Ionization device and method based on electrospray technology

Abstract

The present invention provides an ionization device and method based on electrospray technology, wherein the ionization device includes an electrospray module and a support seat; further comprising: the support seat is arranged on a bracket through a first rotating shaft, and a first limiter and a second limiter are arranged on the support seat; an obstruction module is used to obstruct the relative rotation between the support seat and the bracket; a rotating arm is arranged on the bracket through a second rotating shaft, and rotates under the drive of a driving module; a conductive module and a driving member are respectively arranged on the rotating arm, and when the rotating arm rotates, the conductive module contacts or separates from the electrospray module, and the driving member rotates between the first limiter and the second limiter, and drives the first limiter or the second limiter to rotate. The present invention has the advantages of automation and simple structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to mass spectrometry technology, and in particular to an ionization device and method based on electrospray technology. Background Art

[0002] At present, mass spectrometry has extremely wide applications in environmental testing, clinical analysis, organic synthesis, drug development, proteomics and metabolomics. The current mass spectrometry electrospray device usually has the following technical problems:

[0003] 1. The electrospray needle tip and mass spectrometer cone cannot accurately adjust their positions automatically, which reduces the quality of the electrospray spray injected into the cone.

[0004] 2. In the grasping of the electrospray module, an open and closed electric claw is usually used, which has low positioning accuracy and cannot achieve automatic centering.

[0005] 3. The power supply effect of the electrospray module is poor, and it is difficult to form a stable ionization state. Summary of the invention

[0006] In order to solve the deficiencies in the above-mentioned prior art solutions, the present invention provides an ionization device based on electrospray technology.

[0007] The objective of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0008] An ionization device based on electrospray technology, comprising an electrospray module and a supporting seat; and further comprising:

[0009] The bracket, the bearing seat is arranged on the bracket through the first rotating shaft, and the first limiting member and the second limiting member are arranged on the bearing seat;

[0010] An obstruction module, which is used to obstruct the relative rotation between the bearing seat and the bracket;

[0011] A rotating arm and a driving module, wherein the rotating arm is arranged on the bracket via a second rotating shaft and rotates under the driving of the driving module;

[0012] The conductive module and the driving member are respectively arranged on the rotating arm. When the rotating arm rotates, the conductive module contacts or separates from the electrospray module, and the driving member rotates between the first limiting member and the second limiting member, and drives the first limiting member or the second limiting member to rotate.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide an ionization method, which is achieved by the following technical solutions:

[0014] According to the ionization method of the ionization device of the present application, the ionization method comprises the following steps:

[0015] (S1) The conductive module is electrically connected to the electrospray module, the electrospray module works, and the sample is ionized;

[0016] (S2) The rotating arm rotates in the opposite direction, the driving member rotates in the opposite direction between the first limiting member and the second limiting member, and then pushes the first limiting member and the supporting seat to rotate in the opposite direction, the electrospray module rotates in the opposite direction along with the supporting seat, and then inverts and falls;

[0017] (S3) The rotating arm rotates forward, and the driving member rotates forward between the first limiting member and the second limiting member, and then drives the second limiting member and the bearing seat to rotate forward;

[0018] (S4) A new electrospray module is placed on the support.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0020] 1.Automation, high ionization efficiency;

[0021] The electrical connection and disconnection between the electrospray module and the conductive module, as well as the unloading of the electrospray module, are all completed automatically. For example, when moving to the cone mouth, the relative position of the capillary end and the cone mouth in the electrospray module is obtained by a camera, and then the guide rail is used to move, thereby improving the ionization efficiency.

[0022] 2. Simple structure;

[0023] A combination of a supporting seat (with a first limit member and a second limit member), an obstruction module, a driving member, a rotating arm and a driving module is used. By utilizing the rotation of the rotating arm, not only is automatic electrical conduction between the conductive module and the electrospray module achieved, but the rotating driving member is also used to push the first limit member or the second limit member to achieve forward or reverse rotation of the supporting seat, thereby achieving automatic unloading of the electrospray module. The combination of the supporting seat and other components reduces the structural complexity of the device and also improves working reliability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The disclosure of the present invention will become easier to understand with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is easy for those skilled in the art to understand that these drawings are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. In the drawings:

[0025] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an ionization device based on electrospray technology according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2-Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the partial structure of an ionization device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] In the accompanying drawings, 1-support, 2-drive module, 4-guide rail, 5-recovery box, 6-bottom plate, 8-electrospray module, 13-bracket, 14-conductive module, 15-camera, 17-obstruction module, 81-capillary, 111-motor shaft, 131-smaller part, 132-larger part, 135-arc through hole, 141-conductive sheet, 142-insulating member, 143-conductive probe, 144-rotating arm, 145-drive member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Figure 1-Figure 5 The following description describes optional specific embodiments of the present invention to teach those skilled in the art how to implement and reproduce the present invention. In order to teach the technical solution of the present invention, some conventional aspects have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled in the art will understand that variations or replacements derived from these specific embodiments will be within the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the following features can be combined in various ways to form multiple variations of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the following optional specific embodiments, but is only limited by the claims and their equivalents.

