Space-time buffer for ion processing pipelines
AssigneeThermo Finnigan LLC
InventorsPhilip M. Remes, Michael W. Senko
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A space-time buffer includes a plurality of discrete trapping regions and a controller. The plurality of discrete trapping regions is configured to trap ions as individual trapping regions or as combinations of trapping regions. The controller is configured to combine at least a portion of the plurality of trapping regions into a larger trap region; fill the larger trap region with a plurality of ions; split the larger trap region into individual trapping regions each containing a portion of the plurality of ions; and eject ions from the trapping regions.
Claims14
A mass spectrometry system comprising:
- an ion source configured to generate ions from a sample;
- an ion separator configured to separate ions based on a property of the ions;
- a space-time buffer including a plurality of discrete trapping regions configured to trap ions as individual trapping regions or as combinations of trapping regions;
- a mass filter configured to select ions within a mass-to-charge range;
- a collision cell configured to fragment ions;
- a mass analyzer configured to determine the mass-to-charge ratio of the fragmented ions;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- generate ions from a sample using the ion source;
- separate ions into a plurality of ion groups using the ion separator;
- combine at least a portion of the plurality of trapping regions into a larger trap region;
- fill the larger trap region with a plurality of ions;
- split the larger trap region into individual trapping regions each containing a portion of the plurality of ions;
- eject ions from the trapping regions to the mass filter;
- select ions within a mass-to-charge range using the mass filter;
- fragment ions within a mass-to-charge range using the collision cell;
- and
- analyze the ions using the mass analyzer.
A space-time buffer comprising:
- a plurality of discrete trapping regions configured to trap ions as individual trapping regions or as combinations of trapping regions;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- determine an ion flux and calculate a trap region size based on an ion flux;
- combine at least a portion of the plurality of trapping regions into one or more traps according to the determined trap region size;
- fill each of the trap with a plurality of ions;
- and
- eject ions from the traps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.