A gas analyzing apparatus includes: an ionization device that generates an ion flow of a sample gas; an analyzer that analyzes the ion flow supplied from the ionization device; a first ion path that non-linearly guides the ion flow from the ionization device to an inlet of the analyzer; and a blocking device for intermittently blocking and releasing, using an electric field or a magnetic field, the ion flow on at least part of a path of the ion flow through the first ion path to a mass filter of the analyzer. It is possible to perform measurement in a state where the ion flow is blocked and measurement in a state where the ion flow is not blocked.

A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a mass selective ion trap and a quadrupole rod set mass filter arranged downstream of the mass selective ion trap. Ions are mass selectively ejected from the ion trap in a substantially synchronised manner with the scanning of the mass filter in order to increase the duty cycle of the mass filter.

Techniques can increase the resolution and accuracy of mass spectra obtained using ion traps through the use of the actual shape of the ion trap peaks, which is a series of smaller ion ejection events. The peak shapes are identified as changing over a common period of the trapping signal and the excitation signal, at which point the peak shapes repeat. Peak shapes can be characterized over the common period to create N basis functions, each for a different fractional mass for a given scan rate. The N basis functions over the common period can be duplicated (e.g., shifted by the common period) to obtain a set of mass functions that characterize fractional masses over the full scan range. The mass spectrum can be obtained by fitting the set of mass functions to the measured data to obtain a best fit contribution of each mass function to the measured data.

Systems and methods are used to band-pass filter ions from a mass range. A full spectrum is received for a full scan of a mass range using a tandem mass spectrometer. A mass selection window of the full spectrum is selected and a set of tuning parameter values is selected. The tandem mass spectrometer is instructed to perform a scan of the mass selection window using the set of tuning parameter values. A spectrum is received for the scan from the tandem mass spectrometer. A band-pass filtered spectrum is created for the mass range that includes values from the spectrum for the mass selection window of the mass range. Systems and methods are also used to band-pass filter ions from two or more mass selection windows across the mass range and to filter out ions from a mass selection window between two band-pass mass selection windows.

A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a mass selective ion trap (12) and a quadrupole rod set mass filter (14) arranged downstream of the mass selective ion trap (12). Ions are mass selectively ejected from the ion trap (12) in a substantially synchronized manner with the scanning of the mass filter (14) in order to increase the duty cycle of the mass filter (14).

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for separating ions at about or above atmospheric pressure. In certain embodiments, the invention provides systems that include an ionization source that generates ions and an ion trap. The ion trap is maintained at about or above atmospheric pressure and includes a plurality of electrodes and at least one inlet configured to receive a gas flow and at least one outlet. The system is configured such that a combination of a gas flow and one or more electric fields produced by the electrodes separates the ions based on mass-to-charge ratio and sends the separated ions through the at least one outlet of the ion trap.

A collision or reaction device for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a first device arranged and adapted to cause first ions to collide or react with charged particles and/or neutral particles or otherwise dissociate so as to form second ions. A second device is arranged and adapted to apply a broadband excitation with one or more frequency notches to the first device so as to cause the second ions and/or ions derived from the second ions to be substantially ejected from the collision or reaction region. The collision or reaction device further comprises a device arranged and adapted to determine the time when the second ions and/or ions derived from the second ions are substantially ejected from the first device.

Techniques can increase the resolution and accuracy of mass spectra obtained using ion traps through the use of the actual shape of the ion trap peaks, which is a series of smaller ion ejection events. The peak shapes are identified as changing over a common period of the trapping signal and the excitation signal, at which point the peak shapes repeat. Peak shapes can be characterized over the common period to create N basis functions, each for a different fractional mass for a given scan rate. The N basis functions over the common period can be duplicated (e.g., shifted by the common period) to obtain a set of mass functions that characterize fractional masses over the full scan range. The mass spectrum can be obtained by fitting the set of mass functions to the measured data to obtain a best fit contribution of each mass function to the measured data.

The invention relates to the operation of ion mobility spectrometers based on gases pushing the ions over electrical field barriers, preferably in combination with mass spectrometers, and relates to trapped ion mobility spectrometers (TIMS). The invention proposes to accumulate and to scan the ions of a selected range of mobilities by using a long and flat electric field ramp created by additional voltages. By a voltage supplied at the beginning of the flat ramp, the lowest mobility of the mobility range of ions to be collected can be selected. By the difference of the voltages at the beginning and the end, the width of the mobility range is determined. The spatial zoom advantageously can collect considerable more ions of interest than a temporal zoom without severe losses by space charge effects, and more ions can be detected in the mass-mobility map.

A novel method and mass spectrometer apparatus is introduced to enable collision induced dissociation inside linear ion traps/guides or 3D ion traps based on digital waveform manipulation. In particular, using the device's digitally produced trapping waveforms to trap, isolate and energize the ions of interest creates a simplified and versatile ion trap/guide that is capable tandem mass spectrometry and high sensitivity. Coupling the digitally operated ion trap/guides to a TOF creates a Q-TOF instrument that outperforms any commercial system in terms of sensitivity and capabilities.