Fragmentation methods for mass spectrometry
US8334507B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 16, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 18, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J49/0054
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided that enable the interaction of low-energy electrons and positrons with sample ions to facilitate electron capture dissociation (ECD) and positron capture dissociation (PCD), respectively, within multipole ion guide structures. It has recently been discovered that fragmentation of protonated ions of many biomolecules via ECD often proceeds along fragmentation pathways not accessed by other dissociation methods, leading to molecular structure information not otherwise easily obtainable. However, such analyses have been limited to expensive Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometers; the implementation of ECD within commonly-used multipole ion guide structures is problematic due to the disturbing effects of RF fields within such devices. The apparatus and methods described herein successfully overcome such difficulties, and allow ECD (and PCD) to be performed within multipole ion guides, either alone, or in combination with conventional ion fragmentation methods. Therefore, improved analytical performance and functionality of mass spectrometers that utilize multipole ion guides are provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.