Abstract: Curved ion manipulation devices can provide relatively greater ion pathway lengths over conventional devices. Ions can be directed through one or more pairs of opposing curved surfaces of a curved ion manipulation structure. Each pair of opposing curved surfaces can be spaced apart radially relative to a common longitudinal axis of the ion manipulation structure to define a radial gap. Each pair of opposing curved surfaces can include a first electrode arrangement and a second electrode arrangement opposed to the first electrode arrangement. The first and second electrode arrangements can define an ion pathway and are configured to direct ions along the ion pathway and circumferentially through the radial gaps of the ion manipulation structure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for ion manipulations, including ion trapping, transfer, and mobility separations, using traveling waves (TW) formed by continuous alternating current (AC) are disclosed. An apparatus for ion manipulation includes a surface to which are coupled a first plurality of continuous electrodes and a second plurality of segmented electrodes. The second plurality of segmented electrodes is arranged in longitudinal sets between or adjacent to the first plurality of electrodes. An RF voltage applied to adjacent electrodes of the first plurality of electrodes is phase shifted by approximately 180° to confine ions within the apparatus. An AC voltage waveform applied to adjacent electrodes within a longitudinal set of the second plurality of segmented electrodes is phase shifted on the adjacent electrodes by 1°-359° to move ions longitudinally through the apparatus for separation.

Abstract: An apparatus includes multiple levels of ion transport channels, with successive levels coupled by elevator channels. Efficient three dimensional packing provides long path lengths in practical volumes for ion mobility separation with high resolving power. Disclosed elevator configurations provide efficient routing of ion transport channels across levels with low ion loss, enabling ion mobility separation over 100 levels or more. Elevator configurations include (i) opposed traveling waves meeting at an elevator entrance, (ii) external elevator with a wrap-around electrode bank, (iii) external elevator with electrode banks on parallel extension plates, or (iv) elevator operating in surfing mode, in various combinations. Manufacture is aided by printed wiring boards, with interchangeable boards. Assembly with motherboard, spacer block(s), and alignment pins provides efficient distribution of electrode excitations and accurate reproducible positioning.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for ion manipulations, including ion trapping, transfer, and mobility separations, using traveling waves (TW) formed by continuous alternating current (AC) are disclosed. An apparatus for ion manipulation includes a surface to which are coupled a first plurality of continuous electrodes and a second plurality of segmented electrodes. The second plurality of segmented electrodes is arranged in longitudinal sets between or adjacent to the first plurality of electrodes. An RF voltage applied to adjacent electrodes of the first plurality of electrodes is phase shifted by approximately 180° to confine ions within the apparatus. An AC voltage waveform applied to adjacent electrodes within a longitudinal set of the second plurality of segmented electrodes is phase shifted on the adjacent electrodes by 1°-359° to move ions longitudinally through the apparatus for separation.

Abstract: Apparatus include a plurality of electrode arrangements spaced apart from each other opposite an ion propagation axis and defining an ion transfer channel that extends along the ion propagation axis that tapers between an input end that is situated to receive ions and an output end that is situated to couple the received ions to an input end of an ion guide. Methods include positioning a plurality of electrode arrangements at oblique angles opposite an ion propagation axis so as to form a ion transfer channel that tapers between an input end and an output end, and coupling the output end of the ion transfer channel to an input end of an ion optical element so as to direct ions in the ion transfer channel into the ion optical element. Related systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus comprise an electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of electrodes defining a volume, an ion entrance, and an ion exit, and a voltage source coupled to the plurality of electrodes and configured to apply a nonlinear DC voltage sequence to the electrodes between the ion entrance and the ion exit that directs ions through the volume with the volume at a pressure of at least 1 Torr. Ions can be focused using nonlinear DC voltage sequences, including at atmospheric pressure. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for ion manipulations, including ion trapping, transfer, and mobility separations, using traveling waves (TW) formed by continuous alternating current (AC) are disclosed. An apparatus for ion manipulation includes a surface to which are coupled a first plurality of continuous electrodes and a second plurality of segmented electrodes. The second plurality of segmented electrodes is arranged in longitudinal sets between or adjacent to the first plurality of electrodes. An RF voltage applied to adjacent electrodes of the first plurality of electrodes is phase shifted by approximately 180° to confine ions within the apparatus. An AC voltage waveform applied to adjacent electrodes within a longitudinal set of the second plurality of segmented electrodes is phase shifted on the adjacent electrodes by 1°-359° to move ions longitudinally through the apparatus for separation.

