Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid Mass Spectrometer - Product Specifications

Significance of the topic

The Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid mass spectrometer represents a milestone in high-performance mass spectrometry. By integrating three distinct mass analyzers—quadrupole, linear ion trap, and Orbitrap—in a single platform, it addresses challenges in detecting low-abundance analytes, resolving complex mixtures, and characterizing diverse biomolecules. Its versatility underpins advances in proteomics, metabolomics, glycomics, lipidomics, and small-molecule analysis.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note details the design, operational principles, and performance characteristics of the Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Fusion. It aims to illustrate how the Tribrid architecture and flexible fragmentation methods enable deeper compound identification, accurate quantitation, and confident structural elucidation in complex samples.

Methodology and Analytical Approach

The system leverages a tribrid configuration to combine:

• Quadrupole mass filter for precursor selection over m/z 50–3000 with isolation windows from 0.4 to 1200 amu.
• Linear ion trap with dual‐pressure cells, enabling CID and ETD, rapid scan rates, and expanded mass range up to m/z 4000.
• Ultra-high-field Orbitrap analyzer offering up to 500,000 resolution (FWHM at m/z 200), mass accuracy below 1 ppm, and mass range to m/z 6000.

Multiple fragmentation modes (CID, HCD, ETD, EThCD) can be applied at any MSn stage with fragment detection in either analyzer. Parallelization and Dynamic Scan Management maximize data throughput and quality.

Main Results and Discussion

The Orbitrap Fusion achieves scan rates up to 20 Hz in both MS and MSn modes, sub-ppm mass accuracy with internal calibration, and high dynamic range (>5000 within a single scan). Synchronous precursor selection permits up to 20 coisolated ions for MS3 quantitation workflows. Options for multiplexing, polarity switching in 1.1 seconds, and automated gain control further enhance performance. These capabilities translate into improved peptide coverage in isobaric labeling experiments and sensitive detection of trace metabolites.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The Tribrid platform supports a wide spectrum of workflows:

• Bottom-up and top-down proteomics with confident PTM mapping.
• Targeted quantitation using high-resolution SIM and MS/MS confirmation.
• Structural analysis of small molecules and glycopeptides via sequential fragmentation.
• Label-free differential analysis and isobaric tag quantitation.

This versatility streamlines laboratory operations and accelerates discovery in life sciences and quality-control settings.

Instrumentation used

• Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid Mass Spectrometer with quadrupole, ion trap, Orbitrap analyzers
• Thermo Scientific EASY-Max NG, Ion Max NG, NanoSpray Flex NG, EASY-ETD, EASY-Spray, and EASY-IC ion sources
• Split-flow turbomolecular pump and precision low-mTorr vacuum control
• Xcalibur processing and instrument control software with dynamic scan management

Future trends and opportunities

Emerging directions include integration with advanced separation techniques (e.g. ion mobility), data processing accelerated by machine learning, real-time decision making in data-dependent acquisition, and expanded multiplexing to boost throughput. Further miniaturization and enhanced robustness will broaden adoption in regulated environments.

Conclusion

The Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid system establishes a new benchmark in analytical performance by uniting complementary analyzers, diverse fragmentation strategies, and intelligent software control. Its ability to deliver high resolution, mass accuracy, speed, and sensitivity in a single platform empowers researchers to tackle the most challenging analytical problems.

Reference

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