Winding type ion transmission device based on flexible printed circuit board
By arranging electrode groups on a flexible printed circuit board and applying radio frequency voltage and DC gradient voltage with different phases, a composite electric field is formed, which solves the problems of high cost and low transmission efficiency of traditional ion transport devices, and realizes efficient and stable ion transport and improves the sensitivity of mass spectrometer.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511726489.5
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-11-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-17
AI Technical Summary
In existing mass spectrometry analysis systems, the transmission efficiency of ions from high-pressure regions to high-vacuum regions is low. Ion transmission devices manufactured by traditional metal machining are costly and difficult to achieve batch consistency. Furthermore, traditional rod-type guides are difficult to balance strong radial confinement with low-loss axial transmission under low or medium pressure.
A roll-up ion transport device made of flexible printed circuit board achieves stable ion transport by arranging electrode groups on the flexible printed circuit board and applying radio frequency voltage and DC gradient voltage with different phases to form a radial resonant confinement electric field and an axial DC gradient field.
It achieves efficient ion transport, reduces costs, and improves the sensitivity and transport efficiency of mass spectrometers, making it suitable for portable or miniature mass spectrometry systems.
Smart Images
Figure CN121545985A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of mass spectrometry analysis technology, and more specifically, to a roll-up ion transport device based on a flexible printed circuit board. Background Technology
[0002] In mass spectrometry systems, efficiently transferring ions from a high-pressure (atmospheric pressure or medium vacuum) ion source region to a high-vacuum mass analyzer region is a crucial aspect affecting the overall performance of the instrument. The ion transport device plays a vital role in this process, needing to overcome various challenges such as gas flow impact and ion scattering caused by sudden pressure drops, ensuring stable and low-loss passage of the ion beam. Existing technologies commonly employ ion transport devices including quadrupoles, octupoles, multipoles, stacked ring structures, and ion funnels. However, these devices are typically manufactured using metal machining, resulting in fixed structures, high costs, and difficulties in large-scale fine segmentation of electrodes. Furthermore, under low or medium pressure, the electric field modes of traditional rod-type guides are limited, making it difficult to simultaneously achieve strong radial confinement and low-loss axial transport.
[0003] Flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs) have been widely used in the electronics field in recent years. They have advantages such as easy processing, low cost, high consistency and the ability to be rolled into three-dimensional structures. In the field of mass spectrometry, FPCs have the potential to be used to construct novel ion guides. However, there is currently a lack of technical solutions that utilize the pad electrode groups of flexible printed circuit boards to apply radio frequency voltage and DC gradient voltage, and achieve a composite three-dimensional electric field through winding to efficiently guide ions.
[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a new ion transport device that can achieve stable radio frequency confinement and adjustable DC acceleration through a flexible electrode array, so as to improve ion transport efficiency and mass spectrometer sensitivity. Summary of the Invention
[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a roll-up ion transport device based on a flexible printed circuit board, which not only enables efficient ion transport from a high-pressure ion source to a high-vacuum mass analyzer, but also solves the problems of difficult and costly traditional metal machining and manufacturing, as well as poor batch consistency.
[0006] The present invention adopts the following technical solution: a roll-up ion transport device based on a flexible printed circuit board, comprising a flexible printed circuit board, wherein the flexible printed circuit board is rolled up to form a conical ion transport channel, and a plurality of electrode groups are arranged circumferentially on the rolled flexible printed circuit board, each electrode group comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the ion transport channel, wherein voltages with different phases are applied to the electrode groups to form a radial resonant confined electric field and constitute a continuous axial DC gradient field with decreasing voltage drop along the ion transport direction.
[0007] Furthermore, the voltage applied to the electrode group is a superimposed voltage, which is formed by superimposing a radio frequency voltage source and a DC voltage source; Furthermore, the amplitude of the radio frequency voltage applied through the radio frequency voltage source is 0~1000V, and the frequency of the radio frequency voltage is 0.5MHz~10MHz; Furthermore, the phase difference between the radio frequency voltages applied by the radio frequency voltage source to the two adjacent sets of electrodes is 180° to form a radial resonant bound electric field. Furthermore, the electrodes located on the same ring direction on the outer periphery of the ion transport channel are subjected to the same DC voltage by the DC voltage source, while the electrodes on different ring directions are subjected to a decreasing DC voltage by the DC voltage source along the ion transport direction. Furthermore, the voltage difference between the DC voltage applied at the inlet side of the ion transport channel and the DC voltage applied at the outlet side of the ion transport channel is 0~3000V; Furthermore, the electrode group is provided with four groups, namely a first electrode group, a second electrode group, a third electrode group, and a fourth electrode group. The first electrode group, the second electrode group, the third electrode group, and the fourth electrode group are arranged circumferentially on the wound flexible printed circuit board. The electrodes on the first electrode group, the second electrode group, the third electrode group, and the fourth electrode group are arranged at equal intervals. Furthermore, the electrode is a metal pad printed on the surface of the flexible printed circuit board; Furthermore, the inlet radius of the ion transport channel is 5mm~100mm and the outlet radius is 0.5mm~100mm; Furthermore, the electrodes located on the same circumferential direction outside the ion transport channel have the same structural dimensions, while the structural dimensions of the electrodes in different circumferential directions decrease sequentially along the ion transport direction.
