Devices and methods for surface-induced association are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, a device for surface-induced dissociation (SID) includes a collision surface and a deflector configured to guide precursor ions from a pre-SID region to the collision surface. In some embodiments, an extractor extracts ions off the collision surface after collision with the collision surface. In some embodiments, an RF device can collect and/or transmit the extracted ions. In some embodiments, an ion funnel guides product ions resulting from collision with the collision surface to a post-SID region. Some aspects of the disclosure are directed to methods for surface-induced dissociation, which may in some embodiments include using of a split lens or an ion funnel.

Disclosed herein is an ion guide for guiding an ion beam along an ion path, said ion guide having a longitudinal axis corresponding to said ion path, said ion guide-comprising a plurality of elongate electrodes arranged around and extending along said longitudinal axis wherein an inner envelope of the plurality of electrodes defines an ion guide volume. Said elongate electrodes are formed by electrode wires, wherein adjacent electrode wires are arranged at an inter-wire distance. The ion guide comprises holding structures for supporting and for straightening the electrode wires by applying a tension or maintaining a tension applied to them. Any portion of said holding structures which is separated from said ion guide volume by less than the local inter-wire distance is made from a material having a resistivity of less than 10.sup.12 Ohm.Math.cm, preferably of less than 10.sup.9 Ohm.Math.cm, or has a sheet resistivity of less than 10.sup.14 Ohm, preferably of less than 10.sup.10 Ohm on a surface facing said ion guide volume.

An apparatus for particle collection is provided. The apparatus includes a magnetic element configured to generate a tapered magnetic ion transport tunnel that collects particles from a local environment, a detector configured to perform one or more measurements of the collected particles, and ion optics configured to transport the collected particles to the detector.

An instrument for separating ions may include an ion source in a first pressure environment at a first pressure and configured to generate ions from a sample, an ion separation instrument, controlled to an instrument pressure that is less than the first pressure, and configured to separate ions as a function of at least one molecular characteristic and an interface, controlled to a second pressure less than the first pressure and greater than the instrument pressure, for transporting the generated ions from the first pressure environment into the ion separation instrument operating at the instrument pressure. The interface may include a sealed ion funnel defining an axial passageway therethrough, and an ion carpet sealed to the first ion funnel. A portion of the axial passageway tapers from a first cross-sectional area to a reduced cross-sectional area such that the tapered axial passageway defining a virtual jet disrupter therein.

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.

A mass spectrometry method comprises: receiving a stream of ions at an inlet end of an ion transport device; accumulating a first portion of the ion stream at a first electrical potential well at a first position within the ion transport device between the inlet and outlet ends; creating a generally descending potential profile within the ion transport apparatus between a second position and the outlet end and, simultaneously, creating a second potential well at a third position within the ion transport apparatus, the second position disposed between the first position and the inlet end, the third position disposed between the second position and the inlet end; and transporting the accumulated first portion of the ion stream from the first position to the outlet end under the impetus of the generally descending potential profile and, simultaneously, accumulating a second portion of the ion stream at the second potential well.

A system and method for sample analysis using sub-atmospheric pressure (sub-AP) laser ionization. The sub-AP ion source includes a holder with a sample containing analyte molecules, a pulsed laser beam configured to generate ionized species from the sample, an ion extractor adjacent to the holder configured to extract analyte ions from the ionized species by an extraction electric field E.sub.s near the sample, an ion funnel structure composed of orifice electrodes located along an ion funnel pathway direction z. The ion funnel structure has an entrance and an exit, the exit being the electrode with the smallest aperture in the structure. This structure is configured for accepting the analyte ions from the ion extractor at the entrance and dragging them toward the exit using an axial electric field E.sub.z along the direction z. The extraction electric field E.sub.s is at least partly electrically shielded from the axial electric field E.sub.z.

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.

An interface transports ions from a first pressure environment to a lower pressure analysis instrument and may include a first region pumped to a second pressure less than the first pressure, a first ion funnel disposed in the first region, a first ion carpet in the first region opposite an ion outlet end of the first ion funnel, a second region pumped to a third pressure less than the second pressure and greater than the instrument pressure, a second ion funnel disposed in the second region and a second ion carpet in the second region opposite an ion outlet end of the second ion funnel. Ions from the environment pass sequentially through the first and second ion funnels and into the analysis instrument. Each of the first and second ion funnels define a tapered axial passageway therethrough each defining a respective virtual jet disrupter therein.