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: 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: 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: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer and an ion gate. A collision cell is arranged downstream of the ion gate. The operation of the ion mobility spectrometer and the ion gate are synchronized so that only ions having a particular mass to charge ration and a desired charge state are onwardly transmitted to the collision cell.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a mixture of components includes forming precursor ions from the components, alternately causing the precursor ions to pass to and to by-pass a fragmentation device, to form product ions from the precursor ions that pass to the device and to form substantially fewer product ions from precursor ions that by-pass the device, and obtaining mass spectra from product ions received from the device and from precursor ions that by-passed the device. An apparatus for analyzing a sample includes an ion source for forming precursor ions from the components of the sample, a fragmentation device for forming product ions from the precursor ions, a by-pass device disposed upstream of the fragmentation device for switchable by-pass of the fragmentation device, and a mass analyzer.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a FAIMS device comprising two parallel electrodes (9a, 9b) in series with an ion mobility separator (12) forming part of a mass spectrometer. Ions are separated in the FAIMS device (9a, 9b) according to their rate of change of ion mobility with electric field strength. The ions which are onwardly transmitted from the FAIMS device (9a, 9b) are then passed to an ion separator device (12) comprising a plurality of electrodes (12) and an optional ion trapping region (33). Ions are radially confined with the ion separator by application of an AC or RF voltage to the electrodes (12) and ions are separated according to their ion mobility by applying an axial DC voltage gradient which may remain constant as a function of time or which may vary with time.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a mixture of components includes forming precursor ions from the components, alternately causing the precursor ions to pass to and to by-pass a fragmentation device, to form product ions from the precursor ions that pass to the device and to form substantially fewer product ions from precursor ions that by-pass the device, and obtaining mass spectra from product ions received from the device and from precursor ions that by-passed the device. An apparatus for analyzing a sample includes an ion source for forming precursor ions from the components of the sample, a fragmentation device for forming product ions from the precursor ions, a by-pass device disposed upstream of the fragmentation device for switchable by-pass of the fragmentation device, and a mass analyzer.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer and an ion gate. A collision cell is arranged downstream of the ion gate. The operation of the ion mobility spectrometer and the ion gate are synchronized so that only ions having a particular mass to charge ration and a desired charge state are onwardly transmitted to the collision cell.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a mixture of components includes forming precursor ions from the components, alternately causing the precursor ions to pass to and to by-pass a fragmentation device, to form product ions from the precursor ions that pass to the device and to form substantially fewer product ions from precursor ions that by-pass the device, and obtaining mass spectra from product ions received from the device and from precursor ions that by-passed the device. An apparatus for analyzing a sample includes an ion source for forming precursor ions from the components of the sample, a fragmentation device for forming product ions from the precursor ions, a by-pass device disposed upstream of the fragmentation device for switchable by-pass of the fragmentation device, and a mass analyzer.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a first ion trap or ion guide, a single ion mobility spectrometer or separator stage and a second ion trap or ion guide arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. In a mode of operation ions from the second ion trap or ion guide are passed from the second ion trap or ion guide back upstream to the ion mobility spectrometer or separator.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer and an ion gate. A collision cell is arranged downstream of the ion gate. The operation of the ion mobility spectrometer and the ion gate are synchronised so that only ions having a particular mass to charge ratio and a desired charge state are onwardly transmitted to the collision cell.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a Time of Flight mass analyzer comprising an ion detector comprising an Analog to Digital Converter. Signals from the Analog to Digital Converter are digitized and the arrival time and intensity of ions are determined. The arrival time T0 and intensity S0 of each ion arrival event is converted into two separate intensities S(n),S(n+i) which are stored in neighboring time bins T(n), T(n+1).

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a first quadrupole rod set mass filter, a collision cell, an ion mobility spectrometer or separator, an ion guide or collision cell arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator, a second quadrupole rod set mass filter and an ion detector.

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: A mass spectrometer includes an ion mobility spectrometer or separator arranged upstream of a collision or fragmentation cell. Ions are separated according to their ion mobility within the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. The kinetic energy of the ions exiting the ion mobility spectrometer or separator is increased substantially linearly with time in order to optimize the fragmentation energy of ions as they enter the collision or fragmentation cell. During the time that the potential of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator is being varied, the potential of ion-optical components upstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator such as an ion source, ion guide, quadrupole mass filter, optional second collision or fragmentation cell and an ion trapping device are kept constant.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a first ion trap or ion guide, a single ion mobility spectrometer or separator stage and a second ion trap or ion guide arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. A mode of operation includes passing ions from said first ion trap or ion guide to said device and onwards to said second ion trap or ion guide and then passing at least some of said ions or at least some fragment, daughter, product or adduct ions derived from said ions from said second ion trap or ion guide onwards to said first ion trap or ion guide.

Abstract: An ion guide is disclosed comprising one or more layers of intermediate planar, plate or mesh electrodes. A first array of first electrodes is provided on a upper surface and a second array of second electrodes is arranged on a lower surface. An ion guiding region is formed within the ion guide. One or more transient DC voltages or potentials are preferably applied to the first and second array of second electrodes in order to urge, propel, force or accelerate ions through or along the ion guide.

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: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed wherein a Surface Induced Dissociation fragmentation device is repeatedly switched between a high fragmentation mode and a low fragmentation mode. Parent ions from a first sample are passed through the device and parent ion mass spectra and fragmentation ion mass spectra are obtained. Parent ions from a second sample are then passed through the device and a second set of parent ion mass spectra and fragmentation ion mass spectra are obtained. The mass spectra are then compared and if either certain parent ions or certain fragmentation ions in the two samples are expressed differently then further analysis is performed to seek to identify the ions which are expressed differently in the two different samples.

Abstract: A closed-loop ion guide 1 is disclosed comprising a plurality of electrodes having apertures through which ions are transmitted in use. Ions are injected into the closed-loop ion guide 1 and may make several circuits of the closed-loop ion guide 1 before being ejected from the ion guide 1. In a mode of operation the ion guide 1 may be arranged to separate ions temporally according to their ion mobility.