Owlstone Limited

Owlstone Medical Limited

Owlstone Medcial Limited

Jonathan Pearson

Max D Allsworth

Daniel Melhirst

Antoni Negri

Julian William Few

Isabel Marquez Sillero

The present techniques relate to methods of manufacturing MEMS gas sensors, for example, an ion mobility filter which may be used as a field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry filter. The method comprises a step of providing a support with an aperture (S, S) and forming electrical connections (S) in the support. The method also comprises steps of attaching an electrode layer to the support (S) so that the electrode layer covers the aperture and forming a plurality of ion mobility electrodes (S) by mechanically dicing through the electrode layer. Each adjacent pair of electrodes defines an ion channel between them and each electrode is separate from the adjacent electrode(s).

Method of manufacture for an ion mobility filter

An ion mobility filter is disclosed. The present invention relates to but not exclusively a field asymmetric ion spectrometry filter. For example, we describe an ion filter for filtering ions in a gas sample. The ion filter is comprised of a plurality of electrodes, a first ion channel, and a second ion channel. The first ion channel filters ions from a target chemical in the gas sample, defines a gap between a first pair of electrodes in the plurality of electrodes, and has a first ion channel gap width. The second ion channel filters ions from the target chemical in the gas sample, defines a gap between a second pair of electrodes in the plurality of electrodes, and has a second ion channel gap width. The first ion channel gap width is greater than the second ion channel gap width.

Ion mobility filter

We describe a method and apparatus for detecting humidity using a Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS) system. The system may comprise an ionizer for generating ions within a gas sample, wherein each ion has an associated ion mobility; an ion filter for separating the ions by applying a compensation field and a dispersion field to the generated ions; a detector for detecting an output from the ion filter; and a processor. The processor may be configured to extract a spectrum of peak intensity of the detected output as a function of the compensation field and the dispersion field; calculate a turning point for the extracted spectrum; determine operating parameters of the field asymmetric ion mobility system; obtain, from a database, a plurality of known turning points each of which have an associated humidity and each of which were obtained using a field asymmetric ion mobility system having operating parameters aligned with the determined operating parameters; and determine the humidity by comparing the calculated turning point with known turning points.

Spectrometry system

The waveform generator () comprises a switch (). The waveform generator () comprises a transformer () having a primary side circuit and a secondary side circuit. The primary side circuit has a first terminal arranged to be conductively coupled to a DC voltage source, and a second terminal conductively coupled to the switch (). The waveform generator () further comprises a controller () arranged to supply a drive signal to the switch for switching the switch between on and off states. The controller () is arranged to adjust the frequency of the drive signal so as to control at least one of the peak voltage and the duty cycle of a waveform generated by the waveform generator (). The frequency of the drive signal may be adjusted as the voltage level of the DC voltage source remains constant. The frequency of the drive signal may be adjusted in response to a change in the voltage level of the DC voltage source.

Waveform generator

A waveform generator configured to generate two waveforms of opposite polarity so as to provide a voltage gain across a load. The waveform generator has a primary side circuit comprising a first inductor. The waveform generator has a secondary side circuit comprising a second inductor, a first output region conductively coupled to the load, and a second output region conductively coupled to the load. The second inductor is inductively coupled to the first inductor. The first inductor is conductively coupled to the first output region so as to supply a first of the two waveforms to the load. The second inductor is conductively coupled to the second output region so as to supply a second of the two waveforms to the load. A system incorporating the waveform generator and a method of driving the waveform generator are also provided.

Waveform generator, system and method

An ion filter for filtering ions in a gas sample. The ion filter has a first ion channel for filtering ions from a target chemical in the gas sample. The ion filter has a second ion channel for filtering ions from the target chemical in the gas sample. The second ion channel is separated from the first ion channel. A temperature control region is in thermal contact with the first and second ion channels for controlling a difference in temperature between the first and second ion channels. A method of filtering ions from a target chemical in a gas sample is also provided.

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Cambridge, United Kingdom

Jonathan Pearson