Bruker introduces novel timsMetabo mass spectrometer introduced at ASMS 2025

At the 73rd Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics (ASMS), Bruker Corporation has introduced timsMetabo™, a peak-performance 4D-Metabolomics™ mass spectrometer delivering unprecedented sensitivity, separation power and annotation confidence for small molecules, further enhanced by the novel TIMS ‘MoRE’ scan-mode.

The timsMetabo™ system enables the generation of a ‘digital metabolome archive’ for every sample, providing TIMS-enabled qual-quant performance with greatly increased confidence for automated annotation, leveraging 4D separations and reproducible molecular collision cross sections (CCS) at scale for 4D-Metabolomics and 4D-Lipidomics™.

Breakthrough timsMetabo™ performance with MoRE

The benchtop timsMetabo™ system combines unique and powerful trapped ion mobility separation (TIMS) technology and time-focussing for exceptional sensitivity. Novel Mobility Range Enhancement (MoRE) acquisition leverages the enhanced ion capacity of the dual-stage TIMS-MX ion funnel, expanding its mass-to-charge and mobility ranges.

Coupled with a new high-precision quadrupole and the innovative Athena Ion Processor (AIP), the timsMetabo™ is the next-generation 4D-Metabolomics research and validation workhorse for unprecedented confidence in small molecule analysis in complex mixtures – with sensitivity at speed and scale.

The timsMetabo™ excels at resolving isomers, isobars, and interferences in routine operation owing to its unique additional real-time gas phase CCS ion separation capability, delivering highly-selective MS1-based quantification – at speed and scale.

For assays requiring precision at the limit of quantitation, the AIP-equipped timsMetabo™ provides cleaner, less-chimeric MS/MS acquisition at rates up to 300 Hz for targeted quantitative analysis using parallel reaction monitoring. The AIP leverages mobility information encoded by TIMS in each acquisition cycle for optimal transfer of MS and MS/MS-derived ions for TOF mass analysis.

These novel features synergistically produce a rich digital metabolome archive of metabolite identity and quantity from each sample, enabling confident analysis, and enabling AI in metabolomics with machine learning from large-scale, high-quality data sets. The timsMetabo™ supports both HESI and CSI ion sources for coupling with analytical flow, microflow and nanoflow high-performance liquid chromatography.

QSee™ quality control suite by Bruker

Bruker also launched the QSee™ quality control (QC) suite of software and reference materials for automated evaluation of instrument performance and long-term monitoring via cloud-based TwinScape™ software.

In partnership with Polymer Factory Sweden AB, the leading manufacturer of stable polymer-based mass spectrometry calibrants, the SpheriCal^® platform has been extended to include the new QSee ™8-mix for assessment of chromatographic and mass spectrometry performance. Results are archived for comparison across time using the TwinScape™ cloud-based solution already available for proteomics.

Additionally, TASQ^®’s RealTimeQC capabilities for within-batch data quality monitoring have been enhanced with improved data visualization including LC system pressure.

Dr. Matthew Lewis, VP Metabolomics and Lipidomics at Bruker, commented, "The novel timsMetabo represents a step-change in 4D-Metabolomics and 4D-Lipidomics, and a sustained commitment to innovation in these application spaces. With an unrelenting focus, we are elevating our customer’s hands-on experience by listening to their needs and delivering unique features in data analysis, confidence in automated metabolite annotation, and informed quality monitoring."

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