Patent ID: 7829841
Filing Date: 2010-11-09
Classification: G01N,H01J

Abstract:
1. A mass spectrometer comprising: an ion mobility spectrometer or separator; a first ion guide arranged downstream of said ion mobility separator or spectrometer, said first ion guide being arranged to receive ions from said ion mobility spectrometer or separator, and wherein said first ion guide comprises a plurality of electrodes; a first voltage means arranged and adapted to apply one or more voltages or one or more voltage waveforms to said plurality of electrodes so that in a first mode of operation ions received from said ion mobility spectrometer or separator are retained and/or confined and/or transported and/or translated in separate regions or portions of said first ion guide; a mass analyser arranged downstream of said first ion guide; and a control system arranged and adapted to switch or repeatedly switch the potential difference through which ions pass prior to entering said first ion guide between a high fragmentation mode of operation wherein ions are substantially fragmented upon entering said first ion guide and a low fragmentation mode of operation wherein substantially less ions are fragmented or wherein substantially no ions are fragmented upon entering said first ion guide.