Orbitrap Exploris Mass Spectrometers

Fast track to confident results

Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris mass spectrometry is quantitative high-resolution, accurate-mass (HRAM) liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with record-setting performance for your next-generation laboratory. The power of built-in intelligence, sensitivity and selectivity delivers depth of analysis to the lowest levels with high quantitative accuracy and precision. This extraordinary power is now available in an expanded portfolio to meet your exact analytical requirements. Scale up your research and translate your results more rapidly and simply than ever before with Orbitrap Exploris mass spectrometry.


On this page


The evolution of 20 years of Orbitrap technology

Perfect
Fit

Orbitrap Exploris MX mass detector

Accelerate biopharma commercialization, manufacturing and quality control by easily and reliably obtaining compliance-ready, high-quality mass information.

Learn more

Productivity redefined

Orbitrap Exploris 120 MS

Consistent and accurate data, operational simplicity, instrument ruggedness for method development and everyday testing.


Learn more

Leading Performance

Orbitrap Exploris 240 MS

Precision and accuracy to drive discovery and identification, confidently scale up and achieve impact, with application versatility and operational simplicity.

Learn more

Extraordinary Simplified

Orbitrap Exploris 480 MS

Next-level insights, exploratory and targeted quantitation, next-gen power, performance, and ease of use for proteomics and biopharma applications.

Learn more

 


Why choose an Orbitrap Exploris mass spectrometer for your lab?


Maximize your return on investment in a unified Thermo Scientific mass spectrometry architecture from data acquisition and analysis solutions


Video series: Orbitrap Exploris MS - Ease of use


Which Orbitrap Exploris MS is best suited for your lab?

The Orbitrap Exploris mass spectrometry systems offer a variety of performance features designed to address everyday research to routine testing demands and ideal for addressing mass spectral analysis of low-level components in complex matrices applications. Find the best system to design your next-generation laboratory capabilities and meet your changing business needs for more efficient screening (including targeted, suspected and nontargeted), identification, confirmation and quantitation.

 Orbitrap Exploris 120Orbitrap Exploris 240Orbitrap Exploris 480
 Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris MX mass detector
Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris 120 mass spectrometerThermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris 240 mass spectrometerThermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris 480 mass spectrometer
AnalysesTargeted / non-targeted screening (MS)
Unknown Identification (MS)
Absolute and Relative Quantitation (MS)
Targeted / non-targeted screening (MS)
Unknown Identification (MS)
Confirmation (MS/MS)
Absolute and Relative Quantitation (MS and/or MS2)
Ideal applications
Advanced Data-Dependent ExperimentsN/AN/APrecursor FitSureQuant, Precursor Fit, Boxcar Scanning, TurboTMT
Next generation ion source interface Yes
Quick start methods for various applicationsYes
Drag-n-drop method setup user interfaceYes
Almanac Web-Based Monitoring and ManagementYesRequires Foundation 3.1 SP1 or later
Automated background exclusionN/AN/ARequires Foundation 3.1 SP1 or later
Standard Features
Max Resolution (FWHM) @ m/z 200180,000120,000240,000480,000
Mass Accuracy (Internal Calibration)<1 ppm for up to 5 days with EASY-IC ion source
Calibration procedures
Thermo Scientific Pierce FlexMix Calibration solution
Dynamic Range>5,000 within a single Orbitrap mass analyzer spectrumUp to 5 orders
Mass Rangem/z 40–3,000 up to m/z 8,000 with BioPharma optionm/z 40 – 3,000m/z 40 - 6000
(up to 8000 with BioPharma option)
Scan SpeedUp to 22 HzUp to 40 Hz
Polarity Switching1.4 Hz
Ion Source interfaceOptaMax NG ion source
MultiplexingN/AUp to 20 precursors/scan
Scan FunctionsUnique scan types are available
  • Full MS
Unique scan types are available
  • Full MS
  • AIF
  • t-SIM
  • DIA
  • MS2
and combinable within in one single experiment, such as:
  • Full Scan ddMS2 (Top 1-4)
  • tSIM (targeted mass list) ddMS2 (Top 1-4)
  • Full Scan ddMS2 (targeted mass list) (Top 1-4)
In addition, multiple experiments can be created combining all of the above listed scan types.
Unique scan types are available
  • Full MS
  • AIF
  • SIM
  • DIA
  • MS2
and combinable within in one single experiment, such as:
  • Full Scan ddMS2 (TopN)
  • Full Scan ddSIM
  • tSIM (targeted mass list) ddMS2
  • Full Scan ddMS2 (targeted mass list) (TopN)
All above with options for
  • ‘Number of Scans’ (= TopN)
  • ‘Cycle Time’
In addition, multiple experiments can be created combining all of the above listed scan types.
Unique scan types are available
  • Full MS
  • AIF
  • SIM
  • DIA
  • MS2
and combinable within in one single experiment, such as:
  • Full Scan ddMS2
  • Full Scan ddSIM
  • tSIM (targeted mass list) ddMS2
  • Full Scan ddMS2 (targeted mass list)
All above with options for
  • ‘Number of Scans’ (= TopN)
  • ‘Cycle Time’
  • ‘Scans per Outcome’ (branching)
In addition, multiple experiments can be created combining all of the above listed scan types.
DissociationIn-source CIDIn-source CID, HCD
Options and/or Upgrades
Intact Protein ModeIncluded with BioPharma optionN/AYes
High Mass Range (HMR, up to 8000 m/z)Yes, with BioPharma optionN/AYes
SensitivityFull Scan: 200 fg reserpine on column S/N 150:1MS/MS: 200 fg reserpine on column S/N 100:1
SIM: 200 fg reserpine on column S/N 250:1
MS/MS: 50 fg reserpine on column S/N 100:1
SIM: 50 fg reserpine on column S/N 150:1
Chromatography system recommendationsVanquish Flex HPLC system
Vanquish Horizon HPLC system
Vanquish Core HPLC system
Vanquish Flex HPLC system
Vanquish Duo HPLC system
Transcend Multichannel system
Vanquish Flex HPLC system
Vanquish Duo HPLC system
Vanquish Horizon HPLC system
Vanquish Neo system
SourcesOptaMax NG ion source
FAIMS Pro Duo Interface
EASY-IC ion source
APCI/APPI Combination Ion SourceFAIMS Pro Duo interface
APCI/APPI Combination Ion Source
EASY-Spray Sources
Nanospray Flex Ion Sources
Externally triggered sourcesN/AAP-SMALDI5 AF source for MS ImagingAP-SMALDI5 AF source for MS ImagingAP-SMALDI5 AF source for MS Imaging

