Perkinelmer Health Sciences, Inc.

Analytica of Branford, Inc.

The Perkin-elmer Corporation

Perkinelmer Instruments LLC

Analytica of Brandford, Inc.

Craig M. Whitehouse

Welkie, David G.

Whitehouse, Craig M.

Lisa Cousins

David G. Welkie

David G Welkie

Craig M Whitehouse

Gholamreza Javahery

Sergey Rakov

Tong Chen

Dar Bahatt

Javahery Gholamreza

David H Tracy

Robert L Gerlach

Adam J Patkin

Michael I Crockett

Tong Cheng

An ion source can include a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field in a direction parallel to a direction of the electron beam and coincident with the electron beam. However, this magnetic field can also influence the path of ionized sample constituents as they pass through and exit the ion source. An ion source can include an electric field generator to compensate for this effect. As an example, the electric field generator can be configured to generate an electric field within the ion source chamber, such that an additional force is imparted on the ionized sample constituents, opposite in direction and substantially equal in magnitude to the force imparted on the ionized sample constituents by the magnetic field.

Dynamic electron impact ion source

RF ion guides are configured as an array of elongate electrodes arranged symmetrically about a central axis, to which RF voltages are applied. The RF electrodes include at least a portion of their length that is semi-transparent to electric fields. Auxiliary electrodes are then provided proximal to the RF electrodes distal to the ion guide axis, such that application of DC voltages to the auxiliary electrodes causes an auxiliary electric field to form between the auxiliary electrodes and the ion guide RF electrodes. A portion of this auxiliary electric field penetrates through the semi-transparent portions of the RF electrodes, such that the potentials within the ion guide are modified. The auxiliary electrode structures and voltages can be configured so that a potential gradient develops along the ion guide axis due to this field penetration, which provides an axial motive force for collision damped ions.

RF ion guide with axial fields

An example system includes an electron ionization ion source and a mass analyzer. The electron ion source is configured, during operation of the system, to create from sample molecules a beam of ions extending along an ion beam axis. The system also includes a collision cooling chamber comprising a gas manifold and an electric field generator. The cooling chamber defines an entrance aperture and an exit aperture on respective opposing ends of the cooling chamber, the entrance aperture of the cooling chamber being in axial alignment with the ion beam axis. The cooling chamber is configured, during operation of the system, to generate a radio frequency (RF) field within the cooling chamber using the electric field generator, and receive collision gas through the gas manifold to pressurize the cooling chamber.

Ion transfer from electron ionization sources

An orthogonal pulse accelerator for a Time-of-Flight mass analyzer includes an electrically-conductive first plate extending in a first plane, and a second plate spaced from the first plate. The second plate includes a grid that defines a plurality of apertures each having a first dimension extending in a first direction and a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension, the first and second dimensions lying in the second plane and the second dimension begin larger than the first dimension. The first and second plates are positioned in the Time-of-Flight mass analyzer to receive, during operation of the mass analyzer, an ion beam propagating in the first direction in a region between the first and second plates, and the orthogonal pulse accelerator directs ions in the ion beam through the apertures.

Orthogonal acceleration system for time-of-flight mass spectrometer

Mass spectrometry systems include an electronic controller and a time-of-flight mass analyzer in communication with the electronic controller. The time-of-flight mass analyzer includes a pulsing region defining a channel that extends along an axis. The pulsing region includes: a first electrode extending along the axis, the first electrode defining one or more apertures; a second electrode extending along the axis, the first and second electrodes being positioned on opposing sides of the axis in a first direction perpendicular to the axis. The electronic controller is programmed to apply a first set of voltages to the electrodes to constrain a motion of ions propagating along the axis in a radial direction relative to the axis, and apply a second set of voltages to the electrodes to accelerate the ions out of the pulsing region through the one or more apertures.

Orthogonal acceleration TOF with ion guide mode

Apparatus and methods are provided that enable the interaction of low energy electrons and positrons with sample ions to facilitate electron capture dissociation (EGO) and positron capture dissociation (PGO), respectively, within multipole ion guide structures.

Fragmentation methods for mass spectrometry

A system includes an electrostatic lens in a path between a charged particle source and a detector. The electrostatic lens includes: a first electrode having a first aperture in the path aligned with a first axis; a second electrode in the path between the first electrode and the detector, having a second aperture in the path and aligned with a second axis that is parallel to the first axis and displaced from the first axis along a first direction; a third electrode in the path between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a potential generator coupled to the electrodes. During operation, the potential generator applies potentials to the first, second and third electrodes so that the electrostatic lens directs a beam of charged particles from the source propagating along the first axis to propagate along the second axis.

Electrostatic lenses and systems including the same

Ions that are transported from an ion source to a mass spectrometer for mass analysis are often accompanied by background particles such as photons, neutral species, and cluster or aerosol ions which originate in the ion source. Background particles are also produced by scattering and neutralization of ions during collisions with background gas molecules in higher pressure regions with line-of-sight to the mass spectrometer detector. In either case, such background particles produce noise in mass spectra. Apparatus and methods are provided in which a multipole ion guide is configured to efficiently transport ions through multiple vacuum stages, while preventing background particles, produced both in the ion source and along the ion transport pathway, from reaching the detector, thereby improving signal-to-noise in mass spectra.

Multipole ion guide interface for reduced background noise in mass spectrometry

Apparatus and methods are provided that enable the interaction of low energy electrons and positrons with sample ions to facilitate electron capture dissociation (EGO) and positron capture dissociation (PGO), respectively, within multipole ion guide structures. The apparatus and methods described herein allow EGO (and PCO) to be performed within multipole ion guides, either alone, or in combination with conventional ion fragmentation methods.

Growing community of inventors

Trumbull, CT, United States of America

David G Welkie