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US 6,646,258 B2Granted
Concave electrode ion pipe
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorCharles William Russ, IV
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for delivering ions between vacuum stages. The apparatus includes a concave electrode ion pipe originating in a first vacuum stage and terminating in a second vacuum stage. The design of the concave electrode ion pipe provides for transport of ions over long distances without substantial loss of the ions while at the same time restricting overall gas flow. The invention allows for the elimination of vacuum stages or a reduction in vacuum pumping speed(s) if the same number of vacuum stages is employed.
Claims57
An apparatus for analyzing chemical species, comprising:
- (a) an ion source for operation at substantially atmospheric pressure to produce ions from a sample;
- (b) at least two vacuum stages, the first vacuum stage of said vacuum stages being in communication with said ion source such that said ions produced by said ion source can move out of said ion source and into said first vacuum stage, said vacuum stages being in communication with each other such that said ions can move through a sequence of said vacuum stages;
- (c) a mass analyzer and detector located in at least one of said vacuum stages;
- (d) an concave electrode Ion pipe designed for restricting gas flow and having a plurality of electrodes, said concave electrode ion pipe being located in a plurality of said vacuum stages such that said ion pipe begins in one of said vacuum stages and extends into at least one subsequent vacuum stage in said sequence of vacuum stages, thereby limiting gas flow through said ion pipe without compromising ion transmission;
- and
- (e) means for applying electrical voltages to said electrodes of said concave electrode ion pipe.
3 more elements
An apparatus for analyzing chemical species, comprising:
- (a) an ion source for operation at substantially atmospheric pressure to produce ions front a sample;
- (b) at least two vacuum stages, the first vacuum stage of said vacuum stages being in communication with said ion source such that said ions produced by said ion source can move out of said ion source and into said first vacuum stage, said vacuum stages being in communication with each other such that said ions can move through a sequence of said vacuum stages;
- (c) a Time-of-Flight mass analyzer and detector each located in at least one of said vacuum stages;
- (d) at least one concave electrode ion pipe designed for restricting gas flow and having a plurality of electrodes, said concave electrode ion pipe being located in at least one of said vacuum stages, thereby limiting gas flow through said ion pipe without compromising ion transmission;
- and
- (e) means for applying electrical voltages to said electrodes of said concave electrode ion pipe.
3 more elements
A method for analyzing chemical species comprising:
- (a) utilizing an ion source, a vacuum system with at least two vacuum stages, a mass spectrometer and detector, and a concave electrode ion pipe that is designed for restricting gas flow and which has a plurality of electrodes located in a plurality of said vacuum stages such that said concave electrode ion pipe begins in one of said vacuum stages and extends into at least one subsequent vacuum stage in said vacuum system for limiting gas flow through said ion pipe without comprising ion transmission;
- (b) producing ions from a sample substance using said ion source;
- (c) directing said ions into said electrode ion pipe having electrical voltages applied to said electrodes of said concave electrode ion pipe;
- (d) directing said ions from one of said vacuum stages of said vacuum system into at least one subsequent vacuum stage in said vacuum system while said ions are in said concave electrode ion pipe;
- and
- (e) transferring said ions through said concave electrode ion pipe and into said mass spectrometer and detector for mass analysis of said ions.
3 more elements
An apparatus for analyzing chemical species, comprising:
- (a) an ion source for operation at substantially atmospheric pressure to produce ions from a sample;
- (b) at least two vacuum stages, the first vacuum stage of said vacuum stages being in communication with said ion source such that said ions produced by said ion source can move out of said ion source and into said first vacuum stage, said vacuum stages being in communication with each other such that said ions can move through a sequence of said vacuum stages;
- (c) a mass analyzer and detector located in at least one of said vacuum stages;
- (d) an electrode ion pipe for restricting gas flow and having a central longitudinal axis and a plurality of electrodes extending along said axis, each of said electrodes having a concave surface facing said axis, said electrode ion pipe being located in a plurality of said vacuum stages such that said ion pipe begins in one of said vacuum stages and extends into at least one subsequent vacuum stage in said sequence of vacuum stages, thereby limiting gas flow through said ion pipe without compromising ion transmission;
- and
- (e) means for applying electrical voltages to said electrodes of said electrode ion pipe.
3 more elements
An apparatus as recited in 36, wherein said electrode ion pipe is longitudinally segmented.
Au apparatus for analyzing chemical species, comprising:
- (a) an ion source for operation at substantially atmospheric pressure to produce ions from a sample;
- (b) at least two vacuum stages, the first vacuum stage of said vacuum stages being in communication with said ion source such that said ions produced by said ion source can move out of said ion source and into said first vacuum stage, said vacuum stages being in communication with each other such that said ions can move through a sequence of said vacuum stages;
- (c) a Time-of-Flight mass analyzer and detector each located in at least one of said vacuum stages;
- (d) at least one electrode ion pipe for restricting gas flow and having a central longitudinal axis and a plurality of electrodes extending along said axis, each of said electrodes having a concave surface facing said axis, said electrode ion pipe being located in at least one of said vacuum stages, thereby limiting gas flow through said ion pipe without compromising ion transmission;
- and
- (e) means for applying electrical voltages to said electrodes of said electrode ion pipe.
