Cyclically Varying Ion Selecting Field Means Patents (Class 250/290)
  • Patent number: 12061167
    Abstract: A desorber for a spectrometer, comprising a housing, which has supply lines and discharge lines for a sample carrier gas, together with a closable opening, and an induction unit arranged in the housing, wherein the induction unit comprises a high-permeability and electrically insulating coil carrier, a coil arranged in the coil carrier, a high-permeability sample carrier that can be removed via the closable opening, wherein the sample carrier is designed as an inductive heating element, for purposes of heating a substance to be desorbed, which is applied to the sample carrier, and the coil carrier and the coil are arranged spaced apart from the sample carrier by a gap, such that the magnetic flux, generated by an alternating current flowing in the coil, flows through the sample carrier via the coil carrier and the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: BRUKER OPTICS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Uwe Renner
  • Patent number: 12057305
    Abstract: A device (1) for manipulating charged particles, the device comprising a series of electrodes (2, 3) disposed so as to form a channel for transportation of the charged particles. A power supply unit (5) provides a first supply voltage (7) which changes according to a waveform having a period (T), to axially segmented bunching electrodes (3) to create an electric field within the channel. The potential of the electric field defines a potential well which is translated along the length of the channel such that the potential well is translated a distance substantially equal to its length in an interval of time substantially equal to the period (T). The waveform is substantially continuously smooth throughout its period (T); and, substantially constant in value throughout a finite duration of time (TL<T) within the period (T), corresponding to a minimum of the waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roger Giles, Alina Giles
  • Patent number: 12027561
    Abstract: An image transducer and a 3D image capturing system having the image transducer are provided. The image transducer includes a microlens, first function layer, first photosensitive layer, second function layer, second photosensitive layer, first read circuit and second read circuit; thus, the image transducer includes two photosensitive layers and is vertically structured. The two photosensitive layers greatly increase sensing waveband. The 3D image capturing system uses the image transducer to enhance pixel screen fineness of a 3D screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Inventor: Hao-Che Liu
  • Patent number: 11990329
    Abstract: The ion trap comprises a multipole electrode assembly, a first confining electrode, and a second confining electrode. The multipole electrode assembly is configured to confine ions of the first polarity to an ion channel extending in an axial direction of the multipole electrode assembly. The first confining electrode is provided adjacent to the multipole electrode assembly and extends in the axial direction of the multipole electrode assembly. The second confining electrode is provided adjacent to the multipole electrode assembly and extends in the axial direction of the multipole electrode assembly aligned with the first confining electrode. The first and second confining electrodes are spaced apart in the axial direction in order to define an ion confining region of the ion channel between the first and second confining electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH
    Inventors: Hamish Stewart, Dmitry Grinfeld, Alexander Wagner
  • Patent number: 11908674
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating a layout of electrodes for an ion guide for transporting ions along an ion path, the ion guide comprising electrodes arranged in the layout of electrodes along the ion path for transporting the ions along the ion path. For generating the layout of electrodes, a layout path corresponding to said the path is assumed and the layout of electrodes is generated along the layout path. The layout of electrodes and the layout path are in reference to a global reference system, wherein the layout of electrodes includes at least two layout subunits which are arranged in succession along the layout path, wherein each one of the at least two layout subunits is of one of at least one layout subunit type. The method includes defining the at least one layout subunit type, wherein each one of the at least one layout subunit type includes type information, the type information being adopted by each layout subunit of the respective one of the at least one layout subunit type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOFWERK AG
