Apparatus and methods for ion mobility spectrometry

摘要

A method of ion mobility spectrometry wherein ions undergo multiple stages of ion mobility separation 20 and multiple stages of inertial ion motion 38, 48, wherein each stage of inertial ion motion 38. 48 lies between successive stages of ion mobility separation 20. The mean free path between ion collisions with gas in stages of inertial ion motion 38, 48 is significantly longer than in the stages of ion mobility separation 20. Each of the one or more drift spaces 20 is therefore arranged to be passed through multiple times by the ions. This allows the drift space or spaces 20 to be re-utilised and allows for improved resolution.