3 more elements
A method for analyzing chemical species comprising:
- (a) utilizing an ion source, a vacuum system with at least two vacuum stages, a mass spectrometer and detector, and an electrode ion pipe that has a central longitudinal axis, and is designed for restricting gas flow and which has a plurality of electrodes located in a plurality of said vacuum stages such that said electrode ion pipe begins in one of said vacuum stages and extends into at least one subsequent vacuum stage in said vacuum system each of said electrodes having a concave surface facing said longitudinal axis, for limiting gas flow through said ion pipe without compromising ion transmission;
- (b) producing ions from a sample substance using said ion source;
- (c) directing said ions into said electrode ion pipe having electrical voltages applied to said electrodes of said electrode ion pipe;
- (d) directing said ions from one of said vacuum stages of said vacuum system into at least one subsequent vacuum stage in said vacuum system while said ions are in said electrode ion pipe;
- and
- (e) transferring said ions through said electrode ion pipe and into said mass spectrometer and detector for mass analysis of said ions.
3 more elements
An apparatus for analyzing chemical species, comprising:
- (a) an ion source for operation at substantially atmospheric pressure to produce ions from a sample;
- (b) at least two vacuum stages, the first vacuum stage of said vacuum stages being in communication with said ion source such that said ions produced by said ion source can move out of said ion source and into said first vacuum stage, said vacuum stages being in communication with each other such that said ions can move through a sequence of said vacuum stages;
- (c) a mass analyzer and detector located in at least one of said vacuum stages;
- (d) a concave electrode ion pipe designed for restricting gas flow and having a plurality of electrodes, said concave electrode ion pipe being located in a plurality of said vacuum stages such that said ion pipe begins in one of said vacuum stages and extends into at least one subsequent vacuum stage in said sequence of vacuum stages, wherein gas flow through said ion pipe is limited without compromising ion transmission;
- and
- (e) a power supply for applying electrical voltages to said electrodes of said concave electrode ion pipe.
3 more elements
An apparatus for analyzing chemical species, comprising:
- (a) an ion source for operation at substantially atmospheric pressure to produce ions from a sample;
- (b) at least two vacuum stages, the first vacuum stage of said vacuum stages being in communication with said ion source such that said ions produced by said ion source can move out of said ion source and into said first vacuum stage, said vacuum stages being in communication with each other such that said ions can move through a sequence of said vacuum stages;
- (c) a Time-of-Flight mass analyzer and detector located in at least one of said vacuum stages;
- (d) at least one concave electrode ion pipe designed for restricting gas flow and having a plurality of electrodes, said concave electrode ion pipe being located in at least one of said vacuum stages, wherein gas flow through said ion pipe is limited without compromising ion transmission;
- and
- (e) a power supply for applying electrical voltages to said electrodes of said concave electrode ion pipe.
3 more elements
An apparatus for analyzing chemical species, comprising:
- (a) an ion source for operation at substantially atmospheric pressure to produce ions from a sample;
- (b) at least two vacuum stages, the first vacuum stage of said vacuum stages being in communication with said ion source such that said ions produced by said ion source can move out of said ion source and into said first vacuum stage, said vacuum stages being in communication with each other such that said ions can move through a sequence of said vacuum stages;
- (c) a mass analyzer and detector located in at least one of said vacuum stages;
- (d) an electrode ion pipe for restricting gas flow and having a central longitudinal axis and a plurality of electrodes extending along said axis, each of said electrodes having a concave surface facing said axis, said electrode ion pipe being located in a plurality of said vacuum stages such that said ion pipe begins in one of said vacuum stages and extends into at least one subsequent vacuum stage in said sequence of vacuum stages, wherein gas flow through said ion pipe is limited without compromising ion transmission;
- and
- (e) a power supply for applying electrical voltages to said electrodes of said electrode ion pipe.
3 more elements
An apparatus for analyzing chemical species, comprising:
- (a) an ion source for operation at substantially atmospheric pressure to produce ions from a sample;
- (b) at least two vacuum stages, the first vacuum stage of said vacuum stages being in communication with said ion source such that said ions produced by said ion source can move out of said ion source and into said first vacuum stage, said vacuum stages being in communication with each other such that said ions can move through a sequence of said vacuum stages;
- (c) a Time-of-Flight mass analyzer and detector each located in at least one of said vacuum stages;
- (d) at least one electrode ion pipe for restricting gas flow and having a central longitudinal axis and a plurality of electrodes extending along said axis, each of said electrodes having a concave surface facing said axis, said electrode ion pipe being located in at least one of said vacuum stages, wherein gas flow through said ion pipe is limited without compromising ion transmission;
- and
- (e) a power supply for applying electrical voltages to said electrodes of said electrode ion pipe.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.