Thermo Fisher Scientific Gmbh

Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) Gmbh

Philip Marriott

Philip Neil Shaw

Jonathan Herbert Bradford

Timothy Alan Whitechurch

Jim Stringer

A mass filter apparatus for filtering a beam of ions is described. The apparatus comprises an ion beam source and first and second mass filter stages in series to receive the ion beam. A vacuum system maintains the first and second filter stages at substantially the same operating pressure, below 10torr. The first mass filter stage transmits only ions having a sub-range of mass-to-charge ratios including a selected mass-to-charge ratio. The second filter transmits only ions of the selected mass-to-charge ratio. The second mass filter can achieve high accuracy detection without being subjected to problems such as build-up of material on quadrupole rods, resulting in a distorted electric field close to the rods. The first mass filter acts as a coarse filter, typically transmitting 1% of ions received from the ion source. Thus, the detection accuracy and lifetime of mass spectrometers embodying this invention are greatly improved.A mass filter apparatus for filtering a beam of ions is described. The apparatus comprises an ion beam source and first and second mass filter stages in series to receive the ion beam. A vacuum system maintains the first and second filter stages at substantially the same operating pressure, below 10torr. The first mass filter stage transmits only ions having a sub-range of mass-to-charge ratios including a selected mass-to-charge ratio. The second filter transmits only ions of the selected mass-to-charge ratio. The second mass filter can achieve high accuracy detection without being subjected to problems such as build-up of material on quadrupole rods, resulting in a distorted electric field close to the rods. The first mass filter acts as a coarse filter, typically transmitting 1% of ions received from the ion source. Thus, the detection accuracy and lifetime of mass spectrometers embodying this invention are greatly improved.

Mass spectrometer and mass filters therefor

The present invention relates to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) in which a collision cell is employed to selectively remove unwanted artefact ions from an ion beam by causing them to interact with a reagent gas. The present invention provides a first evacuated chamber () at high vacuum located between an expansion chamber () and a second evacuated chamber () containing the collision cell (). The first evacuated chamber () includes a first ion optical device (). The collision cell () contains a second ion optical device (). The provision of the first evacuated chamber () reduces the gas load on the collision cell (), by minimising the residual pressure within the collision cell () that is attributable to the gas load from the plasma source (). This serves to minimise the formation, or re-formation, of unwanted artefact ions in the collision cell ().

Means for removing unwanted ions from an ion transport system and mass spectrometer

The present invention provides a pump devicewhich is usable to dilute a samplebefore analysis. A first pumppumps the sample to a mixing regionwhere it mixes with a diluent. A second pumppumps the diluted sample to the analysis instrument. The flow of the diluent to the mixer is equal to the difference of the flow of the sample to the mixer and the flow of the diluted sample to the instrument. Pumpsandare independently controllable by a controller unit which is arranged so that data from the instrument can be used to determine the dilution factor of the sample. Thus, the controller can control this dilution factor in real time, upon receipt of such data from the instrument, by change either one of (or both) the pump's flow rate.

Device and method for diluting a sample

The present invention relates to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) in which a collision cell is employed to selectively remove unwanted artifact ions from an ion beam by causing them to interact with a reagent gas. The present invention provides a first evacuated chamber () at high vacuum located between an expansion chamber () and a second evacuated chamber () containing the collision cell (). The first evacuated chamber () includes a first ion optical device (). The collision cell () contains a second ion optical device (). The provision of the first evacuated chamber () reduces the gas load on the collision cell (), by minimising the residual pressure within the collision cell () that is attributable to the gas load from the plasma source (). This serves to minimise the formation, or re-formation, of unwanted artifact ions in the collision cell ().

Means for removing unwanted ion from an ion transport system and mass spectrometer

An inductively coupled plasma alignment apparatus having a coilfor generating an inductively coupled plasma in a gas, the coil having a first axis; a torchpassing at least partially through the coil, the torch having a second axis; and an adjustment mechanismfor adjusting the position of the torch with respect to the coil so as to alter the relative configuration of the first and second axes. The adjustment mechanism may adjust an angle and/or a distance between the second axis and the first axis. The second axis may be held substantially parallel to the first axis, while the adjustment mechanism adjusts a distance between the second axis and the first axis. The coil is preferably maintained substantially fixed in position with respect to a sampling aperture for sampling photons or ions from the plasma.

Inductively coupled plasma alignment apparatus and method

A mass filter apparatus for filtering a beam of ions is described. The apparatus comprises an ion beam source and first and second mass filter stages in series to receive the ion beam. A vacuum system maintains the first and second filter stages at substantially the same operating pressure, below 10torr. The first mass filter stage transmits only ions having a sub-range of mass-to-charge ratios including a selected mass-to-charge ratio. The second filter transmits only ions of the selected mass-to-charge ratio. The second mass filter can achieve high accuracy detection without being subjected to problems such as build-up of material on quadrupole rods, resulting in a distorted electric field close to the rods. The first mass filter acts as a coarse filter, typically transmitting 1% of ions received from the ion source. Thus, the detection accuracy and lifetime of mass spectrometers embodying this invention are greatly improved.

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Cheshire, United Kingdom

Philip Marriott