    Inventors: Stephan Graf, Michael Kamrath
  • Patent number: 11848185
    Abstract: An electrode assembly, such as for an ion mirror, comprising: a first layer having a plurality of electrodes that are separated by one or more gaps; a second layer arranged to cover said one or more gaps and prevent electric fields passing through said one or more gaps, said second layer having electrically conductive material located to be coincident with said one or more gaps in the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventor: Boris Kozlov
  • Patent number: 11796504
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Yehia M. Ibrahim, Adam L. Hollerbach, Ailin Li
  • Patent number: 11721189
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for an aspirating smoke detector device are described herein. In some examples, one or more embodiments include an aspirating smoke detector device comprising a printed circuit board (PCB), a manifold including a first flow channel and a second flow channel, a blower housing configured to receive a blower, a first sensor head housing connected to the blower housing via the first flow channel, wherein the first sensor head housing is configured to receive a first sensor head, and a second sensor head housing connected to the blower housing via the second flow channel, wherein the second sensor head housing is configured to receive a second sensor head, and a gasket configured to fluidically seal the manifold to the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Gianluca Pace, Domenico Piro, Mauro Miheli
  • Patent number: 11640005
    Abstract: An ion detector that can detect either positive or negative ions comprises: an ion inlet comprising an ion focusing lens; a dynode having a surface configured to intercept, within a zone of interception, a stream of ions passing through the ion focusing lens, wherein a plane that is tangent to the dynode surface at the zone of interception is disposed at an angle to a line that passes through the center of the dynode surface and the center of the focusing lens; a scintillator having a surface that is configured to receive secondary electrons emitted from the zone of interception; a scintillator electrode affixed to the scintillator surface; a photodetector configured to receive photons emitted by the scintillator and to generate an electric signal in response thereto; and one or more power supplies electrically coupled to the focusing lens, the dynode, the scintillator electrode and the photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLC
    Inventors: Linfan Li, Jae C. Schwartz, Oleg Silivra
  • Patent number: 11367609
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer adopting a configuration of a multi-stage differential evacuation system appropriately performs optimization of a direct-current voltage applied to a plurality of ion optical elements for transporting ions. An auto-tuning controller acquires intensity data of ions derived from a predetermined component while changing a direct-current voltage applied to ion guides and the like, and searches for a direct-current voltage at which the intensity is maximized. When the direct-current voltage applied to a certain ion optical element is changed at the time of automatic adjustment, the direct-current voltage applied to all the ion optical elements thereafter is also changed by the same amount. Since the direct-current voltage difference between two adjacent ion optical elements always changes at only one point, the direct-current potential difference can be determined so as to optimize the ion passage efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Manabu Ueda
  • Patent number: 11282693
    Abstract: A method of operating a quadrupole device is disclosed. The method comprises applying a main drive voltage to the quadrupole device and applying three or more auxiliary drive voltages to the quadrupole device. The three or more auxiliary drive voltages correspond to two or more pairs of X-band or Y-band auxiliary drive voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Martin Raymond Green, David Gordon, David Langridge
  • Patent number: 11264227
    Abstract: An ion manipulation device and systems and methods for controlling the ion manipulation device. The ion manipulation device includes a pair of counter-facing surfaces and a plurality of electrodes arranged in one or more linear array on each of the counter-facing surfaces. At least one RF power source is coupled to the electrodes and configured to apply an RF potential to the electrodes to create an electric field that inhibits charged particles from approaching the counter-facing surfaces. At least one DC power source is coupled to the electrodes and configured to apply a DC potential to affect the movement of ions between the counter-facing surfaces in a direction parallel to the counter-facing surfaces. The DC potential and the RF potential are applied to the electrodes simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Katrina L. Leaptrot, Jody C. May, John A. Mclean