[0029] Embodiment 1:

[0030] The ionization device based on electrospray technology of embodiment 1 of the present invention is as follows Figure 1 As shown, the ionization device based on electrospray technology includes:

[0031] The electrospray module 8 is disposed on the supporting base 1 , and the electrospray module 8 is a prior art in the art.

[0032] The bearing seat 1 is disposed on the bracket 13 via a first rotating shaft, and a first limiting member and a second limiting member are disposed on the bearing seat 1 .

[0033] like Figure 2 As shown, the blocking module 17 is used to block the relative rotation between the support base 1 and the bracket 13, so that the support base 1 is fixed in position when there is no external force driving it.

[0034] like Figure 3-4 As shown, the rotating arm 144 is disposed on the bracket 13 via a second rotating shaft, and rotates when driven by the driving module 2 .

[0035] The conductive module 14 and the driving member 145 are respectively arranged on the rotating arm 144. When the rotating arm 144 rotates, the conductive module 14 contacts or separates from the electrospray module 8, and the driving member 145 rotates between the first limit member and the second limit member and drives the first limit member or the second limit member to rotate.

[0036] In order to limit the rotation range of the driving member 145, further, as Figure 2-Figure 3As shown, the support seat 1 has an arc-shaped through hole 135 or an arc-shaped groove allowing the driving member 145 to enter and slide, and the first limiting member and the second limiting member are respectively located at two ends of the arc-shaped through hole 135 or the arc-shaped groove.

[0037] In order to automatically recycle the electrospray module 8, further, the ionization device also includes:

[0038] The recovery box 5 is arranged at the lower side of the support base 1 and is used to recover the electrospray module 8 dropped from the support base 1;

[0039] like Figure 2 As shown, the camera 15 is disposed on the bracket 13 for obtaining the position of the capillary in the electrospray module 8 .

[0040] In order to adjust the position of the capillary in the electrospray module 8, further, as Figure 1 As shown, the ionization device also includes:

[0041] The bracket 13 is disposed on the guide rail 4 , and the driving unit is used to drive the bracket 13 to move along the guide rail 4 .

[0042] In order to reduce the complexity of the structure, further, the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are coaxial, the driving module 2 is a motor, fixed on the bracket 13, and the motor shaft is connected to the second rotating shaft.

[0043] In order to facilitate the electrical connection with the electrospray module 8, further, as Figure 4 As shown, the conductive module 14 includes:

[0044] The conductive probe 143 is fixed on the insulating rotating arm 144, with one end on one side of the rotating arm 144 being wrapped by the insulating part 142 and the other end on the other side of the rotating arm 144 being exposed; the conductive sheet 141 is connected to the conductive probe 143; when the rotating arm 144 rotates, the exposed end of the conductive probe is electrically connected to the electrospray module 8.

[0045] In order to reduce wear, further, the driving member 145 is a bearing.

[0046] The ionization method of the embodiment of the present invention, that is, the working method of the ionization device of the embodiment of the present invention, comprises the following steps:

[0047] (S1) The conductive module 14 is electrically connected to the electrospray module 8, the electrospray module 8 operates, and the sample is ionized.

[0048] (S2) The rotating arm 144 rotates in the opposite direction, and the driving member 145 rotates in the opposite direction between the first limit member and the second limit member, and then pushes the first limit member and the supporting seat 1 to rotate in the opposite direction. The electrospray module 8 rotates in the opposite direction with the supporting seat 1, and then inverts and falls. Figure 5 shown.

[0049] (S3) The rotating arm 144 rotates forward, and the driving member 145 rotates forward between the first limiting member and the second limiting member, and then pushes the second limiting member and the supporting base 1 to rotate forward.

[0050] ( S4 ) A new electrospray module 8 is placed on the supporting base 1 .

