Mass spectrometer
AssigneeGenetrace Systems, Inc.
InventorsChristopher H. Becker, Steven E. Young
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Abstract
The invention provides a mass spectrometer having improved mass resolution, accuracy, sensitivity, reduced complexity, lower cost, and greater ease of use. The mass spectrometer provided comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, in a nested configuration to create a two-stage acceleration region that accelerates ions across a minimized acceleration region, resulting in decreased metastable decay and improved mass accuracy and resolution. The mass spectrometer also comprises a n alignment system to align the ion optics with the laser beam used for desorption/ionization. The mass spectrometer further comprises electrical circuits for delivering high voltage pulses for pulsed delayed ion extraction.
Claims41
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer comprising:
- a) a first electrode which has a funnel shape;
- and
- b) a second electrode, placed adjacent to the first electrode and arranged in conjunction with the first electrode such that the axes of the electrodes are aligned and a flow of ions of the sample may pass through the first and second electrodes,
- wherein an end of the second electrode protrudes into a wide opening of the first electrode and wherein the time-of-flight tube has a longitudinal axis defining a deflected path with an acute angle between the deflected path and the flow of ions through the first and second electrodes.
A mass spectrometer comprising an alignment system configured to facilitate alignment of a first electrode, a sample, an ionizing beam produced by an ionizer, and a time-of-flight tube, wherein the time-of-flight tube has a longitudinal axis defining a deflected path with an acute angle between the deflected path and the path of the flow of ions through the first electrode and a second electrode.
A mass spectrometer comprising:
- a) an ionizer configured to produce ions of the sample;
- b) a first electrode having a conical shape;
- c) a second electrode axially aligned with the first electrode, placed with a proximal end protruding into an interior volume of the first electrode and with an end protruding into an aperture at a base of the first electrode and shaped such that a distance between the proximal end of the second electrode and the first electrode is smaller than a distance between any other part of the second electrode and the first electrode;
- and
- d) a capacitor for pulsed delayed ion extraction configured to capacitively couple a power supply to at least one of the sample, the first electrode, and the second electrode;
- wherein the first and second electrodes are spaced apart by at least one electrically insulating member and configured to define a path along which the ions may flow.
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer, comprising:
- (a) ion optics defining a path for a flow of ions of a sample;
- (b) a time-of-flight tube having a longitudinal axis which defines a deflected path with an acute angle between the deflected path and the path of the flow of ions through the ion optics;
- and
- (c) an alignment system configured to facilitate alignment of an ionizing beam with the ion optics and the sample.
An article of manufacture, comprising:
- a) a time-of-flight mass spectrometer;
- and
- b) a coupling capacitor for pulsed delayed ion extraction configured to capacitively couple a pulse power supply to the mass spectrometer.
An electrical circuit for delivering high voltage pulses to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer comprising:
- a) a pulse power supply;
- and
- b) a coupling capacitor for pulsed delayed ion extraction configured to capacitively couple said pulse power supply to the time-of-flight mass spectrometer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.