Ion source device for mass spectrometer

Abstract

The invention discloses an ion source device for a mass spectrometer. The ion source device comprises a shell, an ionization chamber is formed in the shell, a three-axis moving platform capable of moving in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction is arranged in the shell, a liquid phase sample carrier is arranged on the three-axis moving platform, and an air injection piece is arranged on one side of the three-axis moving platform. The housing is provided with a docking port and an operation port which are communicated with the ionization chamber. The shell is detachably connected to the mass spectrometer panel through the quick release assembly, so that the sample inlet of the mass spectrometer is matched with the butt joint port on the shell; the three-axis moving platform is moved through the operation opening, so that the position of the liquid phase sample carrier is adjusted in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction, and the liquid phase sample carrier is made to be opposite to the mass spectrometer sample inlet; the position of a liquid phase sample carrier can be adjusted, and it is guaranteed that charged ions enter a mass spectrometer; and pollutants near the sample inlet of the mass spectrometer are effectively removed through the air injection piece, so that the detection precision is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of ion source devices, and in particular to an ion source device for a mass spectrometer. Background Art

[0002] The ion source device is the core equipment that converts neutral substances into ions and forms ion beams through ionization technology. It is currently the most commonly used connecting device for liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.

[0003] The Chinese patent with patent number CN202311377547.9 discloses a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry instrument containing an electrospray ion source device, wherein the electrospray ion source device includes a disk atomizer, a ring electrode group and a repeller electrode, wherein the disk atomizer can generate multiple Taylor cone structures by controlling the voltage intensity, greatly improving the atomization charging effect; at the same time, it is compatible with a larger flow rate, and when the voltage is increased, it can improve the atomization charging effect of the compound at a high flow rate; an annular electrode is applied under the spray needle to converge and focus the charged particles diffused by the spray; finally, an electrode is set on the opposite side of the ion inlet to push the charged compound from the ion inlet into the vacuum chamber, increasing the number of ions that can be analyzed and significantly improving the mass spectrometry sensitivity, which also provides technical support and new ideas for improving the sensitivity of the mass spectrometer and has good application prospects.

[0004] In the above patent, the charged ions need to pass through the conical hole on the conical plate to enter the mass spectrometer for detection, while the disk atomizer and the annular electrode are fixed and cannot be adjusted in position. Although the charged ions can be focused by the annular electrode, there is an axial deviation between the focusing point and the conical hole, resulting in the actual movement path of the charged ions being non-coaxial with the axis of the conical hole. Some charged ions cannot enter the mass spectrometer from the conical hole, thereby reducing the detection accuracy. Moreover, there are contaminants near the conical hole of the conical plate. When the contaminants and charged ions enter the mass spectrometer together, the detection accuracy will also be reduced. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an ion source device for a mass spectrometer, which can adjust the movement path of charged ions and remove pollutants near the mass spectrometer inlet, thereby improving detection accuracy.

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions: An ion source device for a mass spectrometer comprises a housing forming an ionization chamber therein, the housing being provided with a three-axis movable platform movable along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, a liquid sample carrier disposed on the three-axis movable platform, and an injection member disposed on one side of the three-axis movable platform; the housing being provided with a docking port and an operation port communicating with the ionization chamber; the housing being detachably connected to a mass spectrometer panel via a quick-release assembly, such that a mass spectrometer inlet cooperates with the docking port on the housing; the three-axis movable platform being moved via the operation port to adjust the position of the liquid sample carrier along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, such that the liquid sample carrier is opposite the mass spectrometer inlet.

[0007] On the basis of the above technical solution, the present invention can be improved as follows: Furthermore, the quick-release assembly includes a positioning post and a card slot fixedly arranged on the mass spectrometer panel, and a positioning hole and a hook arranged on the outer shell; the positioning post on the mass spectrometer and the positioning hole on the outer shell cooperate with each other to position the outer shell on the mass spectrometer panel, so that the mass spectrometer inlet cooperates with the docking port on the outer shell; at the same time, the card block and the hook snap together to lock the outer shell positioned on the mass spectrometer.

