Monitoring Ion Mobility Spectrometry Environment for Improved Collision Cross Section Accuracy and Precision

• US 20170117129A1
• Filed: 06/10/2015
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micromass UK Ltd (Waters Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Micromass UK Ltd (Waters Corporation)
• Inventors: PRINGLE, Steven Derek, WILDGOOSE, Jason Lee, SALARZAEI, Farnoush, TOMCZYK, Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 10,388,505 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/623 combined with mass spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/7233 interfaced to liquid or supercritical fluid chromatograph interfaces in general for introducing or extracting samples to be analysed with specially adapted mass spectrometer, see H01J49/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/0009 Calibration of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/0027 Methods for using particle spectrometers
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/004 Combinations of spectrometers, tandem spectrometers, e.g. MS/MS, MSn
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/0045 characterised by the fragmentation or other specific reaction
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/24 Vacuum systems, e.g. maintaining desired pressures

Abstract

A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility separator for separating ions according to their ion mobility, one or more first devices or stages arranged upstream of the ion mobility separator and a control system. The control system is arranged and adapted to monitor directly or indirectly the operating environment within the ion mobility separator, and to control the operating environment within the ion mobility separator based on the monitoring by controlling one or more gas flows to or within one or more of the one or more first devices or stages.

Claims

1. A mass spectrometer comprising:

an ion mobility separator for separating ions according to their ion mobility;

one or more first devices or stages arranged upstream of said ion mobility separator; and

a control system arranged and adapted;

(i) to monitor directly or indirectly said operating environment within said ion mobility separator; and

(ii) to control said operating environment within said ion mobility separator based on said monitoring by controlling one or more gas flows to or within one or more of said one or more first devices or stages.

2. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control system is arranged and adapted to control said operating environment within said ion mobility separator so as to maintain a substantially stable operating environment within said ion mobility separator.

3. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control system is arranged and adapted to control said operating environment within said ion mobility separator so as to maintain a substantially stable operating environment within said ion mobility separator when said operating environment within or of one or more of said one or more first devices or stages changes or varies.

4. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control system is arranged and adapted to control said operating environment within said ion mobility separator so as to avoid or reduce changes or variations in said operating environment within said ion mobility separator that would otherwise occur due to changes or variations in said operating environment within or of one or more of said one or more first devices or stages.

6. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ion mobility separator is coupled to said one or more first devices or stages such that the operating environment within said ion mobility separator depends on the operating environment within or of one or more of said one or more first devices or stages.

7. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ion mobility separator is coupled to said one or more first devices or stages such that the composition of one or more gases within said ion mobility separator depends on the operating environment within or of one of more of said one or more first devices of stages.

9. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ion mobility separator is coupled to said one or more first devices or stages such that the pressure within said ion mobility separator depends on the operating environment within or of one of more of said one or more first devices of stages.

11. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ion mobility separator is coupled to said one or more first devices or stages such that said ion mobility separator is provided or filled with gas from said one or more first devices or stages.

12. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control system is arranged and adapted to monitor directly or indirectly said operating environment within said ion mobility separator by monitoring the composition of one or more gases.

13. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control system is arranged and adapted to monitor directly or indirectly said operating environment within said ion mobility separator by monitoring one or more pressures.

16. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control system is arranged and adapted to monitor indirectly said operating environment within said ion mobility separator:

by directly monitoring an operating environment within or of one or more of said one or more first devices or stages arranged upstream of said ion mobility separator; and

/or

by directly monitoring an operating environment within or of one or more second devices or stages arranged downstream of said ion mobility separator; and

/or

by directly monitoring an operating environment within or of one or more chambers coupled to said ion mobility separator.

17. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more first devices or stages comprises an ion source, a liquid chromatography device, one or more transfer regions, and/or one or more traps or trap regions.

25. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure within said ion mobility separator is less than the pressure within or at said one or more first devices or stages.

26. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more second devices or stages arranged downstream of said ion mobility separator, wherein said one or more second devices or stages comprises a mass analyser.

28. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 26, wherein the pressure within said ion mobility separator is greater than the pressure within or at said one or more second devices or stages.

31. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control system is arranged and adapted to control said operating environment within said ion mobility separator by controlling the composition of one or more gases within said ion mobility separator.

32. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control system is arranged and adapted to control said operating environment within said ion mobility separator by controlling one or more pressures within said ion mobility separator.

34. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control system is arranged and adapted to correct one or more measurements of drift time and/or collision cross section based on said monitoring.

5. A mass spectrometer comprising:

an ion mobility separator for separating ions according to their ion mobility;

one or more first devices or stages arranged upstream of said ion mobility separator; and

a control system arranged and adapted;

(i) to monitor directly or indirectly said operating environment within said ion mobility separator; and

(ii) to correct one or more measurements made using said mass spectrometer based on said monitoring when said operating environment within said ion mobility separator changes or varies due to changes or variations in the operating environment within or of one or more of said one or more first devices or stages.

8. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

14-15. -15. (canceled)

18-24. -24. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

29-30. -30. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

35-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A method of mass spectrometry comprising:

providing an ion mobility separator for separating ions according to their ion mobility;

providing one or more first devices or stages upstream of said ion mobility separator;

monitoring directly or indirectly said operating environment within said ion mobility separator; and

controlling said operating environment within said ion mobility separator based on said monitoring by controlling one or more gas flows to or within one or more of said one or more first devices or stages;

or

correcting one or more measurements made using said mass spectrometer based on said monitoring when said operating environment within said ion mobility separator changes or varies due to changes or variations in the operating environment within or of one or more of said one or more first devices or stages.

40-42. -42. (canceled)