Tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University
InventorsRobert J. Cotter, Timothy J. Cornish
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer comprises a grounded vacuum housing, two reflecting-type mass analyzers coupled via a collision chamber, and flight channels electrically floated with respect to the grounded vacuum housing. The first reflecting-type mass analyzer receives ionized molecules (ions). These ions pass through the flight channel of the first reflecting-type mass analyzer and are fragmented in the collision chamber. The fragmented ions pass through the flight channel of the second reflecting-type mass analyzer. Detectors disposed in the collision chamber and in the second reflecting-type mass analyzer detect the spectrum of the first reflecting-type mass analyzer and the spectra of the tandem time-of-flight mass analyzer, respectively.
Claims33
A tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer comprising:
- a grounded vacuum housing;
- and
- first and second reflecting-type mass analyzers, disposed in the grounded vacuum housing, being coupled via a collision chamber and comprising first and second flight channels, respectively, said first and second flight channels, said grounded vacuum housing and said collision chamber being electrically isolated to permit electric potential variation in relation to each other.
A method for using a tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer to determine chemical structures of molecules, comprising the steps of:
- grounding a vacuum housing comprising first and second reflecting-type mass analyzers;
- coupling said first and said second reflecting-type mass analyzers via a collision chamber;
- electrically floating, in relation to said vacuum housing, first and second flight channels of said first and said second reflecting-type mass analyzers, respectively;
- and
- detecting-type mass analyzer.
An electrically isolated reflecting flight tube apparatus adaptable for use with a mass spectrometer having an ion producing source and a reflector, comprising:
- a flight tube having a channel therethrough, said channel having a rectangular cross section, said ion producing source introducing ions into said channel;
- and
- means for electrically isolating said flight tube from said ion producing source and said reflector to permit electric potential variation in relation to each other.
An electrically isolated reflecting flight tube apparatus system adaptable for use with a mass spectrometer, comprising:
- a flight tube having a channel therethrough, said channel having a rectangular cross section;
- an ion producing source, coupled to said flight tube, for introducing ions into said channel of said flight tube;
- a reflector, coupled to said flight tube, for reflecting said ions passing through said channel;
- and
- means for electrically isolating said flight tube from said ion producing source and said reflector to permit electric potential variation in relation to each other.
An electrically isolated reflecting flight tube apparatus adaptable for use with a mass spectrometer having an ion producing source and a reflector, comprising:
- a flight tube having a channel therethrough, said channel having a rectangular cross section into which said ions from said ion producing source are introduced, said channel further having a first section and a second section disposed at an acute angle with respect to said first section, said ions introduced into said channel by said ion producing source propagating through said first section and ions reflected by said reflector propagating through said second section;
- said flight tube further comprises first, second and third ends having first, second and third openings therein, respectively, said second opening being rectangular, said first section of said channel coupling said first opening to said second opening and said second section of said channel coupling said second opening to said third opening, said first end coupling said ion producing source to said flight tube at a first predetermined angle and said second end coupling said reflector to said flight tube at a second predetermined angle;
- and,
- means for electrically isolating said flight tube from said ion producing source and said reflector to permit electric potential variation in relation to each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.