(19)

(11)

EP 1 656 688 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 04.08.2005 (43) Date of publication: 17.05.2006 Bulletin 2006/20 (21) Application number: 04778627.2 (22) Date of filing: 19.07.2004

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  H01J 49/10(1980.01) H01J 49/16(1980.01) H01J 61/68(1968.09) H01J 49/42(1980.01) H01J 49/40(1980.01) H01J 27/24(1980.01) H01J 61/90(1968.09) (86) International application number: PCT/US2004/023217 (87) International publication number: WO 2005/017943 (24.02.2005 Gazette 2005/08)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR (30) Priority: 17.07.2003 US 488019 P 27.08.2003 US 498093 P 27.08.2003 US 498163 P 08.11.2003 US 518367 P (71) Applicant: Sionex Corporation Waltham, MA 02451 (US)

(72) Inventors: MILLER, Raanan, A. Newton, MA 02467 (US) NAZAROV, Erkinjon, G. Lexington, MA 02420 (US) KRYLOV, Evgeny Las Cruces, NM 88001 (US) EICEMAN, Gary, A. Las Cruces, NM 88005 (US) WRIGHT, John, A. Waltham, MA 02453 (US) KENDIG, Stephen, D. Marblehead, MA 01945 (US) MORRIS, James, C. Norfolk, MA 02056 (US) CAMERON, Douglas, B. Wellesley, MA 02482 (US) (74) Representative: Wilson, Alan Stuart  Barker Brettell 138 Hagley Road Edgbaston GB-Birmingham B16 9PW GB-Birmingham B16 9PW (GB)