[0008] Furthermore, there are at least two positioning posts, which are arranged at equal intervals around the mass spectrometer inlet on the mass spectrometer panel. Correspondingly, there are at least two positioning holes, which are arranged at equal intervals around the docking port on the outer shell; the positioning posts and the positioning holes correspond to each other one by one.

[0009] Furthermore, a slide groove is provided on the shell, one end of the slide groove is connected to the side of the shell to form an opening; the hook includes a connecting part and a hook part arranged at one end of the connecting part; the connecting part of the hook is slidably installed in the slide groove on the shell, the hook part extends out of the slide groove through the notch of the slide groove, and a blocking cover is provided at the opening; the hook part is provided with a wedge-shaped surface at one end away from the connecting part; the connecting part of the hook is provided with a pressing rod at one end away from the hook part, the pressing rod extends through the blocking cover, and a corresponding through hole is provided on the blocking cover; a spring is provided between one end of the connecting part at the hook part and the groove wall of the slide groove, and the spring is used to generate elastic force to drive the hook part and the slot to maintain mutual snap fit.

[0010] Furthermore, an insulating bracket is provided on the three-axis movable platform, and a conductive clamp is provided on the insulating bracket. The conductive clamp is used to clamp the liquid sample carrier, and the conductive clamp is connected to the high-voltage power supply interface provided on the mass spectrometer through a wire.

[0011] Furthermore, the insulating bracket is an elongated plastic plate, one end of the elongated plastic plate is fixed on the three-axis movable platform, and the other end of the elongated plastic plate extends toward the mass spectrometer inlet.

[0012] Furthermore, the conductive clamping piece is an alligator clip, which has two openable and closable clamping arms and a torsion spring connected between one end of the two clamping arms, which provides elastic force to drive the other ends of the two clamping arms to merge with each other; the alligator clip is fixedly mounted on the extended end of the elongated plastic plate; the alligator clip is connected to the high-voltage power supply interface provided on the mass spectrometer through a wire, and an avoidance hole for the wire to pass through is provided on the outer shell.

[0013] Furthermore, the liquid sample carrier is an elongated rod, one end of which is a clamping end and is fixed to the elongated plastic plate by an alligator clip, and the other end of the elongated rod is a loading end. The elongated rod is provided with a liquid absorption part at the loading end, and the liquid absorption part is used to absorb the liquid sample to be tested.

[0014] Furthermore, the jet component is a universal nozzle, one end of which is an air outlet and is provided with a nozzle, and the other end of the universal nozzle is an air inlet and is provided with an air valve. The air valve is fixedly mounted on the bottom plate of the shell, and the air valve is connected to an external air supply device through a hose. A through hole is opened on the shell for the hose to pass through.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the technology of the present invention has the following advantages: The present invention includes a shell, in which a three-axis movable platform is arranged, so as to facilitate the adjustment of the position of a liquid sample carrier along the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis directions respectively, so that the liquid sample carrier is opposite to the mass spectrometer inlet, ensuring that the movement path of the charged ions is coaxial with the axis of the mass spectrometer inlet, so that more charged ions can enter the mass spectrometer for detection; and an air jet component is arranged on one side of the three-axis movable platform to effectively remove pollutants near the mass spectrometer inlet, thereby improving detection accuracy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of an ion source device used in a mass spectrometer in an embodiment; Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the rear end structure of the ion source device after the top plate, rear side plate and left side plate are removed in the embodiment; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the front end structure of the ion source device after the top plate, rear side plate, and left side plate are removed in the embodiment; Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the three-axis mobile platform in the embodiment.

