Patent ID: 7351959

Claim:
A mass analyzer system comprising: a sample support having a sample surface; an optical system configured to irradiate a sample on the sample surface with a pulse of energy such that the pulse of energy strikes a sample on the sample surface at an angle substantially normal to the sample surface; a MALDI ion source comprising; a first electrode spaced apart from the sample support; a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode in a direction opposite the sample support holder; a third electrode spaced apart from the second electrode in a direction opposite the first electrode; and a power source electrically coupled to the sample support, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode and configured to: apply a first potential to the sample surface and a second potential to at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode to establish a non-extracting electric field at a first predetermined time substantially prior to striking a sample on the sample surface with a pulse of energy to form sample ions, the non-extracting electrical field substantially not accelerating sample ions in a direction away from the sample surface; change the electrical potential of at least one of the sample surface and the first electrode to establish a first extraction electric field at a second predetermined time subsequent to the first predetermined time, the first extraction electric field accelerating sample ions in a first direction away from the sample surface, the first extraction electric field accelerating sample ions in a first direction away from the sample surface along a first ion optical axis that is substantially coaxial with the pulse of energy; and apply a third potential to the second electrode to focus ions in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; an ion deflector configured to deflect ions from the first ion optical axis and onto a second ion optical axis; a first time-of flight positioned between the ion deflector and a timed ion selector; the timed ion selector being positioned between the first time-of flight and a collision cell, the timed ion selector being positioned to receive ions traveling along the second ion optical axis and being configured to select ions for transmittal to the collision cell; a second time-of-flight positioned between the collision cell and a first ion detector; an ion mirror positioned between the second time-of-flight and the first ion detector; and a third time-of-flight positioned between the ion mirror and a second ion detector.