Abstract: An apparatus includes multiple levels of ion transport channels, with successive levels coupled by elevator channels. Efficient three dimensional packing provides long path lengths in practical volumes for ion mobility separation with high resolving power. Disclosed elevator configurations provide efficient routing of ion transport channels across levels with low ion loss, enabling ion mobility separation over 100 levels or more. Elevator configurations include (i) opposed traveling waves meeting at an elevator entrance, (ii) external elevator with a wrap-around electrode bank, (iii) external elevator with electrode banks on parallel extension plates, or (iv) elevator operating in surfing mode, in various combinations. Manufacture is aided by printed wiring boards, with interchangeable boards. Assembly with motherboard, spacer block(s), and alignment pins provides efficient distribution of electrode excitations and accurate reproducible positioning.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for ion manipulations, including ion trapping, transfer, and mobility separations, using traveling waves (TW) formed by continuous alternating current (AC) are disclosed. An apparatus for ion manipulation includes a surface to which are coupled a first plurality of continuous electrodes and a second plurality of segmented electrodes. The second plurality of segmented electrodes is arranged in longitudinal sets between or adjacent to the first plurality of electrodes. An RF voltage applied to adjacent electrodes of the first plurality of electrodes is phase shifted by approximately 180° to confine ions within the apparatus. An AC voltage waveform applied to adjacent electrodes within a longitudinal set of the second plurality of segmented electrodes is phase shifted on the adjacent electrodes by 1°-359° to move ions longitudinally through the apparatus for separation.

Abstract: Methods include directing a group of ions through a separation region of an ion manipulation apparatus, separating the group of ions in the separation region based on ion mobility, selecting a subset of the group of ions based on a dependence between ion mobility and ion arrival time of the separated ions at a deposition switch of the ion manipulation apparatus, and depositing the selected subset of ions on a substrate. Related systems and ion manipulation apparatus are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods and system that provide concurrent ion accumulation and ion separation in coupled and switchable electrode regions using traveling wave electric fields.

Abstract: An apparatus includes multiple levels of ion transport channels, with successive levels coupled by elevator channels. Efficient three dimensional packing provides long path lengths in practical volumes for ion mobility separation with high resolving power. Disclosed elevator configurations provide efficient routing of ion transport channels across levels with low ion loss, enabling ion mobility separation over 100 levels or more. Elevator configurations include (i) opposed traveling waves meeting at an elevator entrance, (ii) external elevator with a wrap-around electrode bank, (iii) external elevator with electrode banks on parallel extension plates, or (iv) elevator operating in surfing mode, in various combinations. Manufacture is aided by printed wiring boards, with interchangeable boards. Assembly with motherboard, spacer block(s), and alignment pins provides efficient distribution of electrode excitations and accurate reproducible positioning.

Abstract: Apparatus comprise an electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of electrodes defining a volume, an ion entrance, and an ion exit, and a voltage source coupled to the plurality of electrodes and configured to apply a nonlinear DC voltage sequence to the electrodes between the ion entrance and the ion exit that directs ions through the volume with the volume at a pressure of at least 1 Torr. Ions can be focused using nonlinear DC voltage sequences, including at atmospheric pressure. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for ion peak compression and increasing resolution of ions are disclosed. Packets of ions are introduced into a device. A first electric field is applied for dispersing the ion packets temporally or spatially according to their mobilities. A second intermittent traveling wave is applied for regrouping or merging the dispersed ion packets into a lesser number of trapping regions with narrower peaks. The ions packets are compressed into the narrower peak regions by varying a duty cycle of the intermittent traveling wave.