[0017] Markings in the accompanying drawings: 1-housing, 101-top plate, 102-bottom plate, 103-front side plate, 104-rear side plate, 105-left side plate, 106-right side plate, 2-three-axis moving platform, 201-base plate, 202-X-axis moving plate, 203-Y-axis moving plate, 204-Z-axis moving plate, 205-first operating handle, 206-second operating handle, 207-third operating handle, 3-liquid sample carrier, 4-docking port, 5-operating port, 6-mass spectrometer inlet, 7-shell cover, 8-positioning column, 9-card slot, 10-positioning hole, 11-hook, 11a-connecting part, 11b-hook, 12-slide groove, 13-spring, 14-pressure rod, 15-high voltage power supply interface, 16-long plastic plate, 17-crocodile clip, 18-universal nozzle, 19-air valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The following further describes the specific embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The description of these embodiments is used to help understand the present invention, but does not constitute a limitation of the present invention. In addition, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0019] See also Figures 1 to 4 The present embodiment relates to an ion source device for a mass spectrometer, comprising a shell 1, in which a three-axis movable platform 2 movable along the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis directions is provided, a liquid sample carrier 3 provided on the three-axis movable platform 2, and an air jet component provided on one side of the three-axis movable platform 2; an ionization chamber is formed inside the shell 1, and a docking port 4 and an operation port 5 communicating with the ionization chamber are provided on the shell 1; the shell 1 is detachably connected to the mass spectrometer panel through a quick-release assembly, so that the mass spectrometer inlet 6 cooperates with the docking port 4 on the shell 1; the three-axis movable platform 2 is moved through the operation port 5 to adjust the position of the liquid sample carrier 3 along the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis directions respectively, so that the liquid sample carrier 3 is opposite to the mass spectrometer inlet 6; the air jet component removes pollutants near the mass spectrometer inlet 6 by jetting to improve detection accuracy.

[0020] Specifically, the shell 1 is a rectangular shell structure made of a transparent material, such as organic glass, so that the operator can observe the position of the liquid sample inside the shell 1 and move the three-axis movable platform 2 for adjustment, and it is convenient to observe the ionization of the liquid sample in the ionization chamber inside the shell 1; the shell 1 includes a top plate 101, a bottom plate 102, a front side plate 103, a rear side plate 104, a left side plate 105 and a right side plate 106, wherein the top plate 101 and the bottom plate 102 are opposite to each other up and down, the front side plate 103 and the rear side plate 104 are opposite to each other front and back, and the left side plate 105 and the right side plate 106 are opposite to each other left and right; the shell 1 has an operation port 5 on the top plate 101, and the three-axis movable platform 2 and the jet component are installed in the shell 1 through the operation port 5. The operator can move the three-axis movable platform 2 through the operation port 5 to complete the adjustment of the position of the liquid sample; a shell cover 7 is rotatably connected to the operation port 5 by a hinge, and the shell cover 7 is used to close the operation port 5 to reduce external pollution from entering the shell 1.

[0021] The shell 1 has a docking port 4 on the rear side plate 104, which is circular and corresponds to the mass spectrometer inlet 6; the rear side plate 104 of the shell 1 is detachably connected to the mass spectrometer panel at the docking port 4 through a quick-release assembly; the quick-release assembly includes a positioning column 8 and a card slot 9 fixed on the mass spectrometer panel, and a positioning hole 10 and a hook 11 provided on the rear side plate 104 of the shell 1; the positioning column 8 on the mass spectrometer and the positioning hole 10 on the shell 1 cooperate with each other to position the shell 1 on the mass spectrometer panel, so that the mass spectrometer inlet 6 cooperates with the docking port 4 on the shell 1; at the same time, the card block and the hook 11 snap together to lock the shell 1 positioned and installed on the mass spectrometer.

[0022] In this embodiment, four positioning columns 8 are provided, and the four positioning columns 8 are arranged at equal intervals around the mass spectrometer inlet 6 on the mass spectrometer panel, and the positioning columns 8 are cylindrical main structures; accordingly, four positioning holes 10 are provided, and the four positioning holes 10 are arranged at equal intervals around the docking port 4 on the rear side plate 104 of the outer shell 1; the positioning columns 8 and the positioning holes 10 correspond to each other one by one and cooperate with each other to position the outer shell 1 and install it on the mass spectrometer.