[0008] This invention has the following significant beneficial effects: (1) The structure can be customized and wound into arbitrary curvature, suitable for portable or micro mass spectrometry systems; the flexible printed circuit board is easy to process and assemble, with high processing accuracy, and can be segmented into fine electrodes on a large scale, with a cost significantly lower than that of metal electrode guides. (2) The radio frequency electric field generates strong radial focusing, which effectively confines ions in the central region; the DC gradient provides axial acceleration, forming a low-loss unidirectional transmission channel; (3) The ion transport throughput is significantly improved, making it suitable for weak signal and trace analysis and improving instrument sensitivity. Attached Figure Description
[0009] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the electrode arrangement structure on the flexible printed circuit board laid flat in this invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the wound ion transport device of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a SIMION model diagram of the wound ion transport device of the present invention; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Potential diagram of section AA; Figure 5 for Figure 3 Potential diagram of the middle BB section; Figure 6 for Figure 3 Potential diagram of the middle CC section; Figure 7 for Figure 3 DC potential diagram of the central section of XZ; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the SIMION ion orbital simulation results of the present invention. Detailed Implementation
[0010] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the present invention discloses a roll-up ion transport device based on a flexible printed circuit board, comprising a flexible printed circuit board 0. The flexible printed circuit board 0 is rolled up to form a conical ion transport channel. Utilizing the bendability of the flexible printed circuit board 0, a conical three-dimensional structure with different inlet and outlet radii can be formed by rolling. The inlet radius of the ion transport channel is 5mm~100mm, and the outlet radius is 0.5mm~100mm. Several sets of electrode groups are arranged circumferentially on the rolled flexible printed circuit board 0, and each set of electrode groups includes multiple electrodes along the axis of the ion transport channel. The electrodes are arranged sequentially, and the electrodes are metal pads printed on the surface of a flexible printed circuit board. These equally spaced pads serve as electrodes for ion guidance or focusing. A voltage with a different phase is applied to the electrode group to form a radial resonant confinement electric field and to form a continuous axial DC gradient field with a decreasing voltage drop along the ion transport direction. Furthermore, the voltage applied to the electrode group is a superimposed voltage, which is formed by superimposing an RF voltage source and a DC voltage source. The RF voltage applied by the RF voltage source has an amplitude of 0~1000V and a frequency of 0.5MHz~10MHz.
[0011] The phase difference between the radio frequency voltages applied by the radio frequency voltage source to the two adjacent sets of electrodes is 180°, so as to form a radial resonant bound electric field.
[0012] Electrodes on the same ring direction located on the outer periphery of the ion transport channel are subjected to the same DC voltage by a DC voltage source. Electrodes on different ring directions are subjected to DC voltages that decrease sequentially in a step-like manner along the ion transport direction, forming a continuous and smooth potential gradient to guide ions to transport towards the ion transport channel outlet.
[0013] The electrodes on the same ring direction located on the outer periphery of the ion transport channel have the same structural dimensions. The structural dimensions of electrodes on different ring directions decrease in a stepwise manner along the ion transport direction. That is, the length and width dimensions of electrodes 11, 21, 31, and 41 are the same, the length and width dimensions of electrodes 12, 22, 32, and 42 are the same, and the length and width dimensions of the remaining electrodes are set according to the above rules. However, the length and width dimensions of electrodes 12, 22, 32, and 42 are gradually smaller than those of electrodes 11, 21, 31, and 41. This is to ensure that the flexible printed circuit board 0 can be bent into a cone shape. The voltage difference between the DC voltage applied at the entrance side of the ion transport channel and the DC voltage applied at the exit side of the ion transport channel is 0~3000V.
[0014] The present invention utilizes the above-mentioned structural design, namely, the radio frequency electric field generates radial focusing and the DC gradient electric field provides axial thrust, and the two work together to construct a three-dimensional stable ion transport path.
