Mass spectrometer

• US 8,044,349 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Satake, Hiroyuki, Hashimoto, Yuichiro, Takada, Yasuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Souw; Bernard E
• Application Number:
  US12/173,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20090020695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 250/281, 250/282, 250/287, 250/288, 250/290, 250/292, 250/293, 250/299
• US Class Current: 250/290
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/004 Combinations of spectrometers, tandem spectrometers, e.g. MS/MS, MSn
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/422 Two-dimensional RF ion traps ion guides without mass selection H01J49/062
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/4255 with particular constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/427 Ejection and selection methods

Abstract

A mass spectrometer includes a linear multipole electrode, an auxiliary electrode that applies a DC potential on the center axis of the linear multipole electrode, and a DC power supply that supplies a DC power to the auxiliary electrode. The DC potential slope formed on the center axis of the multipole electrode is changed according to the measuring condition. The ejection time of ions can be adjusted optimally by adjusting the potential slope so as to satisfy the measuring condition. If the ejection time of ions is shortened, confusion of different ion information items that might otherwise occur on a spectrum can be avoided. If the ejection time of ions is lengthened, detection limit exceeding can be avoided and ions can be measured efficiently, thereby highly efficient ion measurements are always assured.

Claims

1. A mass spectrometer, comprising:

an ion ejection device that ejects pulsed ions;

a linear multipole unit having means for generating a voltage potential slope along a center axis of the linear multipole unit;

a power supply unit having a first power supply that applies a radio frequency voltage to the linear multipole electrode and a second power supply that applies a DC voltage to the means for generating a voltage potential slope along the center axis of the linear multipole unit;

a controller that controls the second power supply, thereby controlling the voltage potential formed on the center axis of the linear multipole electrode; and

a detector that detects ions ejected from the linear multipole unit, wherein

the controller controls the second power supply to raise or lower the voltage during ion ejection.

2. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, wherein the means for generating a voltage potential slope includes a linear multipole electrode and an auxiliary electrode disposed among the linear multipole electrode.

3. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, wherein the means for generating a voltage potential slope includes a linear multipole electrode and at least one auxiliary electrode disposed among the linear multipole electrode and an end lens electrode disposed at the ion ejection side of the linear multipole unit.

4. The mass spectrometer according to claim 2, wherein one side of the auxiliary electrode corresponding to one side of the linear multipole electrode has a different shape than the other side.

5. The mass spectrometer according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary electrode is made of plural members having different conductivity and disposed alternately.

6. The mass spectrometer according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary electrode is a resistive element or a dielectric material.

7. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, further comprising resistors, wherein the means for generating a voltage potential slope generates the voltage potential slope from a series of linear multipole electrodes in line with the center axis of the linear multipole unit.

8. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, wherein the means for generating a voltage potential slope generates the voltage potential slope from the linear multipole electrode having a potential difference between both ends of the linear multipole electrode.

9. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, wherein the second power supply controls the DC voltage to the means for generating a voltage potential slope to raise the DC voltage of the voltage potential slope linearly.

10. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, wherein the second power supply controls the DC voltage to the means for generating a voltage potential slope to raise the DC voltage of the voltage potential curvilinearly.

11. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, wherein the second power supply controls the DC voltage to the means for generating a voltage potential slope to fix the DC voltage level in a period of either before or after rising of the DC voltage.

12. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, further comprising a monitor that monitors the ejection time of ions.

13. The mass spectrometer according to claim 12, further comprising a device that feeds back the monitor result to the means for generating a voltage potential slope;

wherein the means for generating a voltage potential slope includes a linear multipole electrode and an auxiliary electrode disposed among the linear multipole electrode.

14. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, wherein the linear multipole unit comprises 4, 6 or 8 rod electrodes and the first power supply applies a radio frequency voltage to the rod electrodes, alternately.

15. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, wherein the linear multipole unit includes an end lens electrode.

16. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, further comprising an ion trap, wherein the linear multipole unit is disposed between the ion trap and the detector.

17. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, wherein the first power supply additionally applies a DC voltage to the linear multipole electrode.

18. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, wherein the linear multipole unit includes a plurality of rod electrodes, and wherein the means for generating a voltage potential slope is set between the plurality of rod electrodes.

19. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, wherein the linear multipole unit has rod electrodes and said means for generating a voltage potential slope generates the potential slope by varying resistance of the rod electrodes along at least a portion of a length of the linear multipole electrodes.

20. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, wherein the linear multipole unit has a series of linear multipole electrodes and said means for generating a voltage potential slope generates the potential slope by varying an applied voltage to the linear multipole electrodes in a direction along the center axis of the linear multipole unit.

23. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, further comprising a monitor that monitors the amount of ejected ions in a time in the succeeding stage of the linear multipole unit, and a feedback device that feeds back the result of the monitoring to the second power supply.

21. A mass spectrometer, comprising:

an ion ejection device ejecting pulsed ions;

a linear multipole unit having a center axis and a plurality of first electrodes and at least one second electrode;

a first power supply applying a radio frequency voltage to the plurality of first electrodes;

a second power supply applying a DC voltage to the at least one second electrode;

a controller controlling the second power supply, thereby controlling the voltage potential formed on the center axis of the linear multipole electrode, and

a detector detecting ions ejected from the multipole unit,

wherein the controller controls the second power supply to raise or lower the voltage during ion ejection.

22. The mass spectrometer according to claim 21, wherein the first power supply further applies a DC voltage to the plurality of first electrodes.