Abstract: Using ion mobility separation to improve a duty cycle of a mass spectrometer is described. In one aspect, a mass spectrometer can use an ion-mobility spectrometer to allow for more multiply-charged ions to transmit through than singly-charged ions. This results in a mass analyzer to perform a mass analysis with more multiply-charged ions.

Abstract: Using ion mobility separation to improve a duty cycle of a mass spectrometer is described. In one aspect, a mass spectrometer can use an ion-mobility spectrometer to allow for more multiply-charged ions to transmit through than singly-charged ions. This results in a mass analyzer to perform a mass analysis with more multiply-charged ions.

Abstract: Using ion mobility separation to improve a duty cycle of a mass spectrometer is described. In one aspect, a mass spectrometer can use an ion-mobility spectrometer to allow for more multiply-charged ions to transmit through than singly-charged ions. This results in a mass analyzer to perform a mass analysis with more multiply-charged ions.

Abstract: A FAIMS device interfaces between an ionization source and a mass spectrometer. The FAIMS device includes inner and outer electrodes having radially opposed surfaces, which define there between a gap through which ions are transported. A waveform generator is configured to apply a selected one of two distinct periodic waveforms to the electrodes, consisting of: a first waveform characterized by equal high and low amplitudes and periods and a second waveform including a bi-sinusoidal waveform superimposed with a DC compensation voltage. The device is configured to toggle between a transmission mode of operation in which ions are passed through the device with no spatial separation when the first waveform is applied to the inner and/or outer electrodes and a separation mode of operation in which spatial separation of the ions occurs in the gap when the bi-sinusoidal waveform and DC voltage are applied to the inner and/or outer electrodes.

Abstract: A method for transporting ions includes: providing an ion transfer tube having an axis and an internal bore having a width and a height less than the width; and providing an apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes, each having a respective ion aperture having an aperture center, the apertures defining an ion channel configured to receive the ions from the ion transfer tube and to transport the ions to an outlet end of the apparatus, wherein at least a subset of the apertures progressively decrease in size in a direction towards the apparatus outlet end, wherein the ion transfer tube is configured such that the ion transfer tube axis is non-coincident with an axis of the ion channel or such that the width dimension of the ion transfer tube bore is parallel to a plane defined by the ion transfer tube axis and the ion channel axis.

Abstract: A system for transporting ions includes: an ion transfer tube having an axis and an internal bore having a width and a height less than the width; and an apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes, each having a respective ion aperture having an aperture center, the apertures defining an ion channel configured to receive the ions from the ion transfer tube and to transport the ions to an outlet end of the apparatus, wherein at least a subset of the apertures progressively decrease in size in a direction towards the apparatus outlet end, wherein the ion transfer tube is configured such that the ion transfer tube axis is non-coincident with an axis of the ion channel or such that the width dimension of the ion transfer tube bore is parallel to a plane defined by the ion transfer tube axis and the ion channel axis.

Abstract: A method of operating a system comprising a chromatograph, an ion source, a mass spectrometer having a mass analyzer and an ion mobility spectrometer interposed between the ion source and the mass analyzer, comprising: performing a first chromatographic and mass analysis of a sample while operating the ion mobility spectrometer in non-dispersive mode, wherein a respective ion-signal-acquisition time (AT) and a corresponding loss-of-ion-signal time (LT) are identified for each detected m/z ratio that corresponds to a precursor-ion m/z ratio of interest; and performing a second chromatographic and mass analysis of the sample during which, for each identified AT and LT, the corresponding respective precursor ion is fragmented to generate product ions and the product ions are detected by the mass analyzer, wherein the ion mobility spectrometer is operated in dispersive mode such that ions of said each respective precursor-ion species are preferentially transmitted therethrough spectrometer to the mass analyzer.