What’s inside the Orbitrap Exploris mass spectrometer

The highly optimized design of Orbitrap Exploris mass spectrometers permits a compact physical footprint while providing high performance components and many new functionalities that advance performance for critical applications. The design allows us to achieve a more compact footprint with a single turbo-pump with six-stage pumping, thus fewer moving parts, less electricity consumption, noise and weight.

Ion path and key components of Orbitrap Exploris 120 and Orbitrap Exploris 240 mass spectrometers

Ion path and key components of an Orbitrap Exploris Mass Spectrometer

TransMIT Center for Mass Spectrometric Development (TransMIT GmbH, Giessen, Germany) offers integrated high-end solutions for atmospheric-pressure Scanning microprobe Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometric imaging. These solutions are based on TransMIT’s pro­prietary SMALDI MS Imaging and 3D-Surface MS Imaging technology. The AP-SMALDI source generates ions under atmospheric pressure (AP) and the experimental setup allows to systematically scan tissue samples or 3D objects with the pulsed laser beam applying laser spot sizes of 5 μm routinely and without oversampling.

Due to its high performance in spatial resolution,TransMIT’s AP-SMALDI5 AF ion source is the perfect match for the high mass resolution and accurate mass capabilities of Orbitrap MS instrumentation.

AP-SMALDI MS Imaging of healthy mouse brain
AP-SMALDI MS imaging of healthy mouse brain tissue using the Orbitrap Exploris 240 mass spectrometer with three m/z values extracted in blue, red and green. Compounds extracted are location-specific endogenous metabolites of the mouse brain tissue. 2D pixel mode of acquisition with 40 µm x 40 µm pixels size and with 5 µm laser spot size applied. Full MS scan from m/z 600 to m/z 1000.

The coupling of AP-SMALDI5 AF and Orbitrap technologies enables high mass and spatial resolution by providing:

  • Automated matrix application with crystal size below 5 µm, via TransMIT's SMALDIPrep device 
  • Lateral and spatial resolution of 5 µm and MS Imaging acquisition modes with choices for highest acquisition speed (2D Line Mode) or highest sensitivity (Full Pixel Mode)
  • Automated laser focusing to investigate non-flat surfaces and 3-dimensional surfaces (3D-Surface MS Imaging)
  • TransMIT’s SMALDIControl Software to control ion source, laser, x,y,z-stage and mass spectrometer 
  • Orbitrap Exploris MS HRAM instrumentation supported by its Instrument Control Software (Tune and Method Editor application) supporting the capabilities to trigger the mass spectrometer by an external device suited for MS Imaging applications 
  • TransMIT’s Mirion MS Image generation software with full imzML integration for post-processing MS imaging raw data information

Schematic diagram of TransMIT’s AP-SMALDI5 AF ion source mounted to the Orbitrap Exploris platform. 

AP-SMALDI ion source schematic detail: (1) the laser beam passes through a focusing lens (2) two mirrors directing the light through an objective lens (3) close to the sample. The objective lens (3) focuses the pulsed laser light to the tissue sample base plate (4). An off-axis camera (5) allows for sample inspection while the autofocusing (6) laser ensures the analyzing laser is always in focus. Technical details of the AP-SMALDI5 AF setup coupled to Orbitrap mass spectrometry for MS Imaging application. Note: AP-SMALDI5 AF ion source is a laser class 1 product.

TransMIT’s SMALDIPrep device, its AP-SMALDI5 AF ion source, its Mirion MS Image generation software and Orbitrap Exploris MS instrumentation allows for spatial multi-omics analysis from tissue and from surfaces of 3D objects.

TransMIT's SMALDIControl software controls TransMIT's AP-SMALDI AF ion source coupled with Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris instrumentation.

TransMIT's MIRION software generates MS images acquired by TransMIT's AP-SMALDI AF ion source coupled with Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris instrumentation.

Dr Bernhard Spengler of TransMIT Center discusses 3D imaging with AP-SMALDI5 AF technology when coupled with Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris mass spectrometers


Orbitrap Exploris mass spectrometer ordering information


Video: Compounding Insights—How to extract high confidence understanding from comprehensive Orbitrap Exploris HRAM data

Laboratories performing LC-MS applications strive for certainty when identifying detected compounds. For many small-molecule applications, conventional approaches aren’t enough. Laboratories require more, such as rich, high quality spectral information and fit for purpose data analysis software to make satisfactory identifications and characterization.

Thermo Scientific Compound Discoverer software helps you extract high-confidence understanding from comprehensive Orbitrap high-resolution, accurate-mass data.


Smart Note: How does AcquireX intelligent data acquisition improve laboratory efficiency

White paper: Challenges and emerging directions in single-cell proteomics

Application Note: Spatial multi-omics at the cellular level by AP-SMALDI MS imaging


Resources

Style Sheet for Global Design System
CMD SchemaApp code