Patent ID: 6815669
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: G01N,H01J

Abstract:
An asymmetric field ion mobility apparatus for identification of ion species, said apparatus comprising:a flow path having an input part, an ion filter part and an output part; an ion filter in said filter part said flow path having a longitudinal axis for the flow of ions in said filter, said filter supplying an asymmetric filter field transverse to said longitudinal axis for filtering ions in said flow of ions by species, said filter field being compensated to pass a selected ion species from said flow of ions through said filter toward said output part; a support structure providing a plurality of supported electrodes associated with said flow path, said supported electrodes including spaced filter electrodes spaced apart by said support structure in said ion filter part; said spaced apart filter electrodes separated by an analytical gap for forming said ion filter in said filter part; an electrical input for driving said ion filter and generating said asymmetric filter field in said gap; an ion flow part for longitudinally propelling said flow of ions along said flow path, said ion flow part propelling said ions via a propulsion field, said propelled ions flowing in said filter; said support structure defining an enclosed flow path in said ion filter part, said support structure defining an enclosed ion filter including said spaced apart filter electrodes, said filter electrodes being separated from each other by said support structure in said filter part; and said ion filter selecting a species of said propelled ions flowing in said filter, said selected species passing through said filter and having at least one characteristic correlated with said compensated asymmetric filter field, said correlation facilitating identification of said selected and passed ion species.