Methods and apparatus for mass filtering based on a-priori biomarker knowledge and elution time intervals for selected ion species from a separation device. The micro-cathode thruster assembly includes a tubular housing, a tubular cathode, an insulator, an anode and a magnetic field. The modular design allows the circuit and its layout to be synthesized by software to achieve desired delay resolution and range. The method also includes receiving business information related to the process. The belt table includes a cradle, and a movement driver set configured to drive the cradle to move, wherein the cradle and the movement driver set are configured to cause at least one of low attenuation and nearly zero attenuation to X-rays along a scan plane. The external stimulus can then be removed upon completion of the programming, or reduced to a verifying state to read information.