[0015] Specifically, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, during assembly, the flexible printed circuit board 0 is wound into a cone shape along its long side, so that the rows of electrodes form a coaxial conical cylinder structure. After the flexible printed circuit board 0 is wound, the first electrode group 1 is located in a certain angle range of the cone cylinder; the second electrode group 2, the third electrode group 3, and the fourth electrode group 4 are located at different positions around the circumference of the cone cylinder; the original planar array grid structure forms a coaxial electrode ring with equal spacing; furthermore, the electrode group is provided in four groups, namely the first electrode group 1, the second electrode group 2, the third electrode group 3, and the fourth electrode group 4, which are arranged circumferentially on the winding. On the flexible printed circuit board 0, the electrodes of the first electrode group 1, the second electrode group 2, the third electrode group 3, and the fourth electrode group 4 are arranged at equal intervals; that is, the first electrode group 1 includes electrodes 11 to 18; the second electrode group 2 includes electrodes 21 to 28; the third electrode group 3 includes electrodes 31 to 38; and the fourth electrode group 4 includes electrodes 41 to 48. The first electrode group 1 and the third electrode group 3 are arranged correspondingly, and the second electrode group 2 and the fourth electrode group 4 are arranged correspondingly. The first electrode group 1, the second electrode group 2, the third electrode group 3, and the fourth electrode group 4 are arranged in a grid pattern on the flexible printed circuit board 0 to form an electrode array for flexible winding. In the electrode array, the radio frequency voltage applied to the electrodes in the first electrode group 1 and the third electrode group 3 through the radio frequency voltage source is +V_RF, that is, the radio frequency voltage on electrodes 11~18 and electrodes 31~38 is +V_RF; the radio frequency voltage applied to the electrodes in the second electrode group 2 and the fourth electrode group 4 through the radio frequency voltage source is -V_RF, that is, the radio frequency voltage on electrodes 21~28 and electrodes 41~48 is -V_RF; this method of alternately applying radio frequency voltages of opposite phases can form a radial radio frequency pseudo-potential well in the cross section perpendicular to the ion transport direction, which is used to provide radial binding force for gas phase ions; In addition to the radio frequency voltage, a DC voltage is also applied to the electrodes on the first electrode group 1, the second electrode group 2, the third electrode group 3, and the fourth electrode group 4. That is, the same DC voltage DC_1 is applied to electrodes 11, 21, 31, and 41; The same DC voltage DC_2 is applied to electrodes 12, 22, 32, and 42; The same DC voltage DC_3 is applied to electrodes 13, 23, 33, and 43. Electrodes 14, 24, 34, and 44 are all subjected to the same DC voltage DC_4; The same DC voltage DC_5 is applied to electrodes 15, 25, 35, and 45. The same DC voltage DC_6 is applied to electrodes 16, 26, 36, and 46. The same DC voltage DC_7 is applied to electrodes 17, 27, 37, and 47. The same DC voltage DC_8 is applied to electrodes 18, 28, 38, and 48. Among them, DC_1>DC_2>DC_3>DC_4>DC_5>DC_6>DC_7>DC_8, thus forming a DC gradient potential decrease along the axis. This DC gradient generates a thrust that drives the ions forward, enabling the ions to be stably transported along the axis under radio frequency confinement. The difference between DC voltage DC_1 and DC voltage DC_8 is in the range of 0V-3000V.
[0016] like Figures 3-8 As shown, this invention achieves highly efficient ion focusing: Figure 3 This is an electrode modeling diagram of the ion transport device of the present invention in SIMION. Due to the difference between the radio frequency voltage +V_RF and the radio frequency voltage in the conical structure... V_RF is distributed in an alternating pattern with different phase differences to form a stable quadrupole radio frequency field, which causes ions to form pseudo-potential binding in the radial direction, preventing ions from contacting the inner wall and effectively reducing ion loss. like Figures 4-6 As shown, Figure 3The potential diagrams of the AA, BB, and CC sections form a stable quadrupole radio frequency field, confining ions within the quadrupole field. Due to the conical structure of the device, the range of ion activity decreases as the quadrupole field shrinks from the AA section to the BB section and then to the CC section, ultimately achieving effective focusing of ions over a wide area. like Figure 7 As shown, after the flexible printed circuit board 0 is wound, the corresponding DC electrodes still maintain the same axial order. Therefore, the applied DC voltages DC_1 to DC_8 form a DC potential slope that decreases along the ion transport direction (from left to right, the DC potential decreases). Driven by this potential slope, the ions are continuously accelerated along the axial direction and are simultaneously confined to the central region by the radio frequency field, forming a "quasi-coaxial focused transport mode". like Figure 8 The diagram shows the SIMION ion orbital simulation results. Specifically, 5 represents the inlet of the ion transport channel, 6 represents the outlet of the ion transport channel, and 7 represents the ion trajectory. The simulation conditions are set as follows: the diameter of the inlet of the ion transport channel is 30 mm, and the diameter of the outlet of the ion transport channel is 4 mm. The applied radio frequency voltage amplitude is 200V on the electrodes (i.e., electrodes 11-18 and electrodes 31-38) in the first electrode group 1 and the third electrode group 3, and the applied radio frequency voltage amplitude is -200V on the electrodes (i.e., electrodes 21-28 and electrodes 41-48) in the second electrode group 2 and the fourth electrode group 4. The radio frequency frequency is 2 MHz, the simulated gas pressure is 200Pa, the DC voltage DC_1 is 200V, the DC voltage DC_8 is 0V, and the DC voltages DC_2 to DC_7 are linear interpolations of the DC voltages DC_1 and DC voltage DC_8.
