Patent ID: 6933497

Claim:
A TOF mass analyzer having multiple flight paths, the TOF mass analyzer comprising: a) a pulsed ion source that generates a packet of ions and that accelerates the packet of ions; b) an ion deflector that receives the packet of ions and directs a first group of ions from the packet of ions to a first ion path for a first predetermined time interval after the pulsed ion source generates the packet of ions and that directs a second group of ions from the packet of ions to a second ion path for a second predetermined time interval after the pulsed ion source generates the packet of ions; c) a first TOF mass separator positioned to receive the first group of ions propagating along the first ion path, the first TOF mass separator separating the first group of ions according to their mass to-charge ratio; d) a first detector positioned to receive the first group of ions that are propagating along the first ion path after being separated by the first TOF mass separator; e) a second TOF mass separator positioned to receive the second group of ions propagating along the second ion path, the second TOF mass separator separating a second group of ions according to their according to their mass to-charge ratio; and f) a second detector positioned to receive the second group of ions that are propagating along the second ion path after being separated by the second TOF mass separator.