Patent ID: 8841610

Claim:
A method of analyzing a sample by mass spectrometry, comprising the steps of: generating a stream of ions from the sample; delivering the ions to the inlet end of a multipole, the multipole defining a central longitudinal axis and first and second transverse axes; generating an electric field within the multipole, the electric field causing a subset of ions having a range of mass-to-charge values (m/z's) to be selectively transmitted to a distal end of the multipole along the central longitudinal axis, the range of m/z's of the transmitted ions being determined by at least one parameter of the electric field; progressively varying the at least one parameter of the electric field; acquiring a series of temporally-resolved ion images of ions selectively transmitted to the distal end of the multipole while the at least one parameter of the electric field is varied, each ion image containing information regarding the intensities of ions sensed at different locations on at least one transverse axis; and deconvolving data in the series of ion images to produce a mass spectrum.