Apparatus and method for atmospheric pressure-3-dimensional ion trapping
First Claim
1. An apparatus for selectively transmitting ions and trapping said ions within a defined 3-dimensional space, comprising:
- a) at least one ionization source for producing ions;
b) a high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometer, comprising an analyzer region defined by a space between at least first and second spaced apart electrodes for connection, in use, to an electrical controller capable of supplying an asymmetric waveform voltage and a direct-current compensation voltage for selectively transmitting a selected ion type in said analyzer region between said electrodes at a given combination of asymmetric waveform voltage and compensation voltage, said analyzer region having a gas inlet and a gas outlet for providing, in use, a flow of gas through said analyzer region, said analyzer region further having an ion inlet for introducing a flow of ions produced by said ionization source into said analyzer region; and
c) a curved surface terminus provided on at least one of said electrodes, said terminus being a part of said one of said electrodes which part is closest to said gas outlet, said defined 3-dimensional space being located near said terminus, whereby, in use, said asymmetric waveform voltage, compensation voltage and gas flow are adjustable, so as to trap said transmitted ions within said 3-dimensional space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus for selectively transmitting ions and trapping the ions within a defined 3-dimensional space at atmospheric pressure. The invention is based on the ion focussing principles of high field asymmetric wave-form ion mobility spectrometry in which an analyzer region is defined by a space between first and second spaced apart electrodes, the analyzer region having a gas inlet and a gas outlet for providing a flow of gas through the analyzer region. Ions which are introduced into the analyzer region are carried by a gas flow towards a gas outlet. At least one of the electrodes has a curved surface terminus located near the gas outlet and the gas flow is adjusted so that ions are trapped in a defined 3-dimensional space located near the tip of the terminus. Trapping of ions in a defined 3-dimensional space allows a more concentrated flow of desired ions.
164 Citations
48 Claims
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1. An apparatus for selectively transmitting ions and trapping said ions within a defined 3-dimensional space, comprising:
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a) at least one ionization source for producing ions;
b) a high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometer, comprising an analyzer region defined by a space between at least first and second spaced apart electrodes for connection, in use, to an electrical controller capable of supplying an asymmetric waveform voltage and a direct-current compensation voltage for selectively transmitting a selected ion type in said analyzer region between said electrodes at a given combination of asymmetric waveform voltage and compensation voltage, said analyzer region having a gas inlet and a gas outlet for providing, in use, a flow of gas through said analyzer region, said analyzer region further having an ion inlet for introducing a flow of ions produced by said ionization source into said analyzer region; and
c) a curved surface terminus provided on at least one of said electrodes, said terminus being a part of said one of said electrodes which part is closest to said gas outlet, said defined 3-dimensional space being located near said terminus, whereby, in use, said asymmetric waveform voltage, compensation voltage and gas flow are adjustable, so as to trap said transmitted ions within said 3-dimensional space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for selectively transmitting and trapping ions within a defined 3-dimensional space, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing at least one ionization source for producing ions;
b) providing an analyzer region defined by a space between at least first and second spaced apart electrodes, said analyzer region being in communication with a gas inlet, a gas outlet and an ion inlet, said ions produced by said ionization source being introduced into said analyzer region at said ion inlet;
c) providing an a symmetric waveform voltage and a direct-current compensation voltage, to at least one of said electrodes;
d) adjusting said asymmetric waveform voltage and said compensation voltage to selectively transmit a type of ion within said analyzer region;
e) providing a curved surface terminus on at least one of said electrodes, said defined 3-dimensional space being located near said terminus; and
f) providing a gas flow within said analyzer region flowing from said gas inlet to said gas outlet and adjusting said gas flow to trap said transmitted ions within and near said defined 3-dimensional space, said gas outlet being located near said terminus. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for selectively focussing ions and trapping said ions within a defined 3-dimensional space, comprising:
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a) at least one ionization source for producing ions;
b) a segmented high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometer, comprising an analyzer region defined by spaces between a plurality of corresponding pairs of first and second spaced apart electrodes, for connection, in use, to an electrical controller capable of supplying an asymmetric waveform voltage, a direct current compensation voltage and a direct current segment offset voltage, each of said plurality of corresponding pairs of first and second spaced apart electrodes forming a segment and said segments being aligned in a row immediately adjacent to and electrically isolated from each other, said analyzer region having an ion inlet for introducing a flow of ions produced by said ionization source into said analyzer region. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of selectively focussing ions and trapping said ions within a defined 3-dimensional space, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing at least one ionization source for producing ions;
b) providing an analyzer region defined by spaces between a plurality of corresponding pairs of first and second spaced apart electrodes and providing a non-constant electric field between said first and second electrodes, each of said plurality of corresponding pairs of first and second spaced apart electrodes forming a segment and said segments being aligned in a row immediately adjacent to and electrically isolated from each other, said-analyzer region being in communication with an ion inlet, and introducing said ions produced by said ionization source into said analyzer region at said ion inlet;
c) supplying an asymmetric waveform voltage to one of said first and second spaced apart electrodes in each of said segments;
