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US 5,627,369 AGranted
Time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of biomolecules
AssigneePerSeptive Biosystems, Inc.
InventorsMarvin L. Vestal, Peter Juhasz
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Abstract
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer for measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of a sample molecule is described. The spectrometer provides independent control of the electric field experienced by the sample before and during ion extraction. Methods of mass spectrometry utilizing the principles of this invention reduce matrix background, induce fast fragmentation, and control the transfer of energy prior to ion extraction.
Claims10
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer for measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of ions generated from a sample comprising:
- a) a sample holder;
- b) a sample ionizer for generating a pulse of sample ions from a sample disposed on the holder;
- c) a first element spaced apart from the sample holder;
- d) a power source electrically coupled to the first element and the holder for
- i) applying a variable potential to each of the first element and the holder to establish a first electric field wherein the first element and holder potentials are variable independently before ion extraction, and
- ii) applying a second variable potential to each of the first element and the holder to establish a second electric field for ion extraction, wherein the second variable potential is applied at a predetermined time subsequent to establishing the first electric field and the first element and holder potentials are variable independently;
- and
- e) an ion reflector spaced apart from the first element,
- wherein a flight time of extracted ions of like mass-to-charge ratio from the reflector to a detector will be independent to second order of the initial velocity.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.