Thermo Fisher Scientific (bremen) Gmbh

Thermo Finnigan LLC

Finnigan Mat Gmbh

Thermo Electron (bremen) Gmbh

Finnegan Mat Gmbh

Thermo Fisher Scientific Gmbh

Gerhard Jung

Eduard V Denisov

Alexander Alekseevich Makarov

Stevan Roy Horning

Wilko Balschun

Johannes Schwieters

Oliver Lange

Henning Wehrs

Alexander Kholomeev

Robert Malek

Alexander A Makarov

Lothar Rottmann

Hans-Juergen Schlueter

Michael S Story

Norbert Quaas

Peter Dobberstein

Ulrich Giessmann

Curt Brunnee

Graham Cooks

Franz-Josef Mersch

Oliver C/O Thermo Fischer Scientific Gmbh Lange

Alexander Alekseevich C/O Thermo Fischer Scientific Gmbh Makarov

Alexander Makarov

Wilko c/o Thermo Electron Gmbh Balschun

An ion optical arrangement () for use in a mass spectrometer comprises a collision cell defining an ion optical axis along which ions may pass, electrodes comprising a set of parallel poles (A,B,C) arranged in the collision cell, and a voltage source for providing voltages to the electrodes to produce electric fields. The ion optical arrangement is arranged for switching between a first operation mode in which the collision cell is pressurized and a second operation mode in which the collision cell is substantially evacuated. The ion optical arrangement is further arranged for producing a radio frequency electric focusing field in the first operation mode and a static electric focusing field in the second operation mode.

Switchable ion guide

An ion optical arrangement () for use in a mass spectrometer comprises electrodes () comprising a multipole arrangement defining an ion optical axis, and a voltage source for providing voltages to the electrodes to produce electric fields. The ion optical arrangement is configured for producing a radio frequency electric focusing field for focusing ions on the ion optical axis. The radio frequency electric focusing field has a varying frequency so as to reduce any mass dependence of ion trajectories through the ion optical arrangement. The ion optical arrangement may further be configured for producing a static electric field in response to a DC bias voltage applied to the multipole arrangement. A superimposed varying electric field may be produced by superimposing an AC voltage upon the DC bias voltage.

Ion guide with reduced noding effect

An isotope ratio mass spectrometer has an ion source, a static field mass filter, a reaction cell to induce a mass shift reaction, and a sector field mass analyser for spatially separating ions from the reaction cell according to their m/z. A detector platform detects a plurality of different ion species separated by the sector field mass analyser. The static field mass filter has a first Wien filter that deflects ions away from a longitudinal symmetry axis of the spectrometer in accordance with the ions' m/z, and a second Wien filter that deflects ions back towards the longitudinal symmetry axis in accordance with the ions' m/z. An inverting lens is positioned along the longitudinal axis between the Wien filters to invert the direction of deflection of the ions from the first Wien filter. The static field mass filter provides high transmission and improved spectrometer sensitivity. The first and second Wien filters permit simple tuning.

Mass spectrometer

An electrostatic trap such as an orbitrap is disclosed, with an electrode structure. An electrostatic trapping field of the form U'(r, &#x3d5;, z) is generated to trap ions within the trap so that they undergo isochronous oscillations. The trapping field U&#x2032;(r, &#x3d5;, z) is the result of a perturbation W to an ideal field U(r, &#x3d5;, z) which, for example, is hyperlogarithmic in the case of an orbitrap. The perturbation W may be introduced in various ways, such as by distorting the geometry of the trap so that it no longer follows an equipotential of the ideal field U(r, &#x3d5;, z), or by adding a distortion field (either electric or magnetic). The magnitude of the perturbation is such that at least some of the trapped ions have an absolute phase spread of more than zero but less than 2&#x3c0; radians over an ion detection period T.

Electrostatic trap

A method of calibrating a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The mass spectrometer includes a first quadrupole, a second mass analyzer and a detection means. The method includes calibrating the second mass analyzer at a first time, calibrating the first quadrupole at a second time later than the first including a) determining for each of several selected masses a corresponding value of the amplitude of the RF voltage and DC voltage applied to the electrodes of the first quadrupole, b) fitting a function of the selected mass to the values of the amplitude of the RF voltage and DC voltage corresponding to the several selected masses, c) detecting the selected mass in a filter window width over a mass range, d) evaluating a shift of the peak position and/or a deviation of the filter window width, and e) repeating the calibration steps under certain conditions.

Method of calibrating a mass spectrometer

An electrostatic trap such as an orbitrap is disclosed, with an electrode structure. An electrostatic trapping field of the form U'(r, &#x3d5;, z) is generated to trap ions within the trap so that they undergo isochronous oscillations. The trapping field U&#x2032;(r, &#x3d5;, z) is the result of a perturbation W to an ideal field U(r, &#x3d5;, z) which, for example, is hyperlogarithmic in the case of an orbitrap. The perturbation W may be introduced in various ways, such as by distorting the geometry of the trap so that it no longer follows an equipotential of the ideal field U(r, &#x3d5;, z), or by adding a distortion field (either electric or magnetic). The magnitude of the perturbation is such that at least some of the trapped ions have an absolute phase spread of more than zero but less than 2 &#x3c0; radians over an ion detection period T.

