Multimode cells and methods of using them
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- an ion source;
a cell coupled to the ion source and configured to operate in at least three different modes comprising a collision mode, a reaction mode and a standard mode, the three different modes each configured to select analyte ions from a plurality of ions introduced into the cell from the ion source, the cell configured to couple to the ion source at an entrance aperture to permit introduction of the plurality of ions from the ion source into the cell, the cell further comprising a gas inlet configured to receive a substantially inert gas to pressurize the cell in a collision mode and to receive a reactive gas to pressurize the cell in a reaction mode, the pressurized cell further comprising an exit aperture configured to provide the analyte ions from the cell;
a mass analyzer coupled to the cell; and
a controller electrically coupled to the cell and configured to provide the substantially inert gas to pressurize the cell in the collision mode, configured to provide the reactive gas to pressurize the cell in the reaction mode, and configured to maintain the cell under vacuum in the standard mode, in which the controller is configured to provide an effective voltage from a voltage source to the cell in the collision mode to select ions comprising an energy greater than a barrier energy and an effective voltage from the voltage source in the reaction mode to select ions using mass filtering.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mass spectrometer system is provided that is configurable for operation in both a Kinetic Energy Discrimination (KED) and Dynamic Reaction Cell (DRC). A pressurized or collision cell included in the mass spectrometer encloses a quadrupole and is coupled to a source of both inert and reactive gas. To operate in the KED mode, the collision cell can be filled with a quantity of the inert gas and an energy barrier formed between the collision cell and a downstream mass analyzer. Interferer ions collided with the inert gas can lose on average more energy relative to analyte ions of the same mass to charge ratio and can thus be trapped by the energy barrier in greater proportions. To operate instead in the DRC mode, the collision cell can be filled with a quantity of gas that is reactive with the interferer ions only. Mass filtering of the product ions can then transmit proportionally more of the analyte ions to the downstream mass analyzer. A mode controller coordinates the two modes of operation.
34 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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an ion source; a cell coupled to the ion source and configured to operate in at least three different modes comprising a collision mode, a reaction mode and a standard mode, the three different modes each configured to select analyte ions from a plurality of ions introduced into the cell from the ion source, the cell configured to couple to the ion source at an entrance aperture to permit introduction of the plurality of ions from the ion source into the cell, the cell further comprising a gas inlet configured to receive a substantially inert gas to pressurize the cell in a collision mode and to receive a reactive gas to pressurize the cell in a reaction mode, the pressurized cell further comprising an exit aperture configured to provide the analyte ions from the cell; a mass analyzer coupled to the cell; and a controller electrically coupled to the cell and configured to provide the substantially inert gas to pressurize the cell in the collision mode, configured to provide the reactive gas to pressurize the cell in the reaction mode, and configured to maintain the cell under vacuum in the standard mode, in which the controller is configured to provide an effective voltage from a voltage source to the cell in the collision mode to select ions comprising an energy greater than a barrier energy and an effective voltage from the voltage source in the reaction mode to select ions using mass filtering. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification