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Method and apparatus for separation of ions in a gas for mass spectrometry

  • US 5,869,831 A
  • Filed: 06/24/1997
  • Issued: 02/09/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. Analytical apparatus for separating ions in an ion mixture and for feeding separated ions to an outlet orifice, comprising:

  • ion supply means for providing a flow of variously charged ions, including a selected species of charged ions to be analyzed;

    an analyzing chamber having a gas flow axis and including a first wall with an inlet orifice for receiving said flow of variously charged ions, and a second wall opposed to said first wall by a distance w and having an outlet orifice that is displaced by a determined distance L along said gas flow axis from said inlet orifice;

    power supply means for applying a potential between said first wall and second wall which causes said flow of variously charged ions introduced via said inlet orifice to migrate towards said second wall;

    means for providing a laminar gas flow within said analyzing chamber and parallel to said flow axis, said gas flow exhibiting a Reynolds number of at least 2000 and displacing flight trajectories of said variously charged ions along said flow axis, said determined distance L set to position said outlet orifice to intercept a trajectory of said selected species of charged ions.

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