Mass spectrometer and method of mass spectrometry

(19)

(11)

EP 1 365 437 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	04.01.2006 Bulletin 2006/01

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	26.11.2003 Bulletin 2003/48

(21)	Application number: 02257042.8

(22)	Date of filing: 10.10.2002

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International Patent Classification (IPC):

H01J 49/40^(2006.01)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SK TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

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Priority:

17.05.2002 GB 0211375
24.05.2002 GB 0212021
29.05.2002 GB 0212385
07.10.2002 GB 0223231

(71)	Applicant: Micromass UK Limited
	Manchester M22 5PP (GB)

(72)	Inventors:
	Bateman, Robert Harold Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 8NP (GB) Jackson, Michael Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 2AZ (GB) Green, Martin Bowden, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 3EE (GB)

(74)	Representative: Jeffrey, Philip Michael
	Frank B. Dehn & Co. 179 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4EL London EC4V 4EL (GB)

(54)	Mass spectrometer and method of mass spectrometry

(57) A mass spectrometer is disclosed wherein a z-lens 4 upstream of an orthogonal acceleration Time of Flight mass analyser 9 is repeatedly switched between a first mode wherein ions are transmitted to the mass analyser 9 for subsequent mass analysis with a relatively high transmission and a second mode wherein ions are transmitted with a relatively low transmission. If it is determined that mass spectral data obtained when the mass analyser 9 is in the first mode is suffering from saturation, then suitably scaled mass spectral data obtained when the mass analyser 9 is in the second mode is used instead. If the saturation is severe then the mass spectral data obtained in the first mode may be replaced in its entirety with mass spectral data obtained in the second mode.

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