US 2012/0056084 A1 · Apparatus Comprising an Ion Mobility Spectrometer

Abstract

A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a first chamber and a second chamber. The second chamber is located downstream of the first chamber and an inter-chamber aperture is provided between the two chambers. An ion guide is located in the first chamber and an ion mobility spectrometer is located in the second chamber. Helium gas is provided to the first chamber. As ions are accelerated towards the ion mobility spectrometer from a relatively low pressure region they pass initially into the first chamber. The helium gas provided in the first chamber minimises ion fragmentation and ion discrimination effects as ions are accelerated into a relatively high pressure region. The ions are then transmitted by the ion guide and are subsequently transmitted to the ion mobility spectrometer located in the second chamber.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a first chamber;
a second chamber located downstream of the first chamber;
an ion guide including a plurality of electrodes located in the first chamber;
an ion mobility spectrometer or separator located in the second chamber;
a device for providing a first gas or mixture of gases to the first chamber, the first gas or mixture of gases having a first average density or molecular weight M1;
a device for providing a second gas or mixture of gases to the second chamber, the second gas or mixture of gases having a second average density or molecular weight M2, wherein M1<M2;
and
a device configured to maintain the first and second chambers at substantially the same pressure.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus Comprising an Ion Mobility Spectrometer

Life of this patent

Apparatus Comprising an Ion Mobility Spectrometer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20