ION TRAP MASS ANALYZER APPARATUS, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS UTILIZING ONE OR MORE MULTIPLE POTENTIAL ION GUIDE (MPIG) ELECTRODES

摘要

In one aspect of the invention, an ion trap mass analyzer includes a variable- or multi-potential type ion guide (MPIG) assembly which has been pre-configured to produce a parabolic-type potential field. Each MPIG electrode has a resistive coating of designed characteristics. In one example the coating varies in thickness along the length of an underlying uniform substrate. The MPIG assembly can be a single MPIG electrode or an array of a plurality of MPIG electrodes. An array can facilitate delocalization for improved performance. This chemical modification of a uniform underlying substrate promotes cheaper and flexible instruments. The modified MPIG electrodes also allow miniaturization (e.g. micro and perhaps even nano-scale), which allows miniaturization of the instrument in which the single or plural modified MPIG electrode(s) are placed. This promotes portability and field use instead of limitation to laboratory settings.

主权项

1. An ion trap mass analyzer comprising:
a. a housing; b. an elongated multi-potential ion guide in the housing, the ion guide having a length and comprising:
i. a feed wire;ii. an insulator around the feed wire;iii. an semi-conductive coating on the insulator, the semi-conductive coating having a predetermined variation in thickness; c. a potential supply electrode sub-assembly operatively connected to the ion guide; d. a reference electrode sub-assembly spaced from the supply electrode and along the ion guide; e. so that the predetermined variation in thickness of the semi-conductive coating on the ion guide and the supply and reference electrode sub-assemblies can be correlated to produce a customizable potential energy field relative to the length of the ion guide.