Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer or separator and an ion guide arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. A plurality of axial potential wells are created in the ion guide so that ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator become confined in separate axial potential wells. The potential wells maintain the fidelity and/or composition of ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. The potential wells are translated along the length of the ion guide.

Abstract: An ion guide or ion trap that comprises a plurality of electrodes (102) is disclosed. The ion guide or ion trap includes a detector (205) that can detect light or particles (114) emitted from the ion guide or ion trap due to electrical breakdown, and a control circuit (111) that can control the ion guide or ion trap in response to the detector (205) detecting light or particles (114) emitted from the ion guide or ion trap.

Abstract: A method of selecting ions comprises selecting ions corresponding to a target ion of interest by separating analyte ions according to their ion mobility, isolating first ions of the analyte ions, separating the first ions according to their ion mobility, and isolating second ions of the first ions. Preferably, the separation is accomplished by using a cyclic or closed-loop separator.

Abstract: An analytical device for analysing ions is provided comprising a separator 2 for separating ions according to a physico-chemical property and an interface 3 comprising one or more ion guides. A quadrupole rod set mass filter 4 is arranged downstream of the interface 3. A control system is arranged and adapted: (i) to transmit a first group of ions which emerges from the separator 2 through the interface 3 with a first transit time t1 and (ii) to transmit a second group of ions which subsequently emerges from the separator 2 through the interface 3with a second different transit time t2.

Abstract: A method of filtering ions according to their ion mobility using a device is disclosed, the method comprising a plurality of electrodes and one or more voltage source(s) arranged and adapted to apply voltages to the plurality of electrodes, the method comprising, generating using the one or more voltage source(s) one or more local separation region(s), wherein ions can be separated within each local separation region according to their ion mobility, and moving each local separation region axially along the device with a certain velocity such that, for each local separation region, ions having a value of their ion mobility falling within a selected range are transmitted axially along the device with that local separation region whereas ions having higher and/or lower ion mobility falling outside that range escape the local separation region, wherein any ions that escape the local separation region(s) are removed from within the device and/or otherwise kept apart from those ions falling within the selected rang

Abstract: There is provided a method of guiding ions, comprising providing an ion guide comprising a plurality of electrodes, confining ions radially within said ion guide by applying one or more voltages to said plurality of electrodes, applying an orthogonal DC field along at least a portion of said ion guide in order to control the temperature of ions as they travel through said ion guide, and applying an electrostatic driving potential to said plurality of electrodes to urge ions along the axial length of the ion guide, wherein said electrostatic driving potential is applied in the form of a DC travelling wave potential or other transient DC potential.

Abstract: A method of identifying and/or characterizing ions comprises separating analyte ions according to a first physico-chemical property (ion-mobility), selecting first ions of the analyte ions, and activating, fragmenting or reacting the first ions to produce first product ions, separating the first product ions according to the first physico- chemical property, and determining a pattern of the first product ions. The first ions are identified and/or characterized using the pattern of the first product ions.

Abstract: An analytical device for analysing ions is provided comprising a separator 2 for separating ions according to a physico-chemical property and an interface 3 comprising one or more ion guides. A quadrupole rod set mass filter 4 is arranged downstream of the interface 3. A control system is arranged and adapted: (i) to transmit a first group of ions which emerges from the separator 2 through the interface 3 with a first transit time t1; and (ii) to transmit a second group of ions which subsequently emerges from the separator 2 through the interface 3 with a second different transit time t2.

Abstract: There is provided a method comprising separating a first population of ions according to a first physico-chemical property in a first separation device, and separating one or more groups of ions emerging from the first separation device in a drift tube and sampling each group of ions using the drift tube to determine the collision cross section of ions in each group of ions, wherein each group of ions corresponds to a range of the first physico-chemical property. The drift tube is configured such that multiple groups of ions in the first population of ions can be sampled by the drift tube in a single cycle of separation of the first separation device. The step of sampling each group of ions comprises determining the mobility of ions in each group of ions by measuring their drift time through the drift tube, and determining the collision cross section of the ions in each group of ions using the determined mobility.

Abstract: There is provided a method of guiding ions, comprising providing an ion guide comprising a plurality of electrodes, confining ions radially within said ion guide by applying one or more voltages to said plurality of electrodes, applying an orthogonal DC field along at least a portion of said ion guide in order to control the temperature of ions as they travel through said ion guide, and applying an electrostatic driving potential to said plurality of electrodes to urge ions along the axial length of the ion guide, wherein said electrostatic driving potential is applied in the form of a DC travelling wave potential or other transient DC potential.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: providing ions towards an ion storage region; selecting a target maximum charge desired to be stored within the ion storage region at any given time; and reducing the ion current passing to the ion storage region such that the ions entering the ion storage region do not cause the total charge within the storage region to rise above said target maximum charge. The step of reducing the ion current passing to the ion storage region comprises: temporally separating the ions according to their ion mobility in an ion mobility separator; and mass filtering the ions according to mass to charge ratio with a mass filter. Said steps of separating and mass filtering the ions result in substantially only target ions having selected combinations of ion mobility and mass to charge ratio being transmitted towards the ion storage region.