  • Patent number: 11209393
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Venkata B S Garimella, Ahmed M. Hamid, Yehia M. Ibrahim, Richard D. Smith
  • Patent number: 11139158
    Abstract: Four rod electrodes (50a to 50d) for separating ions according to a mass-to-charge ratio are held by a rod holder (51). The rod holder (51) is placed on a metal holder sustaining stand (52) provided on a bottom surface of a vacuum housing (1), and is fixed while being pressed by a fixation band (53) fixed to the holder sustaining stand (52) with screws (56). The fixation band (53) is made from phosphor bronze having higher thermal conductivity than thermal conductivity of stainless steel or the like. Therefore, heat generated in the rod holder (51) due to dielectric loss is not only directly transmitted to the holder sustaining stand (52), but also efficiently transmitted to the holder sustaining stand (52) through the fixation band (53). With this, the heat of the rod holder (51) is efficiently dissipated, and non-uniformity of temperature of the rod holder can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu Ueda, Kota Nagasao
  • Patent number: 11119069
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yehia M. Ibrahim, Adam L. Hollerbach, Ailin Li
  • Patent number: 11081332
    Abstract: Elongation of orthogonal accelerators is assisted by ion spatial transverse confinement within novel confinement means, formed by spatial alternation of electrostatic quadrupolar field (22). Contrary to prior art RF confinement means, the static means provide mass independent confinement and may be readily switched. Spatial confinement defines ion beam (29) position, prevents surfaces charging, assists forming wedge and bend fields, and allows axial fields in the region of pulsed ion extraction, this way improving the ion beam admission at higher energies and the spatial focusing of ion packets in multi-reflecting, multi-turn and singly reflecting TOF MS or electrostatic traps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventor: Anatoly Verenchikov
  • Patent number: 11056332
    Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) surface ion trap chip includes an RF electrode and an integrated capacitive voltage divider in which an intermediate voltage node is capacitively connected between the RF electrode and a ground. A sensor output trace is connected to the intermediate voltage node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Lukas Wilhelm Maunz, Matthew G. Blain, Christopher Nordquist
  • Patent number: 11024497
    Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometry apparatus and method used to separate ions and select some of the ions using an AC gate; the selected ions are further separated along a drift axis of a drift tube, where the AC gate is controlled using a series of AC voltages and/or frequencies to select different ions for the drift tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Excellims Corp.
    Inventors: Ching Wu, Mark A. Osgood
  • Patent number: 10984998
    Abstract: In a tandem mass spectrometer, when the measurement mode is switched between a positive ion measurement mode and a negative ion measurement mode, a DC offset voltage applied to a lens electrode to impart collision energy to an ion is temporarily switched to 0V (S1). After being maintained at 0V for a predetermined waiting time (S2), the voltage is changed to a DC offset voltage corresponding to a measurement mode which is used after the switching operation (S3). By such an operation, the voltage difference between the neighboring plate electrodes among the plate electrodes (171, 172, 173) included in the lens electrode can be decreased as compared to the case where the polarity of the DC offset voltage is immediately switched. Consequently, unintended electric discharge between the neighboring electrodes can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Midorikawa
  • Patent number: 10903063
    Abstract: Methods for confirming charged-particle generation in an instrument are provided. A method to confirm charged-particle generation in an instrument includes providing electrical connections to a charged-particle optics system of the instrument while the charged-particle optics system is in a chamber. The method includes coupling an electrical component having an impedance to charged-particle current generated in the chamber. Moreover, the method includes measuring an electrical response by the electrical component to the charged-particle current. Related instruments are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: bioMérieux, Inc.