[0023] In this embodiment, two card slots 9 are provided, and the two card slots 9 are located on opposite sides of the mass spectrometer inlet 6; accordingly, two card hooks 11 are provided, and the two card hooks 11 are located on opposite sides of the docking port 4; the card block and the card hook 11 correspond to each other and snap fit together to lock the housing 1 positioned and installed on the mass spectrometer.

[0024] The housing 1 is provided with a slide groove 12 on the outer surface of the rear side plate 104, and one end of the slide groove 12 is connected to the side surface of the rear side plate 104 of the housing 1 to form an opening; the hook 11 includes a connecting portion 11a and a hook portion 11b provided at one end of the connecting portion 11a; the connecting portion 11a of the hook 11 is slidably installed in the slide groove 12 on the housing 1, and the hook portion 11b extends out of the slide groove 12 through the notch of the slide groove 12, and a blocking cover is provided at the opening of the rear side plate 104 to prevent the hook 11 from escaping from the slide groove 12; the hook portion 11b is provided with a wedge-shaped surface at the end away from the connecting portion 11a to facilitate guiding the hook portion 11b to be clamped into the card slot 9; the connecting portion 11a of the hook 11 is provided with a pressing rod 14 at the end away from the hook portion 11b, A pressure rod 14 extends through the barrier cover for the operator to press, and a corresponding through hole is provided on the barrier cover; a spring 13 is provided between one end of the connecting part 11a at the hook part 11b and the groove wall of the slide groove 12, and the spring 13 is used to generate elastic force to drive the hook part 11b and the card slot 9 to maintain mutual snap fit; when the pressing rod 14 is pressed, the hook 11 is driven to slide along the slide groove 12 toward the direction away from the opening, and the spring 13 is compressed to generate elastic force, driving the hook part 11b on the hook 11 to separate from the card slot 9, so as to facilitate the removal of the ion source from the mass spectrometer panel; when the pressing rod 14 is released, under the action of the elastic force of the spring 13, the hook 11 is driven to slide along the slide groove 12 toward the direction close to the opening, driving the hook part 11b on the hook 11 to reset.

[0025] The three-axis mobile platform 2 is a mobile platform in the prior art, comprising a base plate 201 fixedly mounted on the bottom plate 102 of the housing 1, an X-axis moving plate 202 arranged on the base plate 201 and movable along the X-axis, a Y-axis moving plate 203 arranged on the X-axis moving plate 202 and movable along the Y-axis, and a Z-axis moving plate 204 arranged on the Y-axis moving plate 203 and movable along the Z-axis; a first guide rail structure parallel to the X-axis is arranged between the base plate 201 and the X-axis moving plate 202, and a driving mechanism for driving the X-axis moving plate 202 to move along the first guide rail structure. A first operating handle 205; a second guide rail structure parallel to the Y axis is provided between the X-axis and Y-axis moving plates 203, and a second operating handle 206 for driving the Y-axis moving plate 203 to move along the second guide rail structure; a third guide rail structure parallel to the Z axis is provided between the Y-axis and Z-axis moving plates 204, and a third operating handle 207 for driving the Z-axis moving plate 204 to move along the third guide rail structure; by respectively screwing the three operating handles, the three-axis moving platform 2 is moved and adjusted so that the liquid sample carrier 3 is opposite to the mass spectrometer inlet 6.

[0026] An insulating bracket is provided on the Z-axis movable plate 204, and a conductive clamp is provided on the insulating bracket. The conductive clamp is used to clamp the liquid sample carrier 3. The conductive clamp is connected to the high-voltage power supply interface 15 provided on the mass spectrometer through a wire so that the clamped liquid sample carrier 3 is charged and electrospray ionization is formed at the mass spectrometer inlet 6.

