ABSTRACT:  A mass spectrometer comprises an ion pulse means for producing ion pulses in a first vacuum chamber, ion trap means for receiving and trapping the ion pulses for mass analysis in a second vacuum chamber, and ion-optical lens means arranged between the ion pulse means and the ion trap means for receiving the ion pulses and outputting ions therefrom to the ion trap means. A first lens electrode and a second lens electrode collectively define an optical axis and are adapted for distributing a first electrical potential and second electrical potential therealong. Lens control means vary non-periodically with time the first electrical potential relative to the second electrical potential to control as a function of ion mass-to-charge ratio the kinetic energy of ions which have traversed the ion optical lens means.; This controls the mass range of the ions receivable by the ion trap from the ion optical lens means.

UK Awarded GB2476844. PCT application.

SHORT DESCRIPTION: Method and device for detecting very large ions utilizing photonics.

UK, US and EU Applications. Patent pending.

ABSTRACT: The invention relates to the combination of at least two multipole radio-frequency fields of different order defined by at least two multipole ion guides sharing a common axis. The hybrid device utilizes a higher order multipole field at the entrance of the device, the order determined by the number of poles, and transports ions into at least a second multipole field of lower order. The higher order multipole exhibits a wide phase space area acceptance at
the entrance of the ion guide, which is particularly useful for ions having a broad kinetic energy and spatial spread, while each consecutive multipole field of progressively lower order  10 exhibits enhanced focusing and produces a highly collimated ion beam at the exit of the device. The device can be operated over a wide range of pressures extending from 10 mbar to 10 mbar. The hybrid ion guide can be operated in a continuous mode by applying RF voltages to generate multipole fields and DC gradients along the axis (cooling mode) or by superimposing periodic pulses for trapping and releasing ions regions of different field-order (bunching mode). The device can be used further as  a collision cell in either mode or can be coupled to orthogonal TOF mass analyzers to enhance duty cycle.

UK, US and EU Applications. Patent pending.

ABSTRACT: The present disclosure is directed to a guide apparatus having a vacuum compartment which is at a background pressure and includes a gas inlet opening from which to jettison a gas in the form of a free jet stream from an exit end thereof into the direction of a bore of a duct. The duct is positioned along a trajectory axis of flow of the free jet stream and dimensioned so as to accept the free jet stream to form a laminar gas flow pattern downstream from the entrance end of the bore.  A variety of duct configurations are described and contemplated. Also described and further contemplated are a variety of configurations in which two or more ducts of the same or different geometries are communicably coupled to one another.A duct may be configured to form a laminar gas flow pattern only, to maintain a laminar gas flow pattern only, to maintain or form a laminar gas flow pattern and also confine ions as is typical of a guide used in a differential mobility type spectrometer, or for any other purpose in addition to or relating to laminarity of gas flow. The present disclosure is also directed to a method of setting the background pressure in the vacuum compartment of a guide apparatus.

UK and PCT Applications. Patent pending.

SHORT DESCRIPTION: Method and device for novel ion source.

UK Application. Patent pending.

ABSTRACT: A method of pulsing gas in a quadrupole ion trap to reduce excess internal energy of ions formed externally to the trap at high-vacuum conditions by laser desoprtion is disclosed. With pulsed gas introduction, pressures greater than those under which traps are normally operated can be achieved over a few milliseconds. Under these elevated pressure transients, the process of translational cooling is accelerated and ions undergo thermalized collisions before dissociation occurs. Minimization of uncontrolled fragmentation (thermalization) and enhanced sensitivity are observed at pressures exceeding a threshold of about 1 mTorr.

Assignee: Kratos Analytical Ltd. Patent awarded

ABSTRACT: A method for differential mobility separation of ions using digital-drive based high voltage fast switching electronics. The digital waveform delivered to the spectrometer is characterized by at least two substantially rectangular pulses of different amplitude and polarity. The control circuitry allows for waveform frequency, duty cycle and pulse amplitudes to be varied independently. Balanced as well as unbalanced asymmetric waveforms can be designed for optimum differential mobility separation of ions. The digital drive is designed for differential mobility spectrometers including parallel plate and segmented plate multipoles of planar symmetry, as well as multipoles of cylindrical symmetry, which may optionally be arranged in series.; The use of the digital drive establishes alternating electric fields during which the displacement as a result of ion oscillation is determined by mobility coefficients.

Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation. Patent awarded

ABSTRACT: The present invention provides an ion selector gate having a first deflection zone 32 and a second deflection zone 34 spaced from the first deflection zone, wherein in use, a single low voltage trigger pulse generated by timing electronics with a width in time equal to or proportional to the width of the gate pulse Tgd and at a position in time that the ion gate is required to be open to allow through ions of the correct nominal mass. The trigger pulse may go through an inverter 38 and then to two high voltage pulsers 40 and 42 . The high voltage pulsers each produce simultaneously a signal that switches to ground and back on again from the same amplitude high voltage but the opposite polarity. The outputs of the high voltage pulsers are connected to interleaved wires of both ion gates 32, 34 . Thus, the high voltage pulsers are applied simultaneously to both ion gates.

Assignee: Kratos Analytical Ltd. Patent awarded

ABSTRACT: A time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometer includes an ion source which has an extraction lens. The extraction lens has an element with an aperture. The aperture extends through the element to form a through-channel. In use, ions may pass from one side of the element to the opposite side of the element by passing through the through channel. The through channel has a length which is equal to or greater than {fraction (8/10 of a diameter of the aperture.

Assignee: Kratos Analytical Ltd. Patent awarded

ABSTRACT: The present invention is concerned with an ion analysis apparatus for conducting differential ion mobility analysis and mass analysis. In embodiments, the apparatus comprises a differential ion mobility device in a vacuum enclosure of a mass spectrometer, located prior to the mass analyser, wherein the pumping system of the apparatus is configure to provide an operating pressure of 0.005 kPa to 40 kPa for the differential ion mobility device, and wherein the apparatus includes a digital asymmetric waveform generator that provides a waveform of frequency of 50 kHz to 25 MHz. Examples demonstrate excellent resolving power and ion transmission. The ion mobility device can be a multipole, for example a 12-pole and radial ion focusing can be achieved by applying a quadrupole field to the device in addition to a dipole field.

Assignee: Shimadzu Research Laboratories Europe Ltd. Patent pending

ABSTRACT: In a TOF mass spectrometer, a reflecting element 18 such as a prism is removably mounted on an apertured support 12 so as to direct light from a source 19 onto a target 4. The source can be laser for eg MALDI spectroscopy or light for viewing the specimen. Preferably the prism is of glass and with conductive coating. Preferably the support 12 is conductive and grounded and has a flange 16. Removability means that only the prism needs to be removed for cleaning or replacement.

Assignee: Kratos Analytical Ltd. Patent awarded