d) supplying a direct current compensation voltage to said one of said first and second spaced apart electrodes in each of said segments, said direct current compensation voltages supplied to each of said segments being independently adjustable;
e) supplying a direct current segment offset voltage to another of said first and second spaced apart electrodes in each of said segments, said direct current segment offset voltages supplied to each of said segments being independently adjustable; and
f) adjusting said direct current compensation voltages and said direct current segment offset voltages substantially equally, thereby providing a constant directs current potential across each corresponding pair of first and second electrodes in each of said segments, so as to focus desired ions between each corresponding pair of first and second electrodes in each of said segments at a given combination of said asymmetric voltage, direct current compensation voltage, and direct current segment offset voltage. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for selectively transmitting ions and/or trapping said ions within a defined 3-dimensional space, comprising:
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a) at least one ionization source for producing ions;
b) a high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometer, comprising an analyzer region defined by a space between at least first and second spaced apart electrodes for connection, in use, to an electrical controller capable of supplying an asymmetric waveform voltage and a direct-current compensation voltage for selectively transmitting a selected ion type in said analyzer region between said electrodes at a given combination of asymmetric waveform voltage and compensation voltage, said analyzer region having a gas inlet and a gas outlet for providing, in use, a flow of gas through said analyzer region, said analyzer region further having an ion inlet for introducing a flow of ions produced by said ionization source into said analyzer region; and
,c) a terminus provided on at least one of said electrodes and shaped for directing said ions generally radially inwardly toward said gas outlet, said terminus being a part of said one of said electrodes which part is closest to said gas outlet, said defined 3-dimensional space being located near said terminus, whereby, in use, said asymmetric waveform voltage, compensation voltage and gas flow are adjustable, so as to trap said transmitted ions within said 3-dimensional space. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for selectively transmitting and/or trapping ions within a defined 3-dimensional space, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing at least one ionization source for producing ions;
b) providing an analyzer region defined by a space between at least first and second spaced apart electrodes, said analyzer region being in communication with a gas inlet, a gas outlet and an ion inlet, said ions produced by said ionization source being introduced into said analyzer region at said ion inlet;
c) providing a terminus on at least one of said electrodes, said terminus being part of said one of said electrodes which part is closest to said gas outlet, said terminus shaped for directing said ions generally radially inwardly toward said gas outlet;
d) providing an asymmetric waveform voltage and a direct-current compensation voltage, to at least one of said electrodes;
e) adjusting said asymmetric waveform voltage and said compensation voltage to selectively transmit a type of ion within said analyzer region; and
,f) providing a gas flow within said analyzer region flowing from said gas inlet to said gas outlet and adjusting said gas flow to trap said transmitted ions within and near said defined 3-dimensional space, said gas outlet being located near said terminus. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An apparatus for selectively focusing ions and trapping said ions within a defined 3-dimensional space, comprising:
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a) at least one ionization source for producing ions;
b) a segmented high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometer, comprising an analyzer region defined by spaces between a plurality of corresponding pairs of first and second spaced apart electrodes, for connection, in use, to an electrical controller capable of supplying an asymmetric waveform voltage, a direct current compensation voltage and a direct current segment offset voltage, each of said plurality of corresponding pairs of first and second spaced apart electrodes forming a segment and said segments being aligned in a row immediately adjacent to and electrically isolated from each other, said analyzer region having an ion inlet for introducing a flow of ions produced by said ionization source into said analyzer region. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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44. A method of selectively focusing ions and trapping said ions within a defined 3-dimensional space, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing at least one ionization source for producing ions;
b) providing an analyzer region defined by spaces between a plurality of corresponding pairs of first and second spaced apart electrodes and providing a non-constant electric field between said first and second electrodes, each of said plurality of corresponding pairs of first and second spaced apart electrodes forming a segment and said segments being aligned in a row immediately adjacent to and electrically isolated from each other, said analyzer region being in communication with an ion inlet, and introducing said ions produced by said ionization source into said analyzer region at said ion inlet;
c) supplying an asymmetric waveform voltage to one of said first and second spaced apart electrodes in each of said segments;
d) supplying a direct current compensation voltage to said one of said first and second spaced apart electrodes in each of said segments, said direct current compensation voltages supplied to each of said segments being independently adjustable;
e) supplying a direct current segment offset voltage to another of said first and second spaced apart electrodes in each of said segments, said direct current segment offset voltages supplied to each of said segments being independently adjustable; and
,f) adjusting said direct current compensation voltages and said direct current segment offset voltages substantially equally, thereby providing a constant direct current potential across each corresponding pair of first and second electrodes in each of said segments, so as to focus desired ions between each corresponding pair of first and second electrodes in each of said segments at a given combination of said asymmetric voltage, direct current compensation voltage, and direct current segment offset voltage. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification