Microengineered multipole rod assembly
AssigneeMicrosaic Systems Limited
InventorSteven Wright
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of mounting rods in quadrupole, hexapole, octupole, and other multipole geometries is described. First and second dies are used to hold the rods in the required configuration with the plurality of rods extending through each of the two dies. A coupling arrangement is used to separate the first and second dies, and also prevents motion in the plane of the dies. The rods are seated and retained against individual supports and arranged circumferentially about an intended ion beam axis. The supports are desirably fabricated from silicon bonded to a glass substrate, a support for a first rod being electrically isolated from a support for a second adjacent rod.
Claims29
A microengineered multipole rod assembly for use as an ion guide or as a mass filter, the assembly comprising:
- a plurality of rods;
- at least a first and second substrate, each of the first and second substrate supporting all of the rods on individual support elements provided for each of the supported rods, the first and second substrates being coupled together, independently of the plurality of rods, by contact of an arcuate surface through a line or point contact, the contact of the arcuate surface through the line or point contact providing a kinematic coupling between each of the first and second substrates;
- and
- wherein individual ones of the rods extend through each of the first and second substrates.
A microengineered mass spectrometer system comprising:
- a microengineered multipole rod assembly for use as an ion guide or as a mass filter, the assembly comprising:
- a plurality of rods;
- at least a first and second substrate, each of the first and second substrate supporting all of the rods on individual support elements provided for each of the supported rods, the first and second substrates being coupled together, independently of the plurality of rods, by contact of an arcuate surface through a line or point contact, the contact of the arcuate surface through the line or point contact providing a kinematic coupling between each of the first and second substrates;
- and
- wherein individual ones of the rods extend through each of the first and second substrates.
A microengineered mass spectrometer system comprising:
- a) a microengineered multipole rod assembly for use as an ion guide or as a mass filter, the assembly comprising:
- a plurality of rods;
- at least a first and second substrate, each of the first and second substrate supporting all of the rods on individual support elements provided for each of the supported rods, the first and second substrates being coupled together, independently of the plurality of rods, by contact of an arcuate surface through a line or point contact, the contact of the arcuate surface through the line or point contact providing a kinematic coupling between each of the first and second substrates;
- and
- wherein individual ones of the rods extend through each of the first and second substrates;
- and
- b) an analyser chamber comprising a mass analyser,
- wherein the ion guide is operable for directing ions, towards the analyser chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.