    Inventor: James Arthur VanGordon
  • Patent number: 10804088
    Abstract: A mass spectrometry method comprises: generating ions; directing the ions through an ion optical component within a first chamber having a first vacuum pressure, the ion optical component maintained at a first electrical potential; transferring the ions through an ion guide within a second chamber having a second vacuum pressure less than the first vacuum pressure, the ion guide maintained at a second electrical potential, wherein a difference between the first and second potentials imparts kinetic energy that causes collision-induced ion fragmentation within the second chamber that removes adduct species; and transferring the ions into another ion guide within a third chamber having a third vacuum pressure less than the second vacuum pressure, the other ion guide maintained at a third electrical potential, wherein a difference between the third and second potentials reduces a portion of the imparted kinetic energy of the ions passing into the third chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. Goodwin, Michael W. Senko, Graeme C. McAlister
  • Patent number: 10593534
    Abstract: An ion guide includes electrodes and an RF generator. The electrodes extend in a Z-axis that is straight or curved with a radius that is larger than a distance between the electrodes. The electrodes are made of carbon filled ceramic resistors, silicon carbide, or boron carbide to form bulk resistance with specific resistance between 1 and 1000 Ohm*cm. Conductive Z-edges are disposed on each electrode. An insulating coating is disposed on one side of each electrode and oriented away from an inner region of the ion guide surrounded by said electrodes. At least one conductive track per electrode is attached on a top side of the insulating coating. The conductive track is connected to one conductive electrode edge. The RF generator has at least two sets of secondary coils with DC supplies connected to central taps of the sets of secondary coils to provide at least four distinct signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: LECO Corporation
    Inventors: Anatoly N. Verenchikov, Viatcheslav Artaev
  • Patent number: 10573504
    Abstract: A multipole ion guide (30) including a plurality of rod electrodes arranged at an angle to the central axis (C) is placed within a collision cell (13) located in the previous stage of an orthogonal accelerator (16). Radio-frequency voltages with opposite phases are applied to the rod electrodes of the ion guide (30) so that any two rod electrodes neighboring each other in the circumferential direction have opposite phases of the voltage. A depth gradient of the pseudopotential is thereby formed from the entrance end toward the exit end within the space surrounded by the rod electrodes, and ions are accelerated by this gradient. During an ion-accumulating process, a direct voltage having the same polarity as the ions is applied to the exit lens electrode (132) to form a potential barrier for accumulating ions. Among the ions repelled by the potential barrier, ions having smaller m/z return closer to the entrance end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Furuhashi, Daisuke Okumura, Tomoyuki Oshiro
  • Patent number: 10422896
    Abstract: Improved, high count rate thermal neutron counters and electronics enabling new, higher measurement capabilities are disclosed. Next generation 3He and 10B tubes may include an electronics package capable of operating at higher count rates and in higher gamma fields and providing more efficient use of 3He gas. Conventional detector systems may also be upgraded, providing a possible solution to measure spent nuclear fuel with high neutron efficiency previously not possible in 235U fission counter systems. Switching the number of tubes per amplifier allows use of the measured nuclear material for a calibration standard for dead time correction, increasing accuracy of neutron measurements systems. An optimized detector geometry and advanced electronics with double pulse filtering and a dual channel readout may be provided. A bipolar shaper may improve dead time, provide efficient detector use, reduce double pulsing, facilitate high count rate measurements, and allow remote threshold setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Triad National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Kiril Ianakiev, Metodi Iliev, Martyn Swinhoe, Michael Browne, Adrienne LaFleur
  • Patent number: 10424474
    Abstract: Methods and devices for ion separations or manipulations in gas phase are disclosed. The device includes a non-planar surface having a first, second and third region. An inner arrays of electrodes is positioned on the first region. A first set of electrodes of the inner array of electrodes is configured to receive RF voltages and generate a first potential upon the receipt of the RF voltage. A first and second outer arrays of electrodes are coupled to the second and third region, respectively. The first and second outer arrays are configured to receive a first DC voltage and generate a second potential upon the receipt of the first DC voltages. The first and second generated potential manipulate movement of ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Yehia M. Ibrahim, Sandilya V. B. Garimella, Richard D. Smith
  • Patent number: 10408791