An electrostatic dual-mode lens assembly is provided for selectively transmitting or reflecting an ion beam in a mass spectrometer. The assembly comprises at least one electrode that provides a switchable electric field that, during a first mode of operation, directs an ion beam that enters the assembly along a first path so that the beam is transmitted through the assembly along the first path, and during a second mode of operation, directs an ion beam that enters the assembly along the first path so that the ion beam is reflected by the electric field and exits the assembly along a second path. Methods for operating a mass spectrometer using an electrostatic lens are also provided.

Mirror lens for directing an ion beam

An electrostatic trap such as an orbitrap is disclosed, with an electrode structure. An electrostatic trapping field of the form U'(r, &#x3c6;, z) is generated to trap ions within the trap so that they undergo isochronous oscillations. The trapping field U&#x2032;(r, &#x3c6;, z) is the result of a perturbation W to an ideal field U(r, &#x3c6;, z) which, for example, is hyperlogarithmic in the case of an orbitrap. The perturbation W may be introduced in various ways, such as by distorting the geometry of the trap so that it no longer follows an equipotential of the ideal field U(r, &#x3c6;, z), or by adding a distortion field (either electric or magnetic). The magnitude of the perturbation is such that at least some of the trapped ions have an absolute phase spread of more than zero but less than 2 &#x3c0; radians over an ion detection period T.

An electrostatic trap such as an orbitrap is disclosed, with an electrode structure. An electrostatic trapping field of the form U'(r, &#x3a6;, z) is generated to trap ions within the trap so that they undergo isochronous oscillations. The trapping field U&#x2032;(r, &#x3a6;, z) is the result of a perturbation W to an ideal field U(r, &#x3a6;, z) which, for example, is hyperlogarithmic in the case of an orbitrap. The perturbation W may be introduced in various ways, such as by distorting the geometry of the trap so that it no longer follows an equipotential of the ideal field U(r, &#x3a6;, z), or by adding a distortion field (either electric or magnetic). The magnitude of the perturbation is such that at least some of the trapped ions have an absolute phase spread of more than zero but less than 2 &#x3c0; radians over an ion detection period T.

Mass spectrometer collision/reaction cell multipole and method. The multipole may have first and second portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, the first and second portions operating at first and second q values lower than a third q value at the intermediate portion. A low-mass cut-off of the multipole may be controlled by varying a q value from a first to at least a second value. The multipole may have multipole electrodes disposed about a central axis and having a respective first portion, second portion, and intermediate portion therebetween which is radially closer to the central axis. This offers relatively high acceptance and ion transmission, while providing low-mass cut-off for removing undesired/interfering ions and helping reduce background count.

Collision cell multipole

An electrostatic trap such as an orbitrap is disclosed, with an electrode structure. An electrostatic trapping field of the form U' (r, &#x3a6;, z) is generated to trap ions within the trap so that they undergo isochronous oscillations. The trapping field U&#x2032;(r, &#x3a6;, z) is the result of a perturbation W to an ideal field U(r, &#x3a6;, z) which, for example, is hypologarithmic in the case of an orbitrap. The perturbation W may be introduced in various ways, such as by distorting the geometry of the trap so that it no longer follows an equipotential of the ideal field U(r, &#x3a6;, z), or by adding a distortion field (either electric or magnetic). The magnitude of the perturbation is such that at least some of the trapped ions have an absolute phase spread of more than zero but less than 2 &#x3c0; radians over an ion detection period T.

This invention relates to a method of trapping ions and to an ion trapping assembly. In particular, the present invention has application in gas-assisted trapping of ions in an ion trap prior to a mass analysis of the ions in a mass spectrometer. The invention provides a method of trapping ions in a target ion trap of an ion trapping assembly that comprises a series of volumes arranged such that ions can traverse from one volume to the next, the volumes including the target ion trap, whereby ions are allowed to pass repeatedly through the volumes such that they also pass into and out from the target ion trap without being trapped. Potentials may be used to reflect the ions from respective ends of the ion trapping assembly. Optionally, a potential well and/or gas-assisted cooling may be used to cause the ions to settle in the target ion trap.

Ion trapping

This invention relates to a mass spectrometer including a reaction cell and to a method of using such a mass spectrometer. In particular, although not exclusively, this invention relates to a tandem mass spectrometer and to tandem mass spectrometry. The invention provides a method of mass spectrometry using a mass spectrometer having a longitudinal axis, comprising guiding ions to travel along the longitudinal axis of the mass spectrometer in a forwards direction to pass through an intermediate ion store and then to enter a reaction cell, to process the ions within the reaction cell, to eject the processed ions to travel back along the longitudinal axis to enter the intermediate ion store once more, and to eject one or more pulses of the processed ions in an off-axis direction to a mass analyser.

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Delmenhorst, Germany

Gerhard Jung