[0027] The insulating bracket is an elongated plastic plate 16, one end of which is fixed to the Z-axis movable plate 204, and the other end of which extends toward the mass spectrometer inlet 6; the conductive clamping member is an alligator clip 17 in the prior art, which has two openable and closable clamping arms and a torsion spring (not shown in the figure) connected between one end of the two clamping arms. The torsion spring provides elastic force to drive the other ends of the two clamping arms to merge with each other, forming a carrier for clamping a liquid sample between the merged ends of the two clamping arms. 3; the crocodile clip 17 is fixedly mounted on the extended end of the elongated plastic plate 16; the crocodile clip 17 is connected to the high-voltage power supply interface 15 provided on the mass spectrometer through a wire, and the housing 1 is provided with an avoidance hole for the wire to pass through on the rear side plate 104; when a high-voltage alternating current is applied, an alternating electric field is formed between the crocodile clip 17 and the mass spectrometer inlet 6, inducing the liquid sample to be tested on the clamped liquid sample carrier 3 to generate electrospray and ionize, and the ionized analyte is ejected into the mass spectrometer inlet 6.

[0028] The liquid sample carrier 3 is an elongated rod, one end of which is a clamping end and is fixed to the elongated plastic plate 16 by an alligator clip 17, and the other end of the elongated rod is a load end. The elongated rod is provided with a liquid absorption part at the load end, and the liquid absorption part is used to absorb the liquid sample to be tested; preferably, the elongated rod adopts a cotton swab in the prior art, and the cotton swab head is wrapped with cotton to form a cone shape as the liquid absorption part. Since the cotton swab head on the cotton swab is not easy to deform after absorbing the liquid sample to be tested, the size, shape and direction of the electrospray generated during the Coulomb explosion are stable and controllable; each cotton swab absorbs a liquid sample to be tested, the cotton swab is disposable and cannot be reused to avoid mutual contamination between samples, and after the test is completed, the cotton swab is removed as a whole and replaced with a new one without cleaning, which effectively saves detection time and improves detection efficiency.

[0029] The ion source device in this embodiment is mainly suitable for the following detection objects: When testing for drug content in sewage, the cotton swab head is directly immersed in the sewage; When testing the drug content in hair, the hair can be ground and then ultrasonically extracted with methanol, and the cotton swab head can be soaked in the extracted methanol; When testing the drug content in the blood, the blood can be left to stand or centrifuged to obtain the upper serum, and the cotton swab head can be soaked in the serum; When detecting drug residues on the surface of environmental media, the extracted residues can be dissolved in methanol, and the cotton swab head can be soaked in the methanol after the residues are dissolved.

[0030] In addition to the above-mentioned main detection objects, the ion source device in this embodiment can also be applied to other non-main detection objects.

[0031] It should be noted that the distance between the liquid suction part of the elongated rod and the mass spectrometer inlet 6 should be controlled within an appropriate range to avoid contamination of the mass spectrometer inlet 6 due to being too close, and to avoid the signal not reaching the optimal level due to being too far away; preferably, in this embodiment, the distance between the liquid suction part of the elongated rod and the mass spectrometer inlet 6 is 4mm~6mm.

[0032] The jetting element is a conventional universal nozzle 18. One end of the universal nozzle 18 is an outlet end and is provided with a nozzle. The other end of the universal nozzle 18 is an inlet end and is provided with an air valve 19. The air valve 19 is fixedly mounted on the bottom plate 102 of the housing 1 and is connected to an external air supply device (not shown) via a hose. The housing 1 has a through hole for the hose to pass through on the left side plate 105. The external air supply device includes a gas storage tank, an air pump, and a gas filter connected in sequence. The gas storage tank is filled with an inert gas, which is pressurized by the air pump and filtered by the gas filter before being transported to the universal nozzle 18 and ejected from the nozzle to remove contaminants near the mass spectrometer inlet 6 to improve detection accuracy. The position and angle of the nozzle can be arbitrarily adjusted through the universal nozzle 18, and the gas flow rate entering the universal nozzle 18 can be manually adjusted through the air valve 19. The gas filter can filter contaminants in the inert gas. In this embodiment, the inert gas is nitrogen, helium, neon, or argon.

