Flushing Ion Mobility Separation Cell Between Ion Mobility Separation Cycles

摘要

An apparatus is provided to separate ions temporally according to a physico-chemical property comprising an ion guide comprising a plurality of electrodes and a first device arranged and adapted to remove undesired ions remaining within the ion guide after ions of interest have exited the ion guide.

主权项

1. Apparatus arranged and adapted to separate ions temporally according to their ion mobility or differential ion mobility comprising:
an ion guide comprising a plurality of electrodes; and a first device arranged and adapted to remove undesired ions remaining within said ion guide after ions of interest have exited said ion guide; wherein said apparatus comprises a control system which is arranged and adapted: (i) to cause said apparatus to operate in a first mode of operation wherein ions are separated temporally according to a their ion mobility or differential ion mobility during a first time period T1; and then (ii) to switch said apparatus to operate in a second mode of operation wherein undesired ions are substantially ejected, flushed out or otherwise removed from said ion guide during a second time period T2; wherein said control system is further arranged and adapted to apply either one or more first transient DC voltages or potentials to said electrodes having a first amplitude and/or a first transient velocity or one or more first DC voltages or potentials to said electrodes so as to produce a first DC voltage or potential gradient within or along said ion guide during said first mode of operation so as to cause ions to separate temporally within said ion guide according to their ion mobility or differential ion mobility during said first mode of operation; and wherein said control system is further arranged and adapted to apply either one or more second transient DC voltages or potentials to said electrodes having a second amplitude and/or a second transient velocity or one or more second DC voltages or potentials to said electrodes so as to produce a second DC voltage or potential gradient within or along said ion guide during said second mode of operation so as to cause ions to be ejected from said ion guide during said second mode of operation.