The invention relates to an ion transport device which is designed to transport ions by means of an electric field. The ion transport device has an ion transport channel in which an ion transport chamber is formed. In order to generate the electric field, the ion transport device has a plurality of field generating electrodes which are arranged one behind the other along the length of the ion transport channel in order to move ions through the ion transport chamber in a transport direction. The invention additionally relates to an ion mobility spectrometer and to a mass spectrometer.

A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer or separator and an ion guide arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. A plurality of axial potential wells are created in the ion guide so that ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator become confined in separate axial potential wells. The potential wells maintain the fidelity and/or composition of ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. The potential wells are translated along the length of the ion guide.

An ion optical arrangement (1) for use in a mass spectrometer comprises electrodes (11, 12, 14) comprising a multipole arrangement defining an ion optical axis, and a voltage source for providing voltages to the electrodes to produce electric fields. The ion optical arrangement is configured for producing a radio frequency electric focusing field for focusing ions on the ion optical axis. The radio frequency electric focusing field has a varying frequency so as to reduce any mass dependence of ion trajectories through the ion optical arrangement. The ion optical arrangement may further be configured for producing a static electric field in response to a DC bias voltage applied to the multipole arrangement. A superimposed varying electric field may be produced by superimposing an AC voltage upon the DC bias voltage.

An ion optical arrangement (1) for use in a mass spectrometer comprises a collision cell defining an ion optical axis along which ions may pass, electrodes comprising a set of parallel poles (11A, 11B, 11C) arranged in the collision cell, and a voltage source for providing voltages to the electrodes to produce electric fields. The ion optical arrangement is arranged for switching between a first operation mode in which the collision cell is pressurized and a second operation mode in which the collision cell is substantially evacuated. The ion optical arrangement is further arranged for producing a radio frequency electric focusing field in the first operation mode and a static electric focusing field in the second operation mode.

An ion guide or ion trap that comprises a plurality of electrodes (102) is disclosed. The ion guide or ion trap includes a detector (205) that can detect light or particles (114) emitted from the ion guide or ion trap due to electrical breakdown, and a control circuit (111) that can control the ion guide or ion trap in response to the detector (205) detecting light or particles (114) emitted from the ion guide or ion trap.

An ion optical arrangement (1) for use in a mass spectrometer comprises electrodes (11) defining an ion optical path, a housing (18) for accommodating the electrodes, a voltage source for providing voltages to the electrodes to produce electric fields, and a valve for allowing gas to enter and/or leave the housing. The valve comprises an electrostatic mechanism and/or a pneumatic mechanism. The electrostatic mechanism may comprise a flexible foil (30, 31) configured for covering at least one opening (16) in the ion optical arrangement when a first voltage is applied and being spaced apart from the at least one opening when a second voltage is applied. The pneumatic mechanism may comprise a Bourdon tube.

The invention provides a trapped ion mobility separator (TIMS) and methods to operate it wherein an ion region of the TIMS, through which ions travel along an axis from an entrance to an exit, has an elongate cross-sectional profile perpendicular to the axis with a long dimension and a short dimension. First and second counteracting forces on the ions along the axis are provided, wherein at least one of the first and second forces has an effect on the ions that is ion mobility dependent, and wherein at least one of the first and second forces varies spatially along the axis such that ions are trapped and separated by ion mobility. Different embodiments provide the first and second forces using different combinations of gas flow and electric field potential, and employ various electrode structures that provide the system with different advantageous characteristics.

An ion mobility separator comprises an RF-device for transversely confining ions in an ion region using: (a) a first set of electrodes arranged parallel to one another along a direction of ion travel to define a first transverse boundary of the ion region, and that are supplied with a first RF-voltage such that different phases of the first RF-voltage are applied to adjacent electrodes of the first set; and (b) a second set of electrodes arranged parallel to one another along said direction of ion travel to define a second transverse boundary of the ion region, and that are supplied with a second RF-voltage such that different phases of the second RF-voltage are applied to adjacent electrodes of the second set, the first and second transverse boundaries being substantially opposite each other in a transverse direction of the ion region and the first and second RF voltages having different frequencies.

There is provided a method of guiding ions, comprising providing an ion guide comprising a plurality of electrodes, confining ions radially within said ion guide by applying one or more voltages to said plurality of electrodes, applying an orthogonal DC field along at least a portion of said ion guide in order to control the temperature of ions as they travel through said ion guide, and applying an electrostatic driving potential to said plurality of electrodes to urge ions along the axial length of the ion guide, wherein said electrostatic driving potential is applied in the form of a DC travelling wave potential or other transient DC potential.

An electrode assembly, such as for an ion mirror, comprising: a first layer having a plurality of electrodes that are separated by one or more gaps; a second layer arranged to cover said one or more gaps and prevent electric fields passing through said one or more gaps, said second layer having electrically conductive material located to be coincident with said one or more gaps in the first layer.