Mass Spectrometer
AssigneeMicromass UK Limited
InventorsDaniel James Kenny, Jason Lee Wildgoose, Martin Green
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an orthogonal acceleration Time of Flight mass analyser. A pulse or packet of ions is released either from an ion trap (7) or alternatively from a travelling wave ion guide arranged upstream of an orthogonal acceleration electrode (2) which forms part of the Time of Flight mass analyser. Ions in the pulse or packet of ions which is released become temporally dispersed and the orthogonal acceleration electrode (2) is energised multiple times prior the release of a subsequent pulse or packet of ions.
Claims26
A mass spectrometer comprising:
- an ion guide comprising a plurality of electrodes;
- transient DC voltage means arranged and adapted to apply one or more transient DC voltages or potentials or one or more transient DC voltage or potential waveforms to at least some of the electrodes forming said ion guide in order to urge at least some ions along at least 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100% of the axial length of said ion guide;
- and
- a Time of Flight mass analyser arranged downstream of said ion guide and comprising an orthogonal acceleration electrode and a drift region;
- wherein, in use, a first pulse or packet of ions is released from said ion guide at a first release time T1;
- wherein said mass analyser further comprises a control device which is arranged and adapted:
- (i) to energise said orthogonal acceleration electrode a first time after a first delay time Δt1-1 from said first release time T1 and prior to the release of a second pulse or packet of ions from said ion guide at a second release time T2;
- and
- (ii) to energise said orthogonal acceleration electrode at least a second subsequent time after a second delay time Δt1-2 from said first release time T1 and prior to the release of the second pulse or packet of ions at the second release time T2.
(canceled)
7-22. (canceled)
24-29. (canceled)
31-42. (canceled)
44-45. (canceled)
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49-55. (canceled)
58-61. (canceled)
63-65. (canceled)
67-73. (canceled)
A method of mass analysing ions according to their Time of Flight, comprising:
- providing an ion guide comprising a plurality of electrodes;
- applying one or more transient DC voltages or potentials or one or more transient DC voltage or potential waveforms to at least some of the electrodes forming said ion guide in order to urge at least some ions along at least 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100% of the axial length of said ion guide;
- and
- providing an orthogonal acceleration electrode and a drift region downstream of said ion guide;
- releasing a first pulse or packet of ions from said ion guide at a first release time T1;
- energising said orthogonal acceleration electrode a first time after a first delay time Δt1-1 from said first release time T1 and prior to the release of a second pulse or packet of ions from said ion guide at a second release time T2;
- and
- energising said orthogonal acceleration electrode at least a second subsequent time after a second delay time Δt1-2 from said first release time T1 and prior to the release of the second pulse or packet of ions at the second release time T2.
75-82. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.