[0051] In order to stably push the bearing seat 1 to rotate, further, in step (S2), the driving member 145 rotates in the reverse direction in the arc-shaped groove or arc-shaped through hole 135 on the bearing seat 1, and then pushes the end of the arc-shaped groove or arc-shaped through hole 135 to rotate in the reverse direction;

[0052] In step ( S3 ), the driving member 145 rotates in a positive direction from the end to the other end in the arc-shaped groove or arc-shaped through hole 135 on the bearing seat 1 , and then pushes the other end to rotate in a positive direction.

[0053] In order to install a new electrospray module 8, further, in step (S4), the support base 1 is rotated forward to a set position, and the rotating arm 144 is rotated reversely.

[0054] A new electrospray module 8 is placed on the supporting seat 1 , the rotating arm 144 rotates forward, and the conductive module 14 is electrically connected to the new electrospray module 8 .

[0055] Embodiment 2:

[0056] An application example of the ionization device and method based on electrospray technology according to Example 1 of the present invention.

[0057] In this application example, Figure 1 As shown, the guide rail 4 is arranged on the bottom plate 6, the bracket 13 is arranged on the guide rail 4, and the driving module 2 adopts a motor, which is fixed on the bracket 13 and is used to drive the rotating arm 144 to rotate forward and reverse. The bearing seat 1 is arranged on the bracket 13 through the first rotating shaft, and the electrospray module 8 is stuck in the bearing seat 1.

[0058] like Figure 2-Figure 3 As shown, an obstruction module 17 is provided on the bracket 13, specifically a rotation damper, so that when there is no external force driving the bearing seat 1, the bearing seat 1 is fixed. The bearing seat 1 has an arc-shaped through hole 135 (one end is equivalent to the first limiter, and the other end is equivalent to the second limiter), and the driving member 145 is a bearing, which is arranged in the arc-shaped through hole 135.

[0059] The electrospray module 8 includes a portion with a larger outer diameter and a portion with a smaller outer diameter. Correspondingly, the support seat 1 has a portion 132 that allows the larger outer diameter portion to be inserted into the larger width portion and a portion 131 that allows the smaller outer diameter portion to be inserted into the smaller width portion, so that the capillary 81 of the electrospray module 8 is exposed.

[0060] The camera 15 disposed on the bracket 13 obtains the image of the bottom end of the capillary 81 in real time, and then adjusts the position of the bracket 13 on the guide rail 4 and the pitch angle of the electrospray module 8 so that the bottom end of the capillary 81 corresponds to the cone of the mass spectrometer.

[0061] like Figure 3-Figure 4 As shown, the motor shaft 111 (serving as the second shaft and coaxial with the first shaft) drives the insulated rotating arm 144. The elastic conductive probe 143 penetrates the rotating arm 144. The end of the conductive probe 143 facing away from the electrospray module 8 is wrapped by the insulating member (nut) 142, and the end facing the electrospray module 8 is a spherical surface. The driving member 145 is arranged on the rotating arm 144.

[0062] The ionization method of the embodiment of the present invention, that is, the working method of the ionization device of the embodiment of the present invention, comprises the following steps:

[0063] (S1) The camera 15 obtains the bottom position of the capillary 81, adjusts the position of the support base 1 on the guide rail 4 through the driving unit, and pushes the pitch angle of the support base 1 through the rotating arm 144, so that the bottom position of the capillary 81 corresponds to the cone position of the mass spectrometer.

[0064] One end of the conductive module 14 that is in the form of a spherical surface is electrically connected to the electrospray module 8 . When the electrospray module 8 is in operation, the sample is ionized.

[0065] (S2) The motor drives the rotating arm 144 to rotate in the reverse direction, and the driving member 145 rotates in the reverse direction in the arc-shaped through hole 135 (i.e., between the first stopper and the second stopper), and then pushes one end of the arc-shaped through hole 135 (i.e., the first stopper) and the supporting seat 1 to rotate in the reverse direction, and the electrospray module 8 rotates in the reverse direction with the supporting seat 1, and then inverts and falls, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 shown.

[0066] (S3) The rotating arm 144 rotates forward, and the driving member 145 moves from one end in the arc-shaped through hole 135 to the other end (i.e., between the first limit member and the second limit member) and rotates forward, and then pushes the other end of the arc-shaped through hole 135 (i.e., the second limit member) and the supporting base 1 to rotate forward, and then the rotating arm 144 rotates reversely.

[0067] (S4) The new electrospray module 8 is placed on the support base 1, with the larger outer diameter portion inserted into the larger width portion 132, and the smaller outer diameter portion inserted into the smaller width portion 131, and the lower end of the capillary 81 is exposed.

