EP0180328A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method of mass analyzing a sample over a wide mass range by use of a quadrupole ion trap
Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLC
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Filing: 1985-09-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-09-27
Abstract
Abstract The Method of mass analyzing a sample over a wide mass range by use of a quadropole ion trap which includes operating the ion trap (10) so that ions within a selected range of charge to mass ratio values are stably trapped, ionizing a sample in the trap to form ions indicative of the sample constituents whereby those within the selected range are trapped, changing the fields in the ion trap to sequentially eject ions from the trap, and detecting, and identifying the ejected ions then changing the trapping fields to trap ions within other selected ranges of charge to mass ratio values and repeating the ionization, ionejection and detection to mass analyze over a wide mass range including the selected mass ranges.
Inventors
- 👤 William J. Fies Jr.
- 👤 Paul Edwin Kelley
- 👤 Walter E. Reynolds
- 👤 George C. Stafford Jr.
- 👤 John Edward Philip Syka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:39
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J49/00; H01J49/26; H01J49/34; H01J49/42; H01J49/4205; H01J49/424; H01J49/426; H01J49/427
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of mass analyzing a sample over a mass range of interest which comprises the steps of: sequentially defining a plurality of different three dimensional quadrupole fields in which sample ions over a corresponding plurality of sequential segments of the mass range of interest can be simultaneously trapped; introducing or creating sample ions into each quadrupole field whereby ions within segments in the range of interest are trapped; changing each three dimensional trapping field so that trapped ions of consecutive specific masses within said segment become successively unstable and leave the trapping field; detecting the successive unstable ions as they leave the trapping field; and providing an output signal indicative of the ion mass for each segment and the entire mass range of interest.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of mass analyzing a sample over a mass range of interest which comprises the steps of: sequentially defining a plurality of different three dimensional quadrupole fields in which sample ions over a corresponding plurality of sequential segments of the mass range of interest can be simultaneously trapped; introducing or creating sample ions into each quadrupole field whereby ions within segments in the range of interest are trapped; changing each three dimensional trapping field so that trapped ions of consecutive specific masses within said segment become successively unstable and leave the trapping field; detecting the successive unstable ions as they leave the trapping field; and providing an output signal indicative of the ion mass for each segment and the entire mass range of interest.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method as in Claim 1 in which the field is generated by an ion trap of the type having a ring electrode and spaced end electrodes where the field is defined by U, V and ω where U = amplitude of direct current voltage between the end electrodes and ring electrode V = magnitude of RF voltage applied between ring electrodes W = 2 πf f = frequency of RF voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of Claim 2 in which each three dimensional quadrupole trapping field is changed by changing any one or more of U, V and w.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of Claim 2 in which each three dimensional quadrupole trapping field is changed by linearly increasing the voltage and the initial voltage in each successive segment equals the ending voltage of the previous segment.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
129 words
The method of mass analyzing a sample over a mass range of interest which comprises the steps of: sequentially defining a plurality of different three dimensional quadrupole field in which sample ions over a corresponding plurality of sequential segments of the mass range of interest can be simultaneously trapped; introducing the sample into each quadrupole field, generating ionizing electrons, sequentially gating said beam into the quadrupole fields whereby ions are formed and trapped; changing each three dimensional trapping field so that trapped ions of consecutive specific masses within said segment become successively unstable and leave the trapping field; detecting the successive unstable ions as they leave the trapping field; and providing an output signal indicative of the ion mass for each segment and the entire mass range of interest.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
129 words
The method of mass analyzing a sample over a mass range of interest which comprises the steps of: sequentially defining a plurality of different three dimensional quadrupole field in which sample ions over a corresponding plurality of sequential segments of the mass range of interest can be simultaneously trapped; introducing the sample into each quadrupole field, generating ionizing electrons, sequentially gating said beam into the quadrupole fields whereby ions are formed and trapped; changing each three dimensional trapping field so that trapped ions of consecutive specific masses within said segment become successively unstable and leave the trapping field; detecting the successive unstable ions as they leave the trapping field; and providing an output signal indicative of the ion mass for each segment and the entire mass range of interest.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method as in Claim 5 in which the ionizing electrons are generated at a voltage below the ionization energy of the sample material whereby ionization does not occur outside the trap but occurs in the quadrupole fields when the electrons are gated into the fields because of the energy added by the fields.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
136 words
The method of mass analyzing a sample over a mass range of interest which comprises the steps of: sequentially defining a plurality of different three dimensional quadrupole fields in which sample ions over a corresponding plurality of sequential segments of the mass range of interest can be simultaneously trapped; creating sample ions in each quadrupole field by directing an electron beam into the quadrupole field whereby ions within segments in the range of interest are trapped; changing each three dimensional trapping field so that trapped ions of consecutive specific masses within said segment become successively unstable and leave the trapping field; detecting the successive unstable ions with a suitable detector as they leave the trapping field; and providing an output signal indicative of the ion mass for each segment and the entire mass range of interest.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
136 words
The method of mass analyzing a sample over a mass range of interest which comprises the steps of: sequentially defining a plurality of different three dimensional quadrupole fields in which sample ions over a corresponding plurality of sequential segments of the mass range of interest can be simultaneously trapped; creating sample ions in each quadrupole field by directing an electron beam into the quadrupole field whereby ions within segments in the range of interest are trapped; changing each three dimensional trapping field so that trapped ions of consecutive specific masses within said segment become successively unstable and leave the trapping field; detecting the successive unstable ions with a suitable detector as they leave the trapping field; and providing an output signal indicative of the ion mass for each segment and the entire mass range of interest.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as in Claim 7 including the step of protecting the detector from electrons and charged particles during periods between detection of the trapped sample ions as they sequentially leave the trapping field during a scanning cycle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as in Claim 7 in which the detector is protected by lowering the voltage on the detector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as in Claim 7 in which the detector is protected by providing a first grid at the entrance to the detector operated at negative voltage to block electrons, and a second grid operated at a positive potential during the creation of sample ions to block positive ions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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