Abstract: An apparatus includes multiple levels of ion transport channels, with successive levels coupled by elevator channels. Efficient three dimensional packing provides long path lengths in practical volumes for ion mobility separation with high resolving power. Disclosed elevator configurations provide efficient routing of ion transport channels across levels with low ion loss, enabling ion mobility separation over 100 levels or more. Elevator configurations include (i) opposed traveling waves meeting at an elevator entrance, (ii) external elevator with a wrap-around electrode bank, (iii) external elevator with electrode banks on parallel extension plates, or (iv) elevator operating in surfing mode, in various combinations. Manufacture is aided by printed wiring boards, with interchangeable boards. Assembly with motherboard, spacer block(s), and alignment pins provides efficient distribution of electrode excitations and accurate reproducible positioning.

Abstract: A switch for coupling a first ion manipulation device to a second ion manipulation device comprises a first surface and a second surface, at least one first electrode coupled to each of the first and second surface and configured to receive a first voltage and generate a first potential, and at least one second electrode coupled to each of the first and second surface and configured to receive a second voltage and generate a second potential, wherein the first potential inhibits the motion of ions along a first direction and the second potential inhibits the motion of ions along a second direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: Apparatus include a plurality of electrode arrangements spaced apart from each other opposite an ion propagation axis and defining an ion transfer channel that extends along the ion propagation axis that tapers between an input end that is situated to receive ions and an output end that is situated to couple the received ions to an input end of an ion guide. Methods include positioning a plurality of electrode arrangements at oblique angles opposite an ion propagation axis so as to form a ion transfer channel that tapers between an input end and an output end, and coupling the output end of the ion transfer channel to an input end of an ion optical element so as to direct ions in the ion transfer channel into the ion optical element. Related systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for ion peak compression and increasing resolution of ions are disclosed. Packets of ions are introduced into a device. A first electric field is applied for dispersing the ion packets temporally or spatially according to their mobilities. A second intermittent traveling wave is applied for regrouping or merging the dispersed ion packets into a lesser number of trapping regions with narrower peaks. The ions packets are compressed into the narrower peak regions by varying a duty cycle of the intermittent traveling wave.

Abstract: A method of manipulating ions comprises injecting ions between a first surface and a second surface positioned parallel to and spaced apart from each other and defining a central axis therebetween, wherein the first surface comprises first outer electrodes coupled to the first surface and a first inner array of electrodes coupled to the first surface and positioned between the first outer electrodes, wherein the second surface comprises second outer electrodes coupled to the second surface and a second inner array of electrodes coupled to the second surface and positioned between the second outer electrodes, and applying a frequency modulated RF voltage to at least one electrode of the first inner array of electrodes or the second inner array of electrodes to confine ions between the first surface and the second surface and to guide ions between the first surface and the second surface along the central axis.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first pair of opposing electrode arrangements that confine ions between them in a portion of a confinement volume inwardly laterally in a first confinement direction with respect to a longitudinal ion propagation direction, each opposing electrode arrangement including an arrangement of RF electrodes situated to receive an unbiased RF voltage having an alternate phase between adjacent RF electrodes of the arrangement of RF electrodes so as to provide the confining of ions between the first pair of opposing electrode arrangements, and a second pair of opposing electrode arrangements that confine the ions between the second pair in the confinement volume inwardly laterally in a second confinement direction that complements the first confinement direction, each opposing electrode arrangement of the second pair including an arrangement of RF electrodes that receive an unbiased RF voltage having an alternate phase between adjacent RF electrodes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for ion manipulations, including ion trapping, transfer, and mobility separations, using traveling waves (TW) formed by continuous alternating current (AC) are disclosed. An apparatus for ion manipulation includes a surface to which are coupled a first plurality of continuous electrodes and a second plurality of segmented electrodes. The second plurality of segmented electrodes is arranged in longitudinal sets between or adjacent to the first plurality of electrodes. An RF voltage applied to adjacent electrodes of the first plurality of electrodes is phase shifted by approximately 180° to confine ions within the apparatus. An AC voltage waveform applied to adjacent electrodes within a longitudinal set of the second plurality of segmented electrodes is phase shifted on the adjacent electrodes by 1°-359° to move ions longitudinally through the apparatus for separation.