Method and apparatus for electrospray-augmented high field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry

Field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer apparatus, comprising:

• sample ion source, and
• an ion filtering section, an output part and an electronics part,
• said filter section comprising insulating surfaces defining a flow path, further comprising ion filter electrodes facing each other over said flow path, said flow path for the flow of ions between said electrodes, said ions derived from said sample source,
• said electronics part configured to apply controlling signals to said electrodes and generating, said electronics part applying an asymmetric periodic signal across said electrodes for generating an alternating high and low field conditions for filtering the flow of said ions in said flow path according to said alternating conditions, and said filter field being compensated to pass desired ion species out of said filter, said passed desired species flowing along said flow path to said output part,
• further defining a plurality of integrated micro-fluidic heads with filter parts in a housing, said housing fixing the relative positions of the micro-fluidic heads and filter parts.

Field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer apparatus, comprising:

• an ion source an output, a flow path defined between said source and output,
• a plurality of ring electrodes and insulator rings, a first set of electrodes and rings forming a first cylinder cooperating with a second cylinder, said flow path defined between said cylinders,
• at least two of said electrodes cooperating to define an ion filter, said flow path for the flow of ions in between said electrodes from said source toward said output, and
• an electronics part configured to apply controlling signals to said electrodes, said electronics part applying a control signal for filtering the flow of said ions in said flow path according to said signal.

Method for sample separation, including the steps of:

• providing sample preparation and introduction section via a head for delivery of ions from a liquid sample,
• filtering said ions via an ion filtering section,
• providing said filter section with insulating surfaces defining a flow path and ion filter electrodes facing each other over said flow path, said flow path for the flow of said ions between said electrodes, said ions derived from said liquid sample,
• providing an electronics part configured to apply controlling signals to said electrodes, said electronics part for applying an asymmetric periodic signal across said electrodes for generating an alternating high and low field conditions for filtering the flow of said ions in said flow path according to said alternating conditions, and said filter field being compensated to pass desired ion species out of said filter, said passed desired species flowing along said flow path to an output part.

Method, in a field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer, comprising the steps of:

• providing a sample ion source, an ion filtering section, an output part,
• providing insulating surfaces in said filter section defining a flow path with filter electrodes facing each other over said flow path, said flow path for the flow of ions between said electrodes, said ions derived from said sample source,
• providing an electronics part configured to apply controlling signals to said electrodes and generating, said electronics part applying an asymmetric periodic signal across said electrodes for generating an alternating high and low field conditions for filtering the flow of said ions in said flow path according to said alternating conditions, and said filter field being compensated to pass desired ion species out of said filter, said pass ed desired species flowing along said flow path to said output part, and
• defining a plurality of integrated micro-fluidics heads with filter parts in a housing, said housing fixing the relative positions of the micro-fluidic heads and filter parts.

A method in a field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer, comprising the steps of:

• providing a sample preparation and introduction section, including a head for delivery of ions from a liquid sample,
• providing an ion filtering section and an output part,
• providing said filter section with insulating surfaces defining a flow path with ion filter electrodes facing each other over said flow path, said flow path for the flow of ions between said electrodes, said ions derived from said liquid sample,
• providing an electronics part configured to apply controlling signals to said electrodes, said electronics part applying an asymmetric periodic signal to said electrodes for generating an alternating high and low field conditions for filtering the flow of said ions in said flow path according to said alternating conditions, and said filter field being compensated to pass desired ion species out of said filter, said passed desired species flowing along said flow path to said output part, and
• providing a compensation control input for the control of a feature of said field to provide said compensation.