Abstract: An ion guide is disclosed comprising a first array of electrodes and a second array of electrodes and one or more apertures or ion exit regions. The first array of electrodes comprises a first plurality of arcuate electrodes arranged in parallel with one another and such that said first plurality of arcuate electrodes at least partially surround said one or more apertures or ion exit regions and/or wherein said second array of electrodes comprises a second plurality of arcuate electrodes arranged in parallel with one another and such that said second plurality of arcuate electrodes at least partially surround said one or more apertures or ion exit regions.

Abstract: A method of introducing and ejecting ions from an ion entry/exit device (4) is disclosed. The ion entry/exit device (4) has at least two arrays of electrodes (20,22). The device is operated in a first mode wherein DC potentials are successively applied to successive electrodes of at least one of the electrode arrays ((20,22) in a first direction such that a potential barrier moves along the at least one array in the first direction and drives ions into and/or out of the device in the first direction. The device is also operated in a second mode, wherein DC potentials are successively applied to successive electrodes of at least one of the electrode arrays (20,22) in a second, different direction such that a potential barrier moves along the array in the second direction and drives ions into and/or out of the device in the second direction. The device provides a single, relatively simple device for manipulating ions in multiple directions.

Abstract: A method of introducing and ejecting ions from an ion entry/exit device (4) is disclosed. The ion entry/exit device (4) has at least two arrays of electrodes (20,22). The device is operated in a first mode wherein DC potentials are successively applied to successive electrodes of at least one of the electrode arrays ((20,22) in a first direction such that a potential barrier moves along the at least one array in the first direction and drives ions into and/or out of the device in the first direction. The device is also operated in a second mode, wherein DC potentials are successively applied to successive electrodes of at least one of the electrode arrays (20,22) in a second, different direction such that a potential barrier moves along the array in the second direction and drives ions into and/or out of the device in the second direction. The device provides a single, relatively simple device for manipulating ions in multiple directions.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising separating ions temporally in a first device 5 and analysing the mass or mass to charge ratio of the ions or of product or fragment ions derived from the ions in a mass or mass to charge ratio analyser 8 disposed downstream of the first device 5. The method further comprises obtaining a first set of drift times for the ions through the first device 5 by measuring ion arrival times and determining the transit time of the ions and/or of the product or fragment ions through one or more intermediate regions or devices 6, 7 disposed between the first device 5 and the mass to charge ratio analyser 8. The method further comprises obtaining a second set of drift times for the ions through the first device 5 by correcting the first set of drift times to account for the determined transit times.

Abstract: A mass filter is disclosed having at least one electrode (42-48) comprising an aperture (43) or recess. Voltages are applied to the electrodes (42-48) of the mass filter such that ions having mass to charge ratios in a desired range are confined by the electrodes and are transmitted along and through the mass filter, whereas ions (47,49) having mass to charge ratios outside of said desired range are unstable and pass into the aperture (43) or recess such that they are filtered out by the mass filter. The aperture (43) or recess reduces or eliminates the number of ions that would otherwise impact the electrode surface facing the ion transmission axis and hence reduces degradation of the ion transmission properties of the mass filter.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer or separator and an ion guide arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. A plurality of axial potential wells are created in the ion guide so that ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator become confined in separate axial potential wells. The potential wells maintain the fidelity and/or composition of ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. The potential wells are translated along the length of the ion guide.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a method of separating ions according to their ion mobility, comprising (i) accumulating a first population of ions in a first region of an ion mobility separator, (ii) separating said first population of ions according to their ion mobility in said first region of said ion mobility separator, and (iii) accumulating a second population of ions in said first region of said ion mobility separator whilst said first population of ions are being separated according to their ion mobility in said ion mobility separator.

Abstract: An analytical device for analysing ions is provided comprising a separator 2 for separating ions according to a physico-chemical property and an interface 3 comprising one or more ion guides. A quadrupole rod set mass filter 4 is arranged downstream of the interface 3. A control system is arranged and adapted: (i) to transmit a first group of ions which emerges from the separator 2 through the interface 3 with a first transit time t1; and (ii) to transmit a second group of ions which subsequently emerges from the separator 2 through the interface 3 with a second different transit time t2.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising separating ions temporally in a first device 5 and analysing the mass or mass to charge ratio of the ions or of product or fragment ions derived from the ions in a mass or mass to charge ratio analyser 8 disposed downstream of the first device 5. The method further comprises obtaining a first set of drift times for the ions through the first device 5 by measuring ion arrival times and determining the transit time of the ions and/or of the product or fragment ions through one or more intermediate regions or devices 6, 7 disposed between the first device 5 and the mass to charge ratio analyser 8. The method further comprises obtaining a second set of drift times for the ions through the first device 5 by correcting the first set of drift times to account for the determined transit times.