Mass spectrometer
AssigneeMicromass UK Limited
InventorsRobert Harold Bateman, Kevin Giles, John Brian Hoyes, Steve Pringle, Jeff Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion trap wherein ions which have been temporally separated according to their mass to charge ratio or ion mobility enter the ion trap. Once at least some of the ions have entered the ion trap, a plurality of ion trapping regions are created along the length of the ion trap in order to fractionate the ions. Alternatively, the ions may be received within one or more axial trapping regions which are translated along the ion trap with a velocity which is progressively reduced to zero.
Claims97
A mass spectrometer comprising:
- an ion trap comprising a plurality of electrodes wherein at a first time t1 ions enter said ion trap and wherein at a second later time t2 four or more axial trapping regions are formed or created along at least a portion of the length of said ion trap, and wherein at said second time t2 at least some ions have travelled from said entrance at least 50% of the axial length of said ion trap towards said exit.
A mass spectrometer comprising:
- an ion trap comprising a plurality of electrodes, wherein in use ions received within said ion trap are trapped in one or more axial trapping regions within said ion trap and wherein in a mode of operation said one or more axial trapping regions are translated along at least a portion of the axial length of said ion trap with an initial first velocity and wherein said first velocity is then progressively reduced to a velocity less than or equal to 50 m/s.
A mass spectrometer comprising:
- an ion trap comprising a plurality of electrodes, wherein in use ions received within said ion trap are trapped in one or more axial trapping regions within said ion trap and wherein said one or more axial trapping regions are translated along at least a portion of the axial length of said ion trap with an initial first velocity and wherein said first velocity is then progressively reduced to substantially zero.
A method of mass spectrometry comprising:
- providing an ion trap comprising a plurality of electrodes wherein at a first time t1 ions enter said ion trap;
- and
- forming or creating four or more axial trapping regions at a second later time t2 along at least a portion of the length of said ion traps, wherein at said second time t2 at least some ions have travelled from said entrance at least 50% of the axial length of said ion trap towards said exit.
A method of mass spectrometry comprising:
- providing an ion trap comprising a plurality of electrodes;
- receiving ions within said ion trap;
- trapping said ions in one or more axial trapping regions within said ion trap;
- translating said one or more axial trapping regions along at least a portion of the axial length of said ion trap with an initial first velocity;
- and
- progressively reducing said first velocity to substantially zero.
A mass spectrometer comprising:
- an ion trap comprising a plurality of electrodes wherein at a first time t1 ions enter said ion trap and wherein at a second later time t2 five or more axial trapping regions are formed or created along at least a portion of the length of said ion trap, and wherein at said second time t2 at least some ions have travelled from said entrance at least 10% of the axial length of said ion trap towards said exit.
A method of mass spectrometry comprising:
- providing an ion trap comprising a plurality of electrodes wherein at a first time t1 ions enter said ion trap;
- and
- forming or creating five or more axial trapping regions at a second later time t2 along at least a portion of the length of said ion trap, wherein at said second time t2 at least some ions have travelled from said entrance at least 10% of the axial length of said ion trap towards said exit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.