# US 11,114,293 B2 · Space-time buffer for ion processing pipelines

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- Number: US 11,114,293 B2
- Document ID: US11114293B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/711,263
- Filed: 2019-12-11
- Published: 2021-06-17
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2019-12-11
- Assignees: Thermo Finnigan LLC
- Applicants: Thermo Finnigan LLC
- Inventors: Philip M. Remes; Michael W. Senko
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11114293B2

## CPC

- H01J 49/062: {Ion guides (linear ion traps performing mass selection H01J49/4225, mass filters H01J49/421)}
- H01J 49/4225: {Multipole linear ion traps, e.g. quadrupoles, hexapoles}
- H01J 49/009: {Spectrometers having multiple channels, parallel analysis}
- H01J 49/426: {Methods for controlling ions}
- H01J 49/4265: {Controlling the number of trapped ions; preventing space charge effects}
- H01J 49/427: {Ejection and selection methods}
- H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The mass spectrometry system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to combine at least a portion of the plurality of trapping regions into a larger trap region by forming a broad potential well across the portion of the plurality of trapping regions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The mass spectrometry system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to split the larger trap region into individual trapping regions by dividing the broad potential well into a plurality of narrow potential wells.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The mass spectrometry system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of discrete trapping regions includes a plurality of pole rod pairs arranged in parallel, each discrete trapping region defined by two or more contiguous pole rod pairs.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The mass spectrometry system of claim 4 wherein the controller combines at least a portion of the plurality of trapping regions into a larger trap region by applying a high potential to pole rod pairs at the end of the larger trap region and a low potential to the pole rode pairs in the interior of the larger trap region.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The mass spectrometry system of claim 5 wherein the controller is configured to split the larger trap region into individual trapping regions by applying a high potential to a subset of the pole rode pairs in the interior of the larger trap region.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The mass spectrometry system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of discrete trapping regions includes a multipole of segmented electrodes, each discrete trapping region defined by three or more contiguous segments.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The mass spectrometry system of claim 7 wherein the controller is configured to combine at least a portion of the plurality of trapping regions into a larger trap region by applying a high potential to segments at the end of the larger trap region and a low potential to the segments in the interior of the larger trap region.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The mass spectrometry system of claim 8 wherein the controller is configured to split the larger trap region into individual trapping regions by applying a high potential to a subset of the segments in the interior of the larger trap region.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The mass spectrometry system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of discrete trapping regions includes a multipole of segmented electrodes with lenses between the segments, each trapping region defined by at least one segment.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The mass spectrometry system of claim 1, further comprising an ion buffer upstream of the ion separator.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The mass spectrometry system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to eject the ions sequentially.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The mass spectrometry system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to eject the ions simultaneously.

### Claim 14

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.