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an ion gate having at least a first, a second, and a third electrode, which are arranged one after the other in an intended drifting direction of ions to be influenced by the ion gate, in such a way that the second electrode is arranged after the first electrode and the third electrode is arranged after the second electrode in the drifting direction, wherein the ion gate can be switched between a closed state, in which ions cannot drift through the ion gate in the intended drifting direction, and an open state, in which ions can drift through the ion gate in the intended drifting direction, by applying potentials that alternate over time to one or more of the electrodes mentioned above, wherein, in a switching cycle of the ion gate, which comprises the open state and the closed state of the ion gate, two different closed states of the ion gate are produced in that, in a first closed state, the ion gate is closed by applying a first potential difference between t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: GOTTFRIED WILELM LEIBNIZ UNIVERSITAET HANNOVER
    Inventors: Stefan Zimmermann, Ansgar Kirk
  • Patent number: 10317364
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Venkata B S Garimella, Ahmed M. Hamid, Yehia M. Ibrahim, Richard D. Smith
  • Patent number: 10203305
    Abstract: The tandem differential mobility spectrometer (DMS)-ion modulator instrument provides improved resolution relative to traditional DMS for molecules with larger masses. The instrument includes multiple ion-bunching electrodes, each with an AC field synchronized to the transit time of the ion flow which is positioned downstream of a DMS. The ion bunching electrodes produce each a mobility-dependent modulation of the ion current. The ratio of AC to DC current provides a measure of the mobility of a large ion, even if it has little differential mobility, thereby extending the useful range of mobility characterization of a DMS system. The instrument does not require high voltages or high frequencies. Modulation before DMS separation or between tandem DMS separations produces a variable range of analyte and reactant ion densities as well as spatially separating negative and positive ions to reduce ion recombination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Dan Allen, Joe Fox
  • Patent number: 10134573
    Abstract: A voltage supply system for supplying an RF voltage to an RF resonant load comprising an ion-optical component of a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The system comprises a Direct Digital Synthesiser (“DDS”) arranged and adapted to output an RF voltage. The voltage supply system is arranged and adapted: (i) to vary the frequency of the RF voltage output by the Direct Digital Synthesiser, (ii) to determine a first resonant frequency of the RF resonant load comprising the ion-optical component, and (iii) to determine whether or not the generation of an RF voltage at the first resonant frequency by the Direct Digital Synthesiser would also result in the generation of a spur frequency close to the first resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: MICROMASS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: David Gordon, Richard Barrington Moulds, Kenneth Russell Worthington
  • Patent number: 10101335
    Abstract: Applications of ion-ion reaction chemistry are disclosed in which proton transfer reactions (PTR) combined with higher-collision-energy dissociation (HCD) are used to (1) simplify complex mixture analysis of samples introduced into a mass spectrometer, and (2) improve resolution and sensitivity for the analysis of large proteins in excess of 50 kDa by removing charge, reducing the collisional cross section, and, in several cases, enhancing the sequence coverage obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLC
    Inventors: William M. McGee, Helene L. Cardasis
  • Patent number: 9972483
    Abstract: A method of separating ions according to their time of flight is provided comprising: a. providing an analyzer comprising two opposing ion mirrors, each mirror comprising inner and outer field-defining electrode systems elongated along an analyzer axis with the outer field-defining electrode system surrounding the inner field-defining electrode system and creating therebetween an analyzer volume; b. injecting ions into the analyzer volume or creating ions within the analyzer volume so that they separate according to their time of flight as they travel along a main flight path while undergoing a plurality of axial oscillations in the direction of the analyzer axis and a plurality of radial oscillations while orbiting about one or more inner field-defining electrodes; c. the plurality of axial oscillations and plurality of radial oscillations causing the separated ions to intercept an exit port after a predetermined number of orbits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander A. Makarov
  • Patent number: 9966244
    Abstract: An ion manipulation method and device is disclosed. The device includes a pair of substantially parallel surfaces. An array of inner electrodes is contained within, and extends substantially along the length of, each parallel surface. The device includes a first outer array of electrodes and a second outer array of electrodes. Each outer array of electrodes is positioned on either side of the inner electrodes, and is contained within and extends substantially along the length of each parallel surface. A DC voltage is applied to the first and second outer array of electrodes. A RF voltage, with a superimposed electric field, is applied to the inner electrodes by applying the DC voltages to each electrode. Ions either move between the parallel surfaces within an ion confinement area or along paths in the direction of the electric field, or can be trapped in the ion confinement area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Gordon A. Anderson, Erin M. Baker, Richard D. Smith, Yehia M. Ibrahim
  • Patent number: 9953821
