Abstract: The collision cross section (CCS) of a sample ion may be calculated by measuring a total drift time taken by the sample ion to travel through an ion mobility spectrometry drift cell to an ion detector. The CCS may be calculated based on the total drift time measured, and on a proportionality coefficient that defines the time taken by the sample ion to travel through a mobility dominated region between the drift cell and the detector. The proportionality coefficient may be determined from measuring the total drift times of reference ions. Calculation of the CCS of the sample ion may also be based on a proportionality coefficient that defines the time taken by the sample ion to travel through a mobility-independent region where the velocity of the ion depends on the electrostatic field strength, mass and the charge state of the ion.

Abstract: An interface for an ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) system includes a first ion guide for receiving ions from an IMS drift cell, and a second ion guide for receiving ions from the first ion guide, and positioned in a chamber separate from the first ion guide. Electrodes of the second ion guide subject the ions to an axial DC electric field while the second ion guide is held at a lower pressure than the first ion guide. In some embodiments, the first ion guide may be an ion funnel and the second ion guide may be a linear multipole device.

Abstract: An ion processing device includes electrically conductive vacuum manifold segments serially positioned and enclosing a volume along an axis. The segments are electrically isolated from each other and independently addressable by a voltage source. An ion optics device is positioned in the volume. A voltage differential between each manifold segment and the ion optics device is maintained below a maximum value by applying different voltages to respective manifold segments. The voltage differential may be controlled to avoid voltage breakdown in a low-pressure, high-voltage gas environment. The ion optics device may in some cases be an ion mobility drift cell.

Abstract: The collision cross section (CCS) of a sample ion may be calculated by measuring a total drift time taken by the sample ion to travel through an ion mobility spectrometry drift cell to an ion detector. The CCS may be calculated based on the total drift time measured, and on a proportionality coefficient that defines the time taken by the sample ion to travel through a mobility dominated region between the drift cell and the detector. The proportionality coefficient may be determined from measuring the total drift times of reference ions. Calculation of the CCS of the sample ion may also be based on a proportionality coefficient that defines the time taken by the sample ion to travel through a mobility-independent region where the velocity of the ion depends on the electrostatic field strength, mass and the charge state of the ion.

Abstract: An interface for an ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) system includes a first ion guide for receiving ions from an IMS drift cell, and a second ion guide for receiving ions from the first ion guide, and positioned in a chamber separate from the first ion guide. Electrodes of the second ion guide subject the ions to an axial DC electric field while the second ion guide is held at a lower pressure than the first ion guide. In some embodiments, the first ion guide may be an ion funnel and the second ion guide may be a linear multipole device.

Abstract: An ion processing device includes electrically conductive vacuum manifold segments serially positioned and enclosing a volume along an axis. The segments are electrically isolated from each other and independently addressable by a voltage source. An ion optics device is positioned in the volume. A voltage differential between each manifold segment and the ion optics device is maintained below a maximum value by applying different voltages to respective manifold segments. The voltage differential may be controlled to avoid voltage breakdown in a low-pressure, high-voltage gas environment. The ion optics device may in some cases be an ion mobility drift cell.

Abstract: A method is provided increasing the useful dynamic range of an ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) or an IMS-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) device. The method includes accumulating a first sample of ions over a first time interval; providing the first sample of ions to an ion detector to provide a first frame, accumulating a second sample of ions over a second time interval, where the second time interval is different than the first time interval, and providing the second sample of ions to the ion detector to provide a second frame. First data points of the first frame are selectively combined with second data points of the second frame to provide an accumulation frame of the first and second samples of ions.

