An abridged multipole structure for the transport and selection of ions along a central axis in a vacuum system is constructed from a plurality of rectilinear electrode structures, each having a substantially planar face with a first dimension and a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension. A message is received from the local USB device. The decreased spot size, in combination with an increased angular spread, allows an existing metrology system to measure parameters of a sample, such as a semiconductor or microelectronic device, with improved resolution and without expensive andor complex changes to the mechanics of the metrology system.