[0068] The rotating arm 144 rotates forward, and the conductive module 14 is electrically connected to the new electrospray module 8 .

[0069] Embodiment 3:

[0070] The application example of the ionization device and method based on electrospray technology according to Example 1 of the present invention is different from Example 2 in that:

[0071] An arc groove is provided on the bearing seat 1 , and the driving member 145 is arranged in the arc groove, which limits the moving track of the driving member 145 .

[0072] Embodiment 4:

[0073] The application example of the ionization device and method based on electrospray technology according to Example 1 of the present invention is different from Example 2 in that:

[0074] Two protrusions are provided on the bracket 13, serving as a first position-limiting member and a second position-limiting member respectively, and the driving member 145 is located between the first position-limiting member and the second position-limiting member.

Claims

1. An ionization device based on electrospray technology, comprising an electrospray module and a supporting seat; characterized in that: The ionization device also includes: A bracket, wherein the bearing seat is arranged on the bracket via a first rotating shaft, and a first limiting member and a second limiting member are arranged on the bearing seat; An obstruction module, the obstruction module is used to obstruct the relative rotation between the bearing seat and the bracket; A rotating arm and a driving module, wherein the rotating arm is arranged on the bracket via a second rotating shaft and rotates under the driving of the driving module, and the driving module is connected to the second rotating shaft; the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are coaxial; A conductive module and a driving member, wherein the conductive module and the driving member are respectively arranged on the rotating arm, and when the rotating arm rotates, the conductive module contacts or separates from the electrospray module, and the driving member rotates between the first limiting member and the second limiting member, and drives the first limiting member or the second limiting member to rotate; The bearing seat has an arc-shaped through hole or an arc-shaped groove that allows the driving member to enter and slide, and two ends of the arc-shaped through hole or the arc-shaped groove serve as a first limiting member and a second limiting member respectively.

2. The ionization device based on electrospray technology according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ionization device also includes: A recovery box, which is arranged at the lower side of the support seat and is used to recover the electrospray module dropped from the support seat; A camera is arranged on the bracket and is used to obtain the position of the capillary in the electrospray module.

3. The ionization device based on electrospray technology according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ionization device also includes: A guide rail and a driving unit, the bracket is arranged on the guide rail, and the driving unit is used for driving the bracket to move along the guide rail.

4. The ionization device based on electrospray technology according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving module is a motor fixed on the bracket, and the motor shaft is connected to the second shaft.

5. The ionization device based on electrospray technology according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conductive module comprises: A conductive probe and a conductive sheet, wherein the conductive probe is fixed on the insulating rotating arm, one end of the conductive probe on one side of the rotating arm is wrapped by an insulating member, and the other end of the conductive probe on the other side of the rotating arm is exposed; when the rotating arm rotates, the exposed end of the conductive probe is electrically connected to the electrospray module; and the conductive sheet is connected to the conductive probe.

6. The ionization device based on electrospray technology according to claim 5, characterized in that: The driving member is a bearing.

7. The ionization method of the ionization device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising the following steps: (S1) the conductive module is electrically connected to the electrospray module, the electrospray module works, and the sample is ionized; (S2) the rotating arm rotates in the opposite direction, the driving member rotates in the opposite direction between the first limiting member and the second limiting member, and then pushes the first limiting member and the supporting seat to rotate in the opposite direction, the electrospray module rotates in the opposite direction along with the supporting seat, and then inverts and falls; (S3) the rotating arm rotates forwardly, the driving member rotates forwardly between the first limiting member and the second limiting member, and then drives the second limiting member and the bearing seat to rotate forwardly; (S4) A new electrospray module is placed on the support.

8. The ionization method according to claim 7, characterized in that: In step (S2), the driving member rotates in the reverse direction in the arc-shaped groove or arc-shaped through hole on the bearing seat, and then pushes the end of the arc-shaped groove or arc-shaped through hole to rotate in the reverse direction; In step (S3), the driving member rotates in a positive direction from the end to the other end in the arc-shaped groove or arc-shaped through hole on the bearing seat, and then pushes the other end to rotate in a positive direction.

9. The ionization method according to claim 7, characterized in that: In step (S4), the bearing seat rotates forward to a set position, and the rotating arm rotates reversely; A new electrospray module is placed on the supporting seat, the rotating arm rotates in the positive direction, and the conductive module is electrically connected to the new electrospray module.

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