US 12,230,490 B2
Device, system, and method for ion fragmentation by use of an ion mobility device and messenger tagging
Stephan Warnke, Préverenges (CH); Thomas Rizzo, Denens (CH); and Ahmed Ben Faleh, Renens (CH)
Assigned to ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL), Lausanne (CH)
Filed by ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL), Lausanne (CH)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/709,446.
Prior Publication US 2023/0317442 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. H01J 49/00 (2006.01); G01N 27/622 (2021.01); H01J 49/02 (2006.01)
CPC H01J 49/0045 (2013.01) [G01N 27/622 (2013.01); H01J 49/0031 (2013.01); H01J 49/022 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a device for fragmenting ions by collision, the method comprising the steps of:
generating precursor ions with an ionization source, the generated precursor ions to be fragmented by collision to produce fragmented ions;
causing ion motion of the generated precursor ions with an ion mobility apparatus and performing ion separation of the generated precursor ions in a first separation region of the ion mobility apparatus;
providing a grid assembly for fragmenting ions by collision comprising first and second conductive grids, and providing a first and second electric potential to the first and second conductive grids, respectively, with an electric power source, the first and second electric potential being different, the grid assembly for fragmenting ions by collision being located between (i) the first separation region of the ion mobility apparatus and (ii) a second separation region of the ion mobility apparatus or a transfer region of the ion mobility apparatus, the second separation region or the transfer region of the ion mobility apparatus being located downstream relative to ion motion from the first separation region and from the grid assembly for fragmenting ions by collision;
passing separated generated precursor ions from the first separation region of the ion mobility apparatus through the first and second conductive grids, respectively, to accelerate the separated generated precursor ions in a direction of the second separation region or the transfer region and to cause collision induced dissociation of at least some of the separated generated precursor ions to cause fragmented ion parts including fragmented generated precursor ions; and
causing further ion mobility separation of the fragmented generated precursor ions in the second separation region of the ion mobility apparatus; or transferring, by the transfer region, the fragmented generated precursor ions to the first separation region or to a further separation region of the ion mobility apparatus to carry out further ion mobility separation of the fragmented generated precursor ions; and
analyzing the separated fragmented generated precursor ions with at least one of a spectrometer or a charge detector,
wherein the ion mobility apparatus includes at least one first electrode support and at least one second electrode support arranged opposite to each other and having a gap therebetween, each of the first and second electrode support including electrodes on a surface of the electrode support for guiding ions in a channel located between the first and second electrode supports.