a method and apparatus to direct ions away from their otherwise intended or parallel course . deflectors are used to establish electric fields in regions through which ions are to pass . with such electric fields , ions may be deflected to a desired trajectory . according to the present invention , a multideflector , in the form of a series of bipolar plates spaced evenly across the ion beam path , is used as an ion deflector . a multideflector , including at least three bipolar deflection plates each of which includes a pair of electrically conducting electrodes separated from one another by an insulator , where each electrically conducting electrode in each pair of electrically conducting electrodes has a uniform lengthwise curvature and the electrically conducting electrodes in each pair of electrically conducting electrodes are parallel with one another , with each of the electrically conducting electrodes of the at least three bipolar deflection plates being energized to a potential , with each bipolar deflection plate of the at least three bipolar deflection plates having a first electrode of the pair of electrically conducting electrodes which has a first potential and a second electrode of the pair of electrically conducting electrodes which has a second potential , the first potential and the second potential are of opposite polarities .