[0017] When the ions to be analyzed enter from inlet 5 of the ion transport channel, the following can be achieved: 1. RF electrodes provide strong radial constraint: +V_RF and V_RF forms a quadrupole field, which confines the movement of ions within the central region of the cross section; 2. The axial DC gradient provides the driving force: Ions migrate step by step from the high potential DC_1 region to the low potential DC_8 region, forming an effective driving force; 3. Ions are focused and transported in a stable radio frequency-DC complex field: Ions are simultaneously subjected to lateral confinement and longitudinal acceleration, thus enabling them to pass through the device with high transmission efficiency and finally exit from the outlet 6 of the ion transport channel. 4. The initial ion cluster diameter is 16 mm. After passing through the ion transport device of the present invention, the final ion cluster diameter exiting the outlet 6 of the ion transport channel is 1 mm, which realizes the efficient focusing of ions. That is, the ions gradually shrink from a large range to a very small range, which shows the efficient focusing effect of the ion transport device of the present invention, thereby improving the ion transport efficiency.
[0018] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.
[0019] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.
Claims
1. A flexible printed circuit board based wound ion transport device, characterized by: The invention includes a flexible printed circuit board, which is wound to form a conical ion transport channel. Several sets of electrode groups are arranged circumferentially on the wound flexible printed circuit board. Each set of electrode groups includes multiple electrodes arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the ion transport channel. Voltages with different phases are applied to the electrode groups to form a radial resonant confinement electric field and to form a continuous axial DC gradient field with decreasing voltage drop along the ion transport direction.
2. A flexible printed circuit board based wound ion transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The voltage applied to the electrode group is a superimposed voltage, which is formed by superimposing a radio frequency voltage source and a DC voltage source.
3. A flexible printed circuit board based wound ion transport device according to claim 2, wherein: The radio frequency voltage applied by the radio frequency voltage source has an amplitude of 0~1000V and a frequency of 0.5MHz~10MHz.
4. A flexible printed circuit board based wound ion transport device according to claim 2, wherein: The phase difference between the radio frequency voltages applied by the radio frequency voltage source to the two adjacent sets of electrodes is 180°, so as to form a radial resonant bound electric field.
5. A flexible printed circuit board based wound ion transport device according to claim 2, wherein: The electrodes located on the same ring direction on the outer periphery of the ion transport channel are subjected to the same DC voltage by the DC voltage source, while the electrodes on different ring directions are subjected to a decreasing DC voltage by the DC voltage source along the ion transport direction.
6. The roll-up ion transport device based on a flexible printed circuit board according to claim 5, characterized in that: The voltage difference between the DC voltage applied at the inlet side of the ion transport channel and the DC voltage applied at the outlet side of the ion transport channel is 0~3000V.
7. A roll-up ion transport device based on a flexible printed circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrode group is provided in four groups, namely the first electrode group, the second electrode group, the third electrode group, and the fourth electrode group. The first electrode group, the second electrode group, the third electrode group, and the fourth electrode group are arranged circumferentially on the wound flexible printed circuit board. The electrodes on the first electrode group, the second electrode group, the third electrode group, and the fourth electrode group are arranged at equal intervals.
8. A roll-up ion transport device based on a flexible printed circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrode is a metal pad printed on the surface of the flexible printed circuit board.
9. A roll-up ion transport device based on a flexible printed circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ion transport channel has an inlet radius of 5mm to 100mm and an outlet radius of 0.5mm to 100mm.
10. A roll-up ion transport device based on a flexible printed circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrodes located on the same ring direction on the outer periphery of the ion transport channel have the same structural dimensions, while the structural dimensions of the electrodes on different ring directions decrease sequentially along the ion transport direction.