Patent ID: 9202679
Filing Date: 2015-12-01
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A sampling interface for use with a mass spectrometry apparatus, the sampling interface being arranged so as to enable the sampling of ions in a mass spectrometer for subsequent spectrometric analysis, the sampling interface comprising: an inlet for receiving a quantity of ions from an ion source; a skimmer that is arranged downstream of the inlet and that has an aperture through which ions from the inlet pass; a chamber downstream from the skimmer with a region that contains a collision gas that is encountered by ions passing through the skimmer aperture; and an adjustable voltage source that applies a bias voltage to the skimmer to generate a field having a selected bias voltage potential in at least a portion of said chamber region, a magnitude of the bias voltage being selected in accordance with a measured system parameter so as to minimize collisional scattering of the ions encountering the collision gas.