Pittcon Today - Chemical & Engineering News

18 PITTCON TODAY :: TUESDAY :: March 13 2012 :: OrlandoPatent Awarded for Resistive Glass Reflectron Lens ProcessPHOTONIS USA, a leadingelectro-optic manufacturer, hasbeen awarded a patent for themanufacture of resistive glasstubes with non-linear gradientelectrical resistance changes. Thepatented process can be used tocreate a solid-piece reflectron lensfor use in reflectron-type time offlight mass spectrometers.Reflectron lenses are usedin Time-of-Flight (TOF) massspectrometers to create anelectrostatic field to alter ion flow,providing for a longer flight pathand therefore greater resolution.Current reflectron-type TOF-MSinstruments use multi-piece stackedring assemblies that carry timeconsumingassembly and cleaningprocesses. They also require the useof a voltage divider in each layer toreverse ion direction.A reflectrion lens made withresistive glass provides an assemblyreplacement for a stacked ringassembly yet provides the sameability to alter ion flow, becominga form-fit-function replacementfor the multi-piece stacked ringassemblies. Additionally, the solidresistive glass piece provides forsimpler cleaning and replacement.Resistive glass is manufacturedin a patented process that createsan electric field to guide or directcharged particles. It consists ofalkali-doped lead silicate glassthat has been reduced to make thesurface a semiconductor. A previouspatent was awarded, whichencompassed a uniform electricfield; the latest patent documentsthat varied, non-linear electric fieldsalso can be manufactured. Thepatent is the latest of many awardedto PHOTONIS for its innovationand development of improvingmass spectrometer detectionsensitivity and ion flow.PHOTONIS is a multinationalhigh-technology group withmore than 40 years experiencein manufacture, sales andinnovation, specializing in photosensor technology. The groupoperates internationally in theNight Vision, Industrial, Scientificand Medical Imaging markets.PHOTONIS USA designs andmanufactures a range of customand standard components andassemblies for mass spectroscopyas well as other medical, bio-medicaland scientific instrumentsand holds several patents inthese fields.Visit PHOTONIS at Booth 2070.