Mass spectrometer
AssigneeMicromass UK Limited
InventorsRobert Harold Bateman, Kevin Giles, Steve Pringle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mass spectrometer is disclosed having an ion guide which receives ions from either a pulsed ion source or an ion trap, or a continuous ion source. The ion guide emits packets of ions. The pulses of ions emitted from the ion guide may be synchronised with another device such as an ion detector, an orthogonal acceleration Time of Flight mass analyser, an ion trap or a mass filter.
Claims79
A mass spectrometer comprising:
- a device which repeatedly generates or releases packets of ions in a substantially pulsed manner;
- and
- an ion guide comprising a plurality of electrodes, said ion guide being arranged downstream of the device to receive packets of ions generated or released from said device and wherein in use one or more packets of ions generated or released from said device are trapped in one or more axial trapping regions within said ion guide and wherein said one or more axial trapping regions are translated along at least a portion of the axial length of said ion guide and ions are then released from said one or more axial trapping regions so that ions exit said ion guide in a substantially pulsed manner.
A mass spectrometer comprising:
- a device which generates or provides ions in a substantially continuous manner;
- and
- an ion guide comprising a plurality of electrodes, said ion guide being arranged to receive said ions from said device and wherein in use said ions received from said device are trapped in one or more axial trapping regions within said ion guide and wherein said one or more axial trapping regions are translated along at least a portion of the axial length of said ion guide and ions are then released from said one or more axial trapping regions so that ions exit said ion guide in a substantially pulsed manner.
A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim s, wherein at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 95% of said electrodes are connected to both a DC and an AC or RF voltage supply.
A method of mass spectrometry comprising:
- repeatedly generating or releasing packets of ions in a substantially pulsed manner;
- receiving one or more packets of ions in an ion guide comprising a plurality of electrodes;
- trapping said one or more packets of ions in one or more axial trapping regions within said ion guide;
- translating said one or more axial trapping regions along at least a portion of the axial length of said ion guide;
- and
- releasing ions from said one or more axial trapping regions so that ions exit said ion guide in a substantially pulsed manner.
A method of mass spectrometry comprising:
- generating or providing ions in a substantially continuous manner;
- receiving said ions in an ion guide comprising a plurality of electrodes;
- trapping said ions in one or more axial trapping regions within said ion guide;
- translating said one or more axial trapping regions along at least a portion of the axial length of said ion guide;
- and
- releasing ions from said one or more axial trapping regions so that ions exit said ion guide in a substantially pulsed manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.