    Abstract: An ion guide system includes an ion guide with pole rods, a device for laterally introducing an ion species, and a mass spectrometer for analyzing product ions of reactions between different ion species. The device is configured and positioned such that an RF field with at least two-fold rotational symmetry with respect to the axis is generated. The device includes shortened pole rods and/or further electrodes. The pole rods and the further electrodes have at least two-fold rotational symmetry. The symmetry of the RF field allows ions to travel straight ahead through the ion guide with no hindrance. Such arrangements are particularly suitable for bringing together largely loss-free positive and negative ion species for reacting them. The reactions may be used to fragment multiply charged biopolymer ions by electron transfer or to remove excess charges of multiply charged biopolymer ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Bruker Daltonik GmbH
    Inventor: Carsten Stoermer
  • Patent number: 9922812
    Abstract: An analyzer for separating ions according to their time of flight comprising two opposing ion mirrors abutting at a first plane, each mirror comprising inner and outer field-defining electrode systems elongated along an analyzer axis, the outer field-defining electrode system surrounding the inner field-defining electrode system. The outer field-defining electrode system of one mirror comprises two sections, the sections abutting at a second plane, comprising a first section between the first plane and the second plane, and a second section adjacent to the first section. The first section has at least a portion which extends radially from the analyzer axis a greater extent than an adjacent portion of the second section at the second plane. The outer field-defining electrode system comprises an exit port and the analyzer comprises a detector located downstream of the exit port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Makarov
  • Patent number: 9899204
    Abstract: A method is described for the analysis of biological polymers, for example, intact proteins or oligonucleotides, by mass spectrometry. This method produces sample ions from a sample containing biological polymers, and ion species are selected that correspond to different charge states of a biological polymer molecule. The ion species are concurrently isolated from the sample ions to generate precursor ions in an ion trap mass spectrometer or in a quadrupole mass filter mass spectrometer. Precursor ions or product ions derived from the precursor ions may then be mass analyzed. The mass analysis step may include fragmenting the precursor ions to form product ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLC
    Inventor: Aaron O. Bailey
  • Patent number: 9805920
    Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising automatically correcting the mass or mass to charge ratio resolution of a quadrupole mass filter or mass analyser one or more times during an experimental run or acquisition based upon a measurement, determination or estimation of the mass or mass to charge ratio resolution of one or more reference ions observed in a mass spectrum or mass spectral data acquired either during the same experimental run or acquisition or during a previous experimental run or acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventor: Daniel James Kenny
  • Patent number: 9734998
    Abstract: The present invention uses an AC voltage instead of DC voltage on an ion gate to filter/selectively pass ions. The ions that pass through the AC ion gate can be further separated in a spectrometric instrument. An ion mobility spectrometer using the AC ion gate can achieve better gating performance. For a time of flight ion mobility spectrometer with an AC ion gate, a narrow pulse of selected ions can be passed into a drift tube where they are separated based on their low field ion mobility. Moreover, when the AC voltage at the AC ion gate has a waveform as used for differential ion mobility spectrometry, the time of flight ion mobility spectrometer is converted into a two dimensional separation spectrometer, where ions are first separated based on their high field ion mobility and then further separated based on their low field ion mobility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Excellims Corporation
    Inventors: Ching Wu, Mark A Osgood
  • Patent number: 9726611
    Abstract: An ICP emission spectrometer is schematically configured to include an inductively coupled plasma generation unit, a light condensing unit, a spectroscope, a detector, and a controller. The detector includes a photomultiplier and has a detector controller and an input unit. The photomultiplier has voltage dividing resistors, which make an amplification factor not to become constant immediately due to a change in an application voltage applied to the photomultiplier, but the detector controller controls an idle voltage and an idle voltage application time so that a multiplication factor becomes constant, during a period from when analysis conditions are input to the input unit in advance until a sample containing an analysis-targeted element is introduced into the inductively coupled plasma generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Science Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9570279
    Abstract: A mass analyzer includes two rotating electric field (REF) units, sinusoidal signal generators and a means for separation of dispersed ions. The REF units include a plurality of elongated electrodes surrounding a central axis, and are lined in tandem at elongated direction. Sinusoidal signals are applied to the electrodes to rotate electric fields within each REF unit. The means for separation is placed adjacent the downstream end of the 2nd REF unit. Ions enter the 1st REF unit, diverge outwards and leave the 1st REF unit on off-axis positions. The ions successively enter the 2nd REF unit and converge inwards because of 180 degrees phase difference from the 1st REF unit. Specified mass ions return to and travel along the central axis. However, unspecified mass ions deviate from the central axis and travel apart from the central axis. The means for separation separates specified ions from unspecified ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: OFFICE TANDEM L.L.C.