Abstract: A mass spectrum is acquired by accumulating parent ions in an ion trap, ejecting parent ions of a selected m/z ratio into a collision cell, producing fragment ions from the parent ions, and analyzing the fragment ions in a mass analyzer. The other parent ions remain stored in the ion trap, and thus the process may be repeated by mass-selectively scanning parent ions from the ion trap. In this manner, the full mass range of parent ions or any desired subset of the full mass range may be analyzed without significant ion loss or undue time expenditure. The collision cell may provide a large ion acceptance aperture and relatively smaller ion emission aperture. The collision cell may pulse ions out to the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer may be a time-of-flight analyzer. The timing of pulsing of ions out from the collision cell may be matched with the timing of pulsing of ions into the time-of-flight analyzer.

Abstract: A mass spectrum is acquired by accumulating parent ions in an ion trap, ejecting parent ions of a selected m/z ratio into a collision cell, producing fragment ions from the parent ions, and analyzing the fragment ions in a mass analyzer. The other parent ions remain stored in the ion trap, and thus the process may be repeated by mass-selectively scanning parent ions from the ion trap. In this manner, the full mass range of parent ions or any desired subset of the full mass range may be analyzed without significant ion loss or undue time expenditure. The collision cell may provide a large ion acceptance aperture and relatively smaller ion emission aperture. The collision cell may pulse ions out to the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer may be a time-of-flight analyzer. The timing of pulsing of ions out from the collision cell may be matched with the timing of pulsing of ions into the time-of-flight analyzer.

Abstract: Improved apparatuses and methods are provided for ionizing samples and analyzing the samples with mass spectrometry.

Abstract: An interface for use in a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The interface comprises a first ion funnel comprising a first inlet and a first outlet, and a first axis between the first inlet and the first outlet. The interface further comprises a second ion funnel in tandem with the first ion funnel, the second ion funnel comprising a second inlet and a second outlet, and a second axis between the second inlet and the second outlet. The first axis and the second axis are offset relative to one another. A mass spectrometer comprising the interface and a method are disclosed.

Abstract: A vacuum divider is positioned between rotor blades of a turbo-molecular pump and a vacuum manifold formed from multiple vacuum chambers. A first coupling aperture passes through the vacuum divider and allows gas to pass from a first of the multiple vacuum chambers to the turbo-molecular pump. A second coupling aperture passes through the vacuum divider and allows gas to pass from a second of the multiple vacuum chambers to the turbo-molecular pump.

Abstract: Improved apparatuses and methods are provided for ionizing samples and analyzing the samples with mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Improved apparatuses and methods are provided for ionizing samples and analyzing the samples with mass spectrometry.

Abstract: An interface for use in a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The interface comprises a first ion funnel comprising a first inlet and a first outlet, and a first axis between the first inlet and the first outlet. The interface further comprises a second ion funnel in tandem with the first ion funnel, the second ion funnel comprising a second inlet and a second outlet, and a second axis between the second inlet and the second outlet. The first axis and the second axis are offset relative to one another. A mass spectrometer comprising the interface and a method are disclosed.

Abstract: An electric field source for a mass spectrometer and a mass spectrometer are described.

Abstract: Improved apparatuses and methods are provided for ionizing samples and analyzing the samples with mass spectrometry.

Abstract: An electric field source for a mass spectrometer and a mass spectrometer are described.

Abstract: A vacuum divider is positioned between rotor blades of a turbo-molecular pump and a vacuum manifold formed from multiple vacuum chambers. A first coupling aperture passes through the vacuum divider and allows gas to pass from a first of the multiple vacuum chambers to the turbo-molecular pump. A second coupling aperture passes through the vacuum divider and allows gas to pass from a second of the multiple vacuum chambers to the turbo-molecular pump.

Abstract: The invention provides an ion trap assembly. In general terms, the ion trap assembly contains: a) a segmented linear ion trap; b) an insulator disposed around the segmented linear ion trap; and c) a bonding material for attaching and spacing the insulator and said segmented linear ion trap. The ion trap assembly is generally made by mounting an elongated conductive workpiece to a set of rigidly connected insulators using a bonding material, and cutting the elongated conductive workpiece into a plurality of rods using wire electrical discharge machining. Also provided is a mass spectrometry system containing the precision segmented linear ion trap.