattered light. The software identifies the molecular signatures and calculates the concentrations of each target in the test panel.
Real-time results inform next steps in experimental design.
A laser delivers pulses to the sample, which causes the molecules to vibrate. Sensors collect scattered light. The software identifies the molecular signatures and calculates the concentrations of each target in the test panel.
Real-time results inform next steps in experimental design.
Life Science Research
The ATON System can be used to execute a variety of high multiplex cell-based assays to understand biological systems at the cellular level. Applications include immunophenotyping, single cell imaging, spatial biology and R&D in biobrocessing.
In vitro diagnostics
We expect that some of the tests developed in the life science tools business will evolve into high-value in vitro diagnostic tests.
ATON Differentiation
- Broad menu of tests on a single instrument
The ATON System uses molecular profiles and proprietary chemistries. Common sample types can be analyzed on a single cost-effective instrument. Users can run assays on demand in their own lab and take control of their experiments rather than relying on a core lab. - Lab-quality performance
Each test will be validated against its respective lab reference standard. With the ATON System, scientists will have the benefit of both core lab performance and real-time results. - Simple to use.
The ATON System provides users with visual, step-by-step instructions for and performing the test. - Multiplex
Routine experiments can be designed for 20-plex assays or more to elucidate interactions between cells.
ATON Advantages
- Detailed molecular analysis.
The ATON System offers detailed sample characterization by probing individual chemical bond vibrations. As a result, the spectrum is information-rich and contains data relating to the specific chemical structure of the material being analyzed. It can be used to fully characterize composition. - Non-destructive.
Analysis with the ATON System can be done non-destructively. Thus, it is possible to analyze samples and retain them for additional analysis by other techniques, if necessary. - Suitable for in situ, in vitro, and in vivo analysis.
Since analysis is a non-destructive technique, it is suitable for true in-situ analysis. It can be used to probe chemical reactions within a reaction vessel, without perturbing the reaction in any way. It can be used for in vitro and in vivo analyses, including the analysis of cosmetics on the skin, single-cell characterization for micro-biology, and drug-cell interactions for intelligent drug design.