# US 2014/0191123 A1 · Ion Guide Coupled to MALDI Ion Source

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- Number: US 2014/0191123 A1
- Document ID: US20140191123A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/130,465
- Filed: 2012-07-06
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-06
- Assignees: Micromass UK Limited
- Inventors: Jason Lee Wildgoose; Steven Derek Pringle; Kevil Giles; Jeffery Mark Brown; Paul Murray; Daniel James Kenny
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191123A1

## CPC

- H01J 49/10: Ion sources; Ion guns
- H01J 49/0031: {Step by step routines describing the use of the apparatus (H01J49/0081 takes precedence)}
- H01J 49/061: {Ion deflecting means, e.g. ion gates}
- H01J 49/065: {having stacked electrodes, e.g. ring stack, plate stack}
- H01J 49/161: {using photoionisation, e.g. by laser}
- H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H)

## Abstract

A pulsed ion source is disclosed wherein the ion source is energised one or more times to generate a first group of ions and a second group of ions. The first and second groups of ions are simultaneously transmitted through an ion guide whilst keeping the first and second groups of ions isolated from each other.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of mass spectrometry comprising:
providing a pulsed ion source;
energising said ion source one or more times to generate a first group of ions;
energising said ion source one or more times to generate a second different group of ions;
simultaneously transmitting both said first group of ions and said second group of ions through a portion or section of a mass spectrometer whilst keeping said first and second groups of ions isolated from each other;
providing a conjoined ion guide comprising: (i) a first ion guide section comprising a plurality of electrodes each having an aperture through which ions are transmitted and wherein a first ion guiding path is formed within the first ion guide section; and (ii) a second ion guide section comprising a plurality of electrodes each having an aperture through which ions are transmitted and wherein a second ion guiding path is formed within the second ion guide section, wherein a radial pseudo-potential barrier is formed between the first ion guiding path and the second ion guiding path;
directing a laser pulse through said first ion guiding path and onto a target to produce an ion beam; and
directing the ion beam away from the optic axis of the incident laser pulse by transmitting said ion beam from said first ion guiding path into said second ion guiding path.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first or second group of ions comprises one or more first or second sub-groups of ions and wherein either: (i) said one or more first or second sub-groups of ions are kept isolated from each other; or (ii) at least some of said one or more first or second sub-groups of ions are not kept isolated from each other or are allowed to merge with each other.

### Claim 3

(canceled)

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising energising said ion source one or more times to generate a third group of ions and simultaneously transmitting said first, second and third groups of ions through said portion or section of said mass spectrometer whilst keeping said first, second and third groups of ions isolated from each other.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said third group of ions comprises one or more third sub-groups of ions and wherein either: (i) said one or more third sub-groups of ions are kept isolated from each other; or (ii) at least some of said one or more third sub-groups of ions are not kept isolated from each other or are allowed to merge with each other.

### Claim at position 6

6-10. (canceled)

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising confining ions radially within said one or more ion guides.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising applying an AC or RF voltage to at least some of said plurality of electrodes in order to create a pseudo-potential which acts to confine ions radially or axially within said one or more ion guides.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of simultaneously transmitting both said first and second groups of ions or said third group of ions comprises transmitting said first and second groups of ions or said third group of ions within said one or more ion guides.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of simultaneously transmitting both said first and second groups of ions or said third group of ions comprises translating a plurality of DC or pseudo-potential wells along the length of said one or more ion guides.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising applying one or more transient, intermittent or permanent DC voltages to said electrodes in order to keep said first and second groups of ions or said third group of ions isolated from each other.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising axially confining said first group of ions in one or more first DC or pseudo-potential wells or axially confining said second group of ions in one or more different second DC or pseudo-potential wells or axially confining said third group of ions in one or more different third DC or pseudo-potential wells.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first group of ions in said first DC or pseudo-potential wells are prevented from mixing with said second group of ions in said second DC or pseudo-potential wells or are prevented from mixing with said third group of ions in said third DC and/or pseudo-potential wells.

### Claim at position 14

18-20. (canceled)

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein all the ions in said first or second group of ions are transmitted to an ion-optical component before any ions in said second group of ions are transmitted to said ion-optical component.

### Claim at position 16

22-23. (canceled)

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method comprises a method of ion imaging.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said first group of ions results from ionising a first region of a substrate or sample and said second group of ions results from ionising a second different region of a substrate or sample.

### Claim at position 19

26-35. (canceled)

### Claim 36

A mass spectrometer comprising:
a pulsed ion source;
a conjoined ion guide comprising: (i) a first ion guide section comprising a plurality of electrodes each having an aperture through which ions are transmitted and wherein a first ion guiding path is formed within the first ion guide section; and (ii) a second ion guide section comprising a plurality of electrodes each having an aperture through which ions are transmitted and wherein a second ion guiding path is formed within the second ion guide section, wherein a radial pseudo-potential barrier is formed between the first ion guiding path and the second ion guiding path; and
a control system arranged and adapted:
(i) to energise said ion source one or more times to generate a first group of ions;
(ii) to energise said ion source one or more times to generate a second different group of ions; and
(iii) to cause both said first group of ions and said second group of ions to be simultaneously transmitted through a portion or section of a mass spectrometer whilst keeping said first and second groups of ions isolated from each other
(iv) to direct a laser pulse through said first ion guiding path and onto a target to produce an ion beam;
(v) to direct the ion beam away from the optic axis of the incident laser pulse by transmitting said ion beam from said first ion guiding path into said second ion guiding path.

### Claim at position 21

37-70. (canceled)