Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus which increases the efficiency with which ions are transported from a first ion trap to a second ion trap, and subsequently trapped in the second ion trap. In one aspect the invention, increased efficiency takes the form or enabling ions of both high and low mass to charge ratios to be trapped in the second ion trap at substantially the same time, or at least within a relatively small window of time. This can be achieved by minimizing the undesirable time-of-flight separation by the high and low mass to charge ratio ions as they are transported from a first ion trap to the second ion trap. This minimization can be realized by adjusting the potential energy applied to ion transfer optics disposed between the two ion traps.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes a multipole having a main RF field for radially containing ions generally on a central axis. The multipole has first and second axial DC fields in opposite first and second direction along a length of the multipole. The first and second axial DC fields approach or add substantially to zero on the central axis. The multipole has an excitation voltage applied thereto for selectively exciting the ions of desired m/z ratios off the central axis. The excitation voltage thus causes excursion of the ions into a region where either the first or second axial DC field is strong. Thus, excitation of the ions and the DC fields cause ion drift toward a front end or a back end of the multipole. Further excitation moves the ions into regions of the DC fields that overcome barriers and causes axial ejection of the ions from the multipole.

Abstract: The invention provides a two-dimensional ion trap, comprising a plurality of elongate electrodes positioned between first and second end electrodes, the plurality of electrodes and first and second end electrodes defining a trapping volume. A controller in electrical communication with the plurality of elongate electrodes and the first and second end electrodes is configured to progressively vary a periodic voltage applied to at least one of the plurality of elongate electrodes to cause ions to be radially ejected from the ion trap in order of their mass to charge ratios. Concurrently, the controller is configured to progressively vary a DC offset of least one of the first and second end electrodes with respect to the plurality of elongate electrodes.

Abstract: An ion source includes an ion transfer tube having two segments for transporting a sample fluid containing ions between a first chamber and a second chamber maintained at a reduced pressure relative to the first chamber. A first segment may include a plurality of channels and heat conductive walls forming the plurality of channels. The plurality of channels and walls forming the channels promote efficient convective heat transfer to the sample fluid, thereby enabling operation at relatively high sample fluid flow rates, resulting in an increase in the number of ions that may be delivered to a mass analyzer. A second segment forms a single common channel that receives a plurality of sample streams and enables them to combine into a single ion stream that may be introduced as a single gas stream expansion into the second chamber.

Abstract: A TOF mass spectrometer has a clock phase to time bin cycling device that distributes data among storage cells in a random or systematic pattern that cancels out errors due to binary clock path and/or binary signal line irregularities. Data for peaks acquired from plural shots during TOF analysis are distributed among plural binary clock paths and the storage cells such that errors from irregularities in the binary clock paths and/or binary signal lines are not predominant in any peak of a spectrum generated from the analysis.