    Inventors: Masanao Hotta, Tatsuya Adachi
  • Patent number: 9558925
    Abstract: A device for separating non-ions from ions is disclosed. The device includes a plurality of electrodes positioned around a center axis of the device and having apertures therein through which the ions are transmitted. An inner diameter of the apertures varies in length. At least a portion of the center axis between the electrodes is non-linear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Yehia M. Ibrahim, Richard D. Smith
  • Patent number: 9490115
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for scanning frequency and voltages of a multipole mass filter while maintaining substantially the same number of AC cycles per mass during a scan across a range of masses. For example, a mass spectrum can be obtained by controlling a DC axial voltage that accelerates ions into a mass filter, a DC resolving voltage applied to the mass filter, an AC voltage amplitude applied to the mass filter, and an AC frequency of the AC voltage. The settings can be controlled such that ions of different mass-to-charge ratios are within the mass filter for substantially a same number of AC cycles. To achieve the same number of AC cycles, the AC frequency is changed during the scan. For low masses, a higher AC frequency can be used. For high masses, a lower AC frequency can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLC
    Inventor: Johnathan W. Smith
  • Patent number: 9412578
    Abstract: A method of separating charged particles using an analyzer is provided, the method comprising: causing a beam of charged particles to fly through the analyzer and undergo within the analyzer at least one full oscillation in the direction of an analyzer axis (z) of the analyzer whilst orbiting about the axis (z) along a main flight path; constraining the arcuate divergence of the beam as it flies through the analyzer; and separating the charged particles according to their flight time. An analyzer for performing the method is also provided. At least one arcuate focusing lens is preferably used to constrain the divergence, which may comprise a pair of opposed electrodes located either side of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander A. Makarov, Anastassios Giannakopulos
  • Patent number: 9412576
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ion trap mass spectrometer using a cold electron source, in a production of a portable mass spectrometer, in which a microchannel plate (MCP) module is used, initial electrons are induced by injecting ultraviolet photons emitted from an ultraviolet diode to a front surface of the MCP module, electron beams amplified from the electrons are amplified using a channeltron electron multiplier (CEM), the amplified electron beams are accurately adjusted and injected into an ion trap, thus increasing the amplification rate, and since a quadrupole field is used as an ion filter which returns the initially injected electrons to the inside of an ion trap mass separator, the ionization rate increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: KOREA BASIC SCIENCE INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Seung Yong Kim, Mo Yang, Hyunsik Kim
  • Patent number: 9384953
    Abstract: A measurement condition memory stores a CID gas condition table indicating a relation between the scan speed of a mass scan by a front-stage quadrupole mass filter and a CID gas supply pressure. If the scan speed is high, an influence of a decrease in speed of ions due to collisions with a CID gas inside a collision cell is relatively large. An appropriate CID gas supply pressure that reduces the decay of a peak waveform on a mass spectrum and makes the ion intensity as high as possible is examined in advance for each scan speed, and is stored in advance. During measurement of a target sample, if a precursor ion scan measurement mode or the like is designated, a CID gas supply pressure corresponding to the currently set scan speed is obtained based on the CID gas condition table, and the CID gas supplier is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinjiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 9330894
    Abstract: An ion transport device can include a plurality of pole rod pairs arranged in parallel, and a controller. The controller can be configured to apply voltages in a repeating voltage pattern to the pole rod pairs thereby creating a plurality of potential wells capable of capturing ions, and move the repeating voltage pattern along the pole rod pairs to move captured ions along the ion transport device. The ion transport device can be incorporated into a mass spectrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLC
