摘要 |
The present invention is an improved apparatus and method for mass spectrometry using a dual ion trapping system. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, three "linear" multipoles are combined to create a dual linear ion trap system for trapping, analyzing, fragmenting and transmitting parent and fragment ions to a mass analyzer-preferably a TOF mass analyzer. The dual ion trap according to the present invention includes two linear ion traps, one positioned before an analytic quadrupole and one after the analytic multipole. Both linear ion traps are multipoles composed of any desired number of rods-i.e. the traps are quadrupoles, pentapoles, hexapoles, octapoles, etc. Such arrangement enables one to maintain a high "duty cycle" while avoiding "memory effects" and also reduces the power consumed in operating the analyzing quadrupole.
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