Radio frequency device to separate ions from gas stream and method thereof

摘要

A method for transporting ions within a mass spectrometer comprises: inputting the ions and neutral molecules to a first end of an ion transport apparatus comprising a plurality of non co-planar ring-shaped electrode portions having respective central apertures having centers that lie along a common axis and that define an ion channel, the radii of the central apertures decreasing in a direction from the first end to a second end of the ion transport apparatus; applying a set of Radio Frequency voltages to the plurality of electrode portions such that the ions remain substantially confined to the ion channel while passing from the first to the second end; and exhausting the neutral molecules from the ion transport apparatus though a plurality of channels or apertures other than the apertures that define the ion channel, the exhausting performed in one or more directions that are non-perpendicular to the axis.

主权项

1. An apparatus for transporting ions within a mass spectrometer comprising:
a plurality of electrodes, a plurality of surfaces of which comprise a plurality of non co-planar rings defining a set of respective ion apertures whose diameters decrease from a first end to a second end along a first direction parallel to an axis of the apparatus, the set of ion apertures defining an ion channel through which the ions are transported; and a Radio Frequency (RF) power supply for providing RF voltages to the plurality of electrodes such that the RF phase applied to each electrode is different from the RF phase applied to any immediately adjacent electrodes, wherein the electrodes are disposed such that gaps are defined between each pair of successive electrodes, the gaps being oriented such that a gas flow input into the first end of the apparatus is exhausted through the gaps in one or more directions that are non-perpendicular to the axis.