[0033] The above embodiments of the present invention are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention, and the implementation methods of the present invention are not limited thereto. All other modifications, replacements or changes made to the above structures of the present invention based on the above contents of the present invention, in accordance with common technical knowledge and customary means in this field, without departing from the above basic technical ideas of the present invention, should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ion source device for a mass spectrometer, characterized in that, The invention comprises a shell with an ionization chamber formed therein, wherein a three-axis movable platform movable along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis is provided in the shell, a liquid sample carrier is provided on the three-axis movable platform, and an injection component is provided on one side of the three-axis movable platform; a docking port and an operation port connected to the ionization chamber are provided on the shell; the shell is detachably connected to the mass spectrometer panel through a quick-release assembly so that the mass spectrometer inlet cooperates with the docking port on the shell; the three-axis movable platform is moved through the operation port to adjust the position of the liquid sample carrier along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions respectively, so that the liquid sample carrier is opposite to the mass spectrometer inlet.

2. The ion source device for a mass spectrometer according to claim 1, characterized in that The quick-release assembly includes a positioning post and a card slot fixedly arranged on the mass spectrometer panel, and a positioning hole and a hook arranged on the shell; the positioning post on the mass spectrometer and the positioning hole on the shell cooperate with each other to position the shell on the mass spectrometer panel, so that the mass spectrometer inlet cooperates with the docking port on the shell; at the same time, the card block and the hook engage with each other to lock the shell positioned on the mass spectrometer.

3. The ion source device for a mass spectrometer according to claim 2, characterized in that: There are at least two positioning posts, which are arranged at equal intervals around the mass spectrometer inlet on the mass spectrometer panel. Correspondingly, there are at least two positioning holes, which are arranged at equal intervals around the docking port on the outer shell; the positioning posts and the positioning holes correspond to each other one by one.

4. The ion source device for a mass spectrometer according to claim 3, characterized in that: A slide groove is provided on the shell, and one end of the slide groove is connected to the side of the shell to form an opening; the hook includes a connecting part and a hook part arranged at one end of the connecting part; the connecting part of the hook is slidably installed in the slide groove on the shell, and the hook part extends out of the slide groove through the notch of the slide groove, and a blocking cover is provided at the opening; the hook part is provided with a wedge-shaped surface at one end away from the connecting part; the connecting part of the hook is provided with a pressing rod at one end away from the hook part, and the pressing rod extends through the blocking cover, and a corresponding through hole is provided on the blocking cover; a spring is provided between one end of the connecting part at the hook part and the groove wall of the slide groove, and the spring is used to generate elastic force to drive the hook part and the slot to maintain mutual snap fit.

5. The ion source device for a mass spectrometer according to claim 4, characterized in that: The three-axis movable platform is provided with an insulating bracket, and the insulating bracket is provided with a conductive clamping piece. The conductive clamping piece is used to clamp the liquid sample carrier, and the conductive clamping piece is connected to the high-voltage power supply interface provided on the mass spectrometer through a wire.

6. The ion source device for a mass spectrometer according to claim 5, characterized in that: The insulating bracket is a long plastic plate, one end of which is fixed on the three-axis movable platform, and the other end of which extends toward the mass spectrometer inlet.

7. The ion source device for a mass spectrometer according to claim 6, characterized in that: The conductive clamping piece is an alligator clip, which has two openable and closable clamping arms and a torsion spring connected between one end of the two clamping arms. The torsion spring provides elastic force to drive the other ends of the two clamping arms to merge with each other. The alligator clip is fixedly mounted on the extended end of the long plastic plate. The alligator clip is connected to the high-voltage power supply interface provided on the mass spectrometer through a wire, and an avoidance hole for the wire to pass through is opened on the shell.

8. The ion source device for a mass spectrometer according to claim 7, characterized in that: The liquid sample carrier is a long rod, one end of which is a clamping end and is fixed to a long plastic plate by an alligator clip, and the other end of which is a loading end. The long rod is provided with a liquid suction part at the loading end, which is used to absorb the liquid sample to be tested.

9. The ion source device for a mass spectrometer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The jet component is a universal nozzle, one end of which is an air outlet and is provided with a nozzle, and the other end of the universal nozzle is an air inlet and is provided with an air valve. The air valve is fixedly mounted on the bottom plate of the shell, and the air valve is connected to an external air supply device through a hose. A through hole is opened on the shell for the hose to pass through.

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