Abstract: An apparatus includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is placed in parallel with the first electrode to provide constant gap distance. The gap between the first electrode and the second electrode is at atmospheric pressure. Ions are introduced into the center of the gap and travel through the apparatus in a direction parallel to the first electrode and the second electrode. The apparatus is configured as a high-field symmetric-waveform apparatus for filtering high mobility ions or for fragmenting ions. The apparatus is also configured for three modes of operation: as a conventional DMS; as a filter high mobility ions; and as fragmentation device. A symmetric electric field is produced in the gap with a maximum density normalized field strength greater than 10 Td to filter high mobility ions and with a maximum density normalized field strength greater than 100 Td to fragment ions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is placed in parallel with the first electrode to provide constant gap distance. The gap between the first electrode and the second electrode is at atmospheric pressure. Ions are introduced into the center of the gap and travel through the apparatus in a direction parallel to the first electrode and the second electrode. The apparatus is configured as a high-field symmetric-waveform apparatus for filtering high mobility ions or for fragmenting ions. The apparatus is also configured for three modes of operation: as a conventional DMS; as a filter high mobility ions; and as fragmentation device. A symmetric electric field is produced in the gap with a maximum density normalized field strength greater than 10 Td to filter high mobility ions and with a maximum density normalized field strength greater than 100 Td to fragment ions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is placed in parallel with the first electrode to provide constant gap distance. The gap between the first electrode and the second electrode is at atmospheric pressure. Ions are introduced into the center of the gap and travel through the apparatus in a direction parallel to the first electrode and the second electrode. The apparatus is configured as a high-field symmetric-waveform apparatus for filtering high mobility ions or for fragmenting ions. The apparatus is also configured for three modes of operation: as a conventional DMS; as a filter high mobility ions; and as fragmentation device. A symmetric electric field is produced in the gap with a maximum density normalized field strength greater than 10 Td to filter high mobility ions and with a maximum density normalized field strength greater than 100 Td to fragment ions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing differential mobility spectrometer (DMS) which includes decreasing the amount of time that ions spend inside fringing fields generated by the DMS. The apparatus includes an entrance electrode plate sealingly engaged to the entrance of the DMS, and is electrically separated from the parallel plate electrodes of the DMS, the entrance electrode plate has an aperture for allowing the traversal of ions into the DMS; wherein the cross-sectional area of the aperture is less than the cross-sectional area of the ion path, the ion path being located between the two parallel plate electrodes of the DMS. The entrance electrode plate may also have a focusing potential applied to it for focusing of ions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing differential mobility spectrometer (DMS) which includes decreasing the amount of time that ions spend inside fringing fields generated by the DMS. The apparatus includes an entrance electrode plate sealingly engaged to the entrance of the DMS, and is electrically separated from the parallel plate electrodes of the DMS, the entrance electrode plate has an aperture for allowing the traversal of ions into the DMS; wherein the cross-sectional area of the aperture is less than the cross-sectional area of the ion path, the ion path being located between the two parallel plate electrodes of the DMS. The entrance electrode plate may also have a focusing potential applied to it for focusing of ions.

Abstract: Detecting and identifying ions using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and an ion separation pre-filter, such as an ion spectrometer, are provided. The combination of an ion separator as a pre-filter for SERS provides a highly sensitive detector with very low false alarm rates. Target ions from an ionized sample are identified and separated by the ion separator. The target ions are steered and deposited onto a SERS substrate for Raman spectroscopic analysis with an optical probe. The Raman spectrum is compared with reference spectra and the composition of the sample is identified. The ion current from the target ions can also be measured, preferably concurrently with the Raman spectrum measurement. Types of ion separators include a differential ion mobility spectrometer, an ion mobility spectrometer, or a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: Detecting and identifying ions using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and an ion separation pre-filter, such as an ion spectrometer, are provided. The combination of an ion separator as a pre-filter for SERS provides a highly sensitive detector with very low false alarm rates. Target ions from an ionized sample are identified and separated by the ion separator. The target ions are steered and deposited onto a SERS substrate for Raman spectroscopic analysis with an optical probe. The Raman spectrum is compared with reference spectra and the composition of the sample is identified. The ion current from the target ions can also be measured, preferably concurrently with the Raman spectrum measurement. Types of ion separators include a differential ion mobility spectrometer, an ion mobility spectrometer, or a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A sample analyzer including a MALDI ionization source, an ion mobility based filter for receiving ions from the MALDI ionization source and for providing a time-varying electric field through which select ions are passed, and a mass spectrometer for measuring the ion intensity of ions received from the ion mobility based filter.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to devices and methods for displaying ion mobility based analysis information using a processor that processes data from an ion mobility based analyzer and a display that displays the processed data in a three-dimensional representation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods and apparatus, for detection and identification of analytes in a volatilized or volatilizable sample, using the mobility-based signature that is produced when the volatilized sample is passed through an ion mobility based analyzer.

Abstract: A system for analyzing one or more ion species of a sample including a first ion mobility filter associated with a first flow path for passing first ions of the sample, a second ion mobility filter associated with a second flow path for passing second ions of the sample, a first outlet from the first flow path for passing a portion of the first ions from the first flow path to the second flow path, and a first outlet from the second flow path for removing neutral particles from the second flow path where the first outlet from the second flow path is upstream of the second ion mobility filter in relation to the ion flow in the second flow path.

Abstract: A field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer apparatus and system including a sample preparation and introduction section, a head for delivery of ions from a sample, an ion filtering section, an output part, and an electronics part wherein the filter section includes surfaces defining a flow path, further including ion filter electrodes facing each other over the flow path that enables the flow of ions derived from the sample between the electrodes and wherein the electronics part applies controlling signals to the electrodes for generating a filter field for filtering the flow of ions in the flow path while being compensated to pass desired ion species out of the filter.

Abstract: The invention provides, in various embodiments, systems and methods relating to controlling ion behavior in an ion-based analysis system.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to ion mobility based systems, methods and devices for analyzing samples and, more particularly, in some embodiments to compact GC-DMS systems, methods, and devices employing enhanced GC column temperature control and configurations to identify various sample constituents.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to systems, methods and devices for analyzing samples and, more particularly, to systems using a mass analyzer in combination with a differential mobility spectrometer to enhance the analysis process of constituents of a sample.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to ion mobility based systems, methods and devices for analyzing samples and, more particularly, in some embodiments to compact GC-DMS systems, methods, and devices employing enhanced GC column temperature control and configurations to identify various sample constituents.

Abstract: An RF-driven plasma source, including a pair of spaced-apart plasma electrodes, wherein the electrodes act as plates of a capacitor, the gas electrically discharges and creates a plasma of both positive and negative ions, in a clean process that enables efficient sample analysis, with preferred isolated sample photo-ionization, reduced-power operation and also including signal detection with modulated drive electronics.

Abstract: The invention provides, in various embodiments, systems and methods relating to enhancing the filtering and detection capability of ion mobility based systems by various techniques to counteract a charge buildup in the ion mobility based system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods and apparatus, for detection and identification of analytes in a volatilized or volatilizable sample, using the mobility-based signature that is produced when the volatilized sample is passed through an ion mobility based analyzer.

Abstract: A micromechanical field asymmetric ion mobility filter for a detection system includes a pair of spaced substrates defining between them a flow path between a sample inlet and an outlet; an ion filter disposed in the path and including a pair of spaced filter electrodes, one electrode associated with each substrate; and an electrical controller for applying a bias voltage and an asymmetric periodic voltage across the ion filter electrodes for controlling the paths of ions through the filter.