Abstract: A method of operating a system comprising a chromatograph and a mass spectrometer comprises: (a) providing an abundance threshold and a list comprising respective entries for precursor ion species of interest comprising respective precursor-ion m/z ratios; (b) transmitting a first sample fraction portion comprising a plurality of sample-fraction ion species through an ion mobility spectrometer operated in non-dispersive mode to the mass spectrometer; (c) detecting a respective abundance at each of a plurality of sample-fraction m/z ratios; and (d) upon detection of an above-threshold ion abundance at an m/z-ratio corresponding to a first precursor ion species of interest: (d1) inletting a second sample fraction portion into the ion mobility spectrometer operated in dispersive mode such that ions of the first precursor-ion species are preferentially transmitted therethrough; (d2) fragmenting the preferentially-transmitted ions so as to generate product ion species; and (d3) detecting the product ion species.

Abstract: A system for transporting ions includes: an ion transfer tube having an axis and an internal bore having a width and a height less than the width; and an apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes, each having a respective ion aperture having an aperture center, the apertures defining an ion channel configured to receive the ions from the ion transfer tube and to transport the ions to an outlet end of the apparatus, wherein at least a subset of the apertures progressively decrease in size in a direction towards the apparatus outlet end, wherein the ion transfer tube is configured such that the ion transfer tube axis is non-coincident with an axis of the ion channel or such that the width dimension of the ion transfer tube bore is parallel to a plane defined by the ion transfer tube axis and the ion channel axis.

Abstract: A method is described for identifying the occurrence and location of charging of ion optic devices arranged along the ion path of a mass spectrometer. The method includes repeatedly performing a sequence of introducing a beam of discharge ions to a location on the ion path, and subsequently measuring the intensities of opposite-polarity sample ions delivered to a mass analyzer, with the discharge ions being delivered to a location further downstream in the ion path at each successive sequence.

Abstract: A method of operating a system comprising a chromatograph and a mass spectrometer comprises: (a) providing an abundance threshold and a list comprising respective entries for precursor ion species of interest comprising respective precursor-ion m/z ratios; (b) transmitting a first sample fraction portion comprising a plurality of sample-fraction ion species through an ion mobility spectrometer operated in non-dispersive mode to the mass spectrometer; (c) detecting a respective abundance at each of a plurality of sample-fraction m/z ratios; and (d) upon detection of an above-threshold ion abundance at an m/z-ratio corresponding to a first precursor ion species of interest: (d1) inletting a second sample fraction portion into the ion mobility spectrometer operated in dispersive mode such that ions of the first precursor-ion species are preferentially transmitted therethrough; (d2) fragmenting the preferentially-transmitted ions so as to generate product ion species; and (d3) detecting the product ion species.

Abstract: A method for transporting ions within a mass spectrometer comprises: inputting the ions and neutral molecules to a first end of an ion transport apparatus comprising a plurality of non co-planar ring-shaped electrode portions having respective central apertures having centers that lie along a common axis and that define an ion channel, the radii of the central apertures decreasing in a direction from the first end to a second end of the ion transport apparatus; applying a set of Radio Frequency voltages to the plurality of electrode portions such that the ions remain substantially confined to the ion channel while passing from the first to the second end; and exhausting the neutral molecules from the ion transport apparatus though a plurality of channels or apertures other than the apertures that define the ion channel, the exhausting performed in one or more directions that are non-perpendicular to the axis.

Abstract: A method for transmitting ions entrained in a flowing carrier gas into and through a gap defined by a pair of mutually facing curved electrodes comprises: inputting the ions and flowing gas into the gap through an ion inlet orifice of a first one of the pair of electrodes, the ion inlet orifice comprising an orifice wall, an orifice inlet end and an orifice outlet end, the orifice wall being smoothly convexly curved between the inlet end and the outlet end, wherein a width of the gap and a flow rate of the carrier gas through the ion inlet orifice and gap are such that the gas flow is laminar within the ion inlet orifice and gap.

