# US 11,443,932 B2 · Device for rapid exchange of ion sources and ion transmission devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,443,932 B2 - Document ID: US11443932B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/956,922 - Filed: 2018-12-21 - Published: 2020-12-17 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-22 - Assignees: Micromass UK Limited - Applicants: Micromass UK Limited - Inventors: Paul Murray; Mark Towers; Andrew Whatley; Matthew Henderson; Philippa Hart; Emmanuelle Claude; Richard Jarrold; Jeff Brown; Steve Brace; Edward Scott - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11443932B2 ## CPC - H01J 49/062: {Ion guides (linear ion traps performing mass selection H01J49/4225, mass filters H01J49/421)} - H01J 49/065: {having stacked electrodes, e.g. ring stack, plate stack} - F16K 1/2014: {Shaping of the valve member} - F16K 51/02: specially adapted for high-vacuum installations - G01N 27/622: Ion mobility spectrometry - H01J 49/0031: {Step by step routines describing the use of the apparatus (H01J49/0081 takes precedence)} - H01J 49/04: Arrangements for introducing or extracting samples to be analysed, e.g. vacuum locks; Arrangements for external adjustment of electron- or ion-optical components - H01J 49/0495: {Vacuum locks; Valves (valves per se F16K)} - H01J 49/068: {Mounting, supporting, spacing, or insulating electrodes} - H01J 49/24: Vacuum systems, e.g. maintaining desired pressures - H01J 49/26: Mass spectrometers or separator tubes - H01J 49/4225: {Multipole linear ion traps, e.g. quadrupoles, hexapoles} - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a rotatable isolation valve (1) having a curved, spherical, cylindrical or concave portion. At least a portion of an ion guide (2) is positioned so as to extend within a swept volume of the isolation valve (1) enabling the ion guide (2) to be positioned close to a second downstream ion guide (3) and for ions to be transmitted from the first (2) ion guide to the second ion guide (3) with high ion transmission efficiency. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus comprising: a vacuum chamber; an isolation valve having a curved, spherical, cylindrical or concave portion; and a first ion guide, wherein at least a portion of the first ion guide extends, in use, within a swept volume of the isolation valve or within the curved, spherical, cylindrical or concave portion of the isolation valve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first ion guide comprises a plurality of rod electrodes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least some of the rod electrodes have a bevelled, curved or non-planar portion or end which is located, in use, adjacent the isolation valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first ion guide comprises a ring set ion guide or a plurality of electrodes having apertures through which ions are transmitted in use, wherein electrodes forming the first ion guide have an external diameter or profile and wherein the external diameter or profile of one or more electrodes forming the first ion guide reduces or tapers towards a downstream section of the first ion guide. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a downstream end of the first ion guide is located, in use, ≤10 mm from the isolation valve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second ion guide, wherein in a mode of operation at least a portion of the isolation valve extends within a portion of the second ion guide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second ion guide comprises a ring set ion guide or a plurality of electrodes having apertures through which ions are transmitted in use. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first ion guide is located, in use, in the vacuum chamber and wherein the isolation valve is operable to isolate a region downstream of the first ion guide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an analytical device, a mass analyser or an ion mobility spectrometer arranged downstream of the isolation valve, wherein the isolation valve may be operated so as to maintain the analytical device, the mass analyser or the ion mobility spectrometer at a sub-atmospheric pressure whilst the first ion guide is removed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the isolation valve is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: guiding ions through a first ion guide, wherein at least a portion of the first ion guide extends, in use, within a curved, spherical, cylindrical or concave portion of an isolation valve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising operating the isolation valve so as to maintain an analytical device, a mass analyser or an ion mobility spectrometer at a sub-atmospheric pressure whilst the first ion guide is removed. ### Claim 13 Apparatus comprising: a vacuum chamber; a housing located within the vacuum chamber and having a guide mechanism; and a first ion optic assembly which is slidable or translatable in cooperation with the guide mechanism thereby enabling the first ion optic assembly to be inserted and aligned within the vacuum chamber; wherein the first ion optic assembly comprises a first electrical connector and the housing further comprises a second electrical connector, wherein in use insertion of the first ion optic assembly into the vacuum chamber causes the first electrical connector to connect with the second electrical connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first ion optic assembly further comprises a sealing member having an ion inlet orifice therewithin, wherein the sealing member is arranged to seal against a front portion of the vacuum chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a releasable latch for at least one of: securing the sealing member against the front portion of the vacuum chamber; and; securing the first ion optic assembly within the vacuum chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vacuum chamber comprises a vacuum chamber ion inlet orifice, the apparatus further comprising an assembly housing a first sub-atmospheric pressure ion source, wherein in a first mode of operation the assembly may be secured to the vacuum chamber so as to align the first ion source with the vacuum chamber ion inlet orifice and wherein in a second mode of operation the assembly may be detached thereby enabling a second different ion source to be located adjacent the vacuum chamber ion inlet orifice. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein in the second mode of operation the assembly may be attached to the vacuum chamber or another part of the apparatus. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein in the second mode of operation the assembly may include a translation stage, wherein the translation stage may be translated in at least one of: a first direction parallel to a direction of ion transmission through the vacuum chamber ion inlet orifice; and a second direction perpendicular to a direction of ion transmission through the vacuum chamber ion inlet orifice. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the first ion guide extends, in use, within the curved, spherical, cylindrical or concave portion of the isolation valve when the isolation valve is closed.