Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Hewlett-packard Company

Mark H Werlich

James L Bertsch

Paul C Goodley

Alexander Mordehai

James A Apffel

Craig P Love

Thomas Allen Knotts

James Alexander Apffel, Jr

Ruwan T Kurulugama

Kent D Henry

Steven Michael Fischer

Layne Evan Howard

Alex Mordehai

Robert G Nordman

An interface for an ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) system includes a first ion guide for receiving ions from an IMS drift cell, and a second ion guide for receiving ions from the first ion guide, and positioned in a chamber separate from the first ion guide. Electrodes of the second ion guide subject the ions to an axial DC electric field while the second ion guide is held at a lower pressure than the first ion guide. In some embodiments, the first ion guide may be an ion funnel and the second ion guide may be a linear multipole device.

Ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) with improved ion transmission and IMS resolution

An ion processing device includes electrically conductive vacuum manifold segments serially positioned and enclosing a volume along an axis. The segments are electrically isolated from each other and independently addressable by a voltage source. An ion optics device is positioned in the volume. A voltage differential between each manifold segment and the ion optics device is maintained below a maximum value by applying different voltages to respective manifold segments. The voltage differential may be controlled to avoid voltage breakdown in a low-pressure, high-voltage gas environment. The ion optics device may in some cases be an ion mobility drift cell.

Ion processing utilizing segmented vacuum manifold

Improved apparatuses and methods are provided for ionizing samples and analyzing the samples with mass spectrometry.

Ion sources for improved ionization

An interface for use in a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The interface comprises a first ion funnel comprising a first inlet and a first outlet, and a first axis between the first inlet and the first outlet. The interface further comprises a second ion funnel in tandem with the first ion funnel, the second ion funnel comprising a second inlet and a second outlet, and a second axis between the second inlet and the second outlet. The first axis and the second axis are offset relative to one another. A mass spectrometer comprising the interface and a method are disclosed.

Ion funnel for mass spectrometry

A vacuum divider is positioned between rotor blades of a turbo-molecular pump and a vacuum manifold formed from multiple vacuum chambers. A first coupling aperture passes through the vacuum divider and allows gas to pass from a first of the multiple vacuum chambers to the turbo-molecular pump. A second coupling aperture passes through the vacuum divider and allows gas to pass from a second of the multiple vacuum chambers to the turbo-molecular pump.

Vacuum divider for differential pumping of a vacuum system

The present invention provides ion sampling apparatuses that can be used in a fast polarity-switching electric field. In some embodiments, the ion sampling apparatus comprises a capillary made with an insulator, with a resistive inner or outer surface. Devices and systems comprising the ion sampling apparatuses, as well as methods of use thereof, are also provided.

Ion sampling apparatuses in fast polarity-switching ion sources

A method and apparatus are disclosed wherein a plurality of electric fields and of orthogonal spray configurations of vaporized analyte are so combined as to enhance the efficiency of analyte detection and mass analysis. The invention provides reduced noise and increased signal sensitivity in both API electrospray and APCI operating modes.

Orthogonal ion sampling for APCI mass spectrometry

A method and apparatus are disclosed wherein a plurality of electric fields and of orthogonal spray configurations of vaporized analyte are so combined as to enhance the efficiency of analyte detection and mass analysis. The invention provides reduced noise and increased signal sensitivity in both APT electrospray and APCI operating modes.

A method and apparatus wherein a plurality of electric fields and of orthogonal spray configurations of vaporized analyte are so combined as to enhance the efficiency of analyte detection and mass analysis. The invention provides reduced noise and increased signal sensitivity in both API electrospray and APCI operating modes.

A method apparatus wherein a plurality of electric fields and of orthogonal spray configurations of vaporized analyte are so combined as to enhance the efficiency of analyte detection and mass analysis. The method and apparatus provides reduced noise and increased signal sensitivity in both API electrospray and APCI operating modes.

An automated calibrant system is provided for use in a liquid separation/mass spectrometry (LS/MS) apparatus. The calibrant system is pneumatically pressurized to forcibly move a reference liquid from the calibrant system to an ion source. The ion source is in fluid communication with a switching valve and with a mass spectrometer. The switching valve communicates effluent from a liquid separation system to the source when the switching valve is in a first position, and communicates one or more reference liquids from the calibrant system to the source when the switching valve is in a second position. The switching valve, and liquid handling valves in the calibrant system, can be individually activated manually or by automated means to alternate between analytical and calibration modes of operation in the LS/MS apparatus. A method is also provided for calibrating a mass spectrometer in a LS/MS apparatus during processing of a liquid sample by the liquid separation system.

Automated calibrant system for use in a liquid separation/mass

The invention teaches the uses of a plurality of electric fields and of orthogonal spray configurations of vaporized analyte which combine so as to operate to enhance the efficiency of analyte detection and mass analysis with a mass spectrometer by reducing vapor in the vacuum system and concomitant noise. Several embodiments of the invention are described for purposes of illustration.

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Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Mark H Werlich