Abstract: An ion source for a mass spectrometer comprises: a capillary having a nozzle for emitting a nebulized fluid sample; an electrode of the capillary; a high voltage power supply electrically coupled to the electrode; a second electrode disposed within or configurable to be disposed within a path of the nebulized fluid sample, wherein the capillary and capillary electrode are configurable so as to ionize the nebulized fluid sample by electrospray ionization and the second electrode is configurable so as to ionize the nebulized sample by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and wherein the second electrode is moveable between positions such that the second electrode is and is not disposed within the path of the nebulized fluid sample, respectively.

Abstract: An ion transfer tube for a mass spectrometer comprises a core member and a first jacket tube member at least partially enclosing the core member and providing one or more channels therethrough. A method of forming an ion transfer tube, comprises: providing a first jacket tube member having a length and an internal bore, the internal bore passing along the length and defining an interior surface of circular cross section; removing at least one portion of the first jacket tube member adjacent to the interior surface so as to form at least one groove, channel, slot, recess or embayment of or in the interior surface; and providing a core member within the bore of the jacket tube member such that remnant portions of the interior surface of circular cross section mate against portions of an exterior surface of the core member.

Abstract: A method is described for identifying the occurrence and location of charging of ion optic devices arranged along the ion path of a mass spectrometer. The method includes repeatedly performing a sequence of introducing a beam of discharge ions to a location on the ion path, and subsequently measuring the intensities of opposite-polarity sample ions delivered to a mass analyzer, with the discharge ions being delivered to a location further downstream in the ion path at each successive sequence.

Abstract: A ion source for a mass spectrometer comprises: a capillary having a nozzle for emitting a nebulized fluid sample; an electrode of the capillary; a high voltage power supply; a second electrode disposed within or configurable to be disposed within a path of the nebulized fluid sample; and at least one switch for selecting application of an electrical potential provided by the high voltage power supply to either or both of the capillary electrode or the second electrode, wherein the capillary and capillary electrode are configurable so as to ionize the nebulized fluid sample by electrospray ionization and the second electrode is configurable so as to ionize the nebulized sample by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization.

Abstract: A method for transmitting ions entrained in a flowing carrier gas into and through a gap defined by a pair of mutually facing curved electrodes comprises: inputting the ions and flowing gas into the gap through an ion inlet orifice of a first one of the pair of electrodes, the ion inlet orifice comprising an orifice wall, an orifice inlet end and an orifice outlet end, the orifice wall being smoothly convexly curved between the inlet end and the outlet end, wherein a width of the gap and a flow rate of the carrier gas through the ion inlet orifice and gap are such that the gas flow is laminar within the ion inlet orifice and gap.

Abstract: A system for analyzing ions comprises: an ion source; a FAIMS cell comprising: (a) a gas inlet; (b) an outer electrode having a generally concave inner surface and comprising: (i) an ion inlet operable to receive the ions from the ion source and a carrier gas from the gas inlet; and (ii) an ion outlet; and (c) an inner electrode having a conduit therethrough and having a generally convex outer surface disposed in a spaced-apart and facing arrangement relative to the inner surface of the outer electrode defining at least one annular on separation region therebetween; and a mass analyzer for mass analyzing ions transmitted by the FAIMS cell through the ion outlet, wherein the inner electrode is moveable between a first position and a second position, the first and second positions facilitating movement of the ions through the at least one annular ion separation region and the conduit, respectively.

Abstract: A High Field Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS) apparatus comprises (a) a first and a second gas inlet; (b) an expansion chamber receiving ions from an ion source and the first and second gas flows from the first and second gas inlets, respectively; (c) an outer electrode having a generally concave inner surface and comprising: (i) an ion inlet operable to receive, from the expansion chamber, the ions and a combined gas flow comprising portions of the first and second gas flows; and (ii) an ion outlet; and (d) an inner electrode having a generally convex outer surface that is disposed in a spaced-apart and facing arrangement relative to the inner surface of the outer electrode for defining an ion separation region therebetween, wherein the combined gas flow and a portion of the ions travel through the ion separation region from the ion inlet to the ion outlet.