    Inventor: Viatcheslav V. Kovtoun
  • Patent number: 9324543
    Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising automatically correcting the mass or mass to charge ratio resolution of a quadrupole mass filter or mass analyser one or more times during an experimental run or acquisition based upon a measurement, determination or estimation of the mass or mass to charge ratio resolution of one or more reference ions observed in a mass spectrum or mass spectral data acquired either during the same experimental run or acquisition or during a previous experimental run or acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventor: Daniel James Kenny
  • Patent number: 9324550
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an ion mobility drift tube fabricated using flex-circuit technology in which every other drift electrode is on a different layer of the flex-circuit and each drift electrode partially overlaps the adjacent electrodes on the other layer. This results in a self-shielding effect where the drift electrodes themselves shield the interior of the drift tube from unwanted electro-magnetic noise. In addition, this drift tube can be manufactured with an integral flex-heater for temperature control. This design will significantly improve the noise immunity, size, weight, and power requirements of hand-held ion mobility systems such as those used for explosive detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: David Alexander Jones
  • Patent number: 9214322
    Abstract: A detection system and a method for detecting ions which have been separated in a time-of-flight (TOF) mass analyzer, comprising an amplifying arrangement for converting ions into packets of secondary particles and amplifying the packets of secondary particles, wherein the amplifying arrangement is arranged so that each packet of secondary particles produces at least a first output and a second output separated in time and so that during the delay between producing the first and second output the first output produced by a packet of secondary particles is used for modulating the second output produced by the same packet. An increased dynamic range of detection and protection of the detection system against intense ion pulses is thereby provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Kholomeev, Alexander A. Makarov
  • Patent number: 9111741
    Abstract: The invention “Ion Trap Array (ITA)” pertains generally to the field of ion storage and analysis technologies, and particularly to the ion storing apparatus and mass spectrometry instruments which separate ions by its character such as mass-to-charge ratio. The aim of this invention is providing an apparatus for ion storage and analysis comprising at least two or more rows of parallel placed electrode array wherein each electrode array includes at least two or more parallel bar-shaped electrodes, by applying different phase of alternating current voltages on different bar electrodes to create alternating electric fields inside the space between two parallel electrodes of different rows of electrode arrays, multiple linear ion trapping fields paralleled constructed in the space between the different rows of electrode arrays which are open to adjacent each other without a real barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: FUDAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chuanfan Ding, Li Ding
  • Patent number: 9107581
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for determining mechanical, particularly elastic, parameters of an examination object, comprising a) at least one arrangement for determining the spatial distribution of magnetic particles in at least one examination area of the examination object, comprising a means for generating a magnetic field with a spatial profile of the magnetic field strength such that there is produced in at least one examination area a first part-area having a low magnetic field strength and a second part-area having a higher magnetic field strength, a means for detecting signals which depend on the magnetization in the examination object, particularly in the examination area, that is influenced by a spatial change in the particles, and a means for evaluating the signals so as to obtain information about the, in particular temporally changing, spatial distribution of the magnetic particles in the examination area; and b) at least one means for generating mechanical displacements, in particu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Bernhard Gleich, Jürgen Weizenecker