Indiana University

Staci N Anthony

Martin F Jarrold

Andrew W Alexander

Benjamin E Draper

Deven L Shinholt

An instrument for separating ions may include an ion source in a first pressure environment at a first pressure and configured to generate ions from a sample, an ion separation instrument, controlled to an instrument pressure that is less than the first pressure, and configured to separate ions as a function of at least one molecular characteristic and an interface, controlled to a second pressure less than the first pressure and greater than the instrument pressure, for transporting the generated ions from the first pressure environment into the ion separation instrument operating at the instrument pressure. The interface may include a sealed ion funnel defining an axial passageway therethrough, and an ion carpet sealed to the first ion funnel. A portion of the axial passageway tapers from a first cross-sectional area to a reduced cross-sectional area such that the tapered axial passageway defining a virtual jet disrupter therein.

Instrument for separating ions including an interface for transporting generated ions thereto

An interface transports ions from a first pressure environment to a lower pressure analysis instrument and may include a first region pumped to a second pressure less than the first pressure, a first ion funnel disposed in the first region, a first ion carpet in the first region opposite an ion outlet end of the first ion funnel, a second region pumped to a third pressure less than the second pressure and greater than the instrument pressure, a second ion funnel disposed in the second region and a second ion carpet in the second region opposite an ion outlet end of the second ion funnel. Ions from the environment pass sequentially through the first and second ion funnels and into the analysis instrument. Each of the first and second ion funnels define a tapered axial passageway therethrough each defining a respective virtual jet disrupter therein.

Interface for transporting ions from an atmospheric pressure environment to a low pressure environment

A quadrupole mass filter and method for operating the filter are described. Sample ions, each having a mass-to-charge ratio, are passed to a quadrupole at least one AC voltage is applied thereto to separate the ions by incrementally varying a frequency of the at least one AC voltage within a first range of frequencies and, for each of at least some of the incremental frequencies in the first range of frequencies, incrementally varying an amplitude of the at least one AC voltage within a range of amplitudes, wherein each incremental frequency and incremental amplitude pair of the at least one AC voltage creates a different band pass filter in the quadrupole through which produced ions having a different corresponding mass-to-charge ratio pass to a detector.

Frequency and amplitude scanned quadrupole mass filter and methods

A quadrupole mass filter and method for operating the filter are described. AC voltages are applied to the quadrupole to separate ions based on mass-to-charge ratio. Frequency is scanned with a simultaneous amplitude scan. Ions are measured over a broad m/z range with high resolution. A resolving power of about 1,200 was demonstrated. Ions were observed for m/z values over 150,000 Th.

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Bloomington, IN, United States of America

Staci N Anthony