Accumulation Ion Trap for Mass Spectrometer Data Acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mass spectrometers face challenges in achieving high data acquisition rates without compromising other performance characteristics like mass resolution and duty cycle, often resulting in increased cycle times and loss of measurement precision.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an accumulation ion trap system that sequentially transmits ions of selected mass ranges into multiple downstream ion traps, allowing for simultaneous processing and detection across a range of mass-to-charge ratios, thereby improving data acquisition rates while maintaining or enhancing mass resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the scan rate is increased to improve data acquisition rate, then productivity is improved, but mass resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mass spectrum range is segmented into multiple discrete mass ranges, with each range assigned to a separate ion trap. This allows parallel processing of different mass ranges simultaneously, increasing data acquisition rate without requiring faster scanning that would compromise mass resolution. Each ion trap operates independently within its assigned mass range, maintaining optimal resolution while enabling concurrent analysis across the full mass spectrum.
2Manufacturing precision
If the scan rate is decreased to improve mass resolution, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of scanning the entire mass range sequentially at slow rates, the system segments the mass spectrum into multiple ranges handled by parallel ion traps. Each trap performs slow, high-resolution scanning within its narrow mass range, while the combined output from multiple traps achieves fast overall data acquisition across the full mass spectrum.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-dimensional sequential scanning approach to a multi-dimensional parallel processing architecture. Multiple ion traps operate simultaneously in parallel, each handling a specific mass range, thereby adding a temporal dimension to the analysis and enabling high resolution without sacrificing data acquisition rate.
3Reliability
If sequential scanning is used to maintain duty cycle, then reliability is maintained, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ion population is segmented by mass range and distributed across multiple ion traps. Each trap maintains ions of its assigned mass range continuously, ensuring high duty cycle for ions within that range. Simultaneously, multiple traps operate in parallel, achieving high overall data acquisition rate without the need for sequential scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple ion traps operate continuously and simultaneously, each performing useful detection work on its assigned mass range. This eliminates idle time associated with sequential scanning, as all traps are constantly acquiring data in parallel, thereby maintaining high duty cycle while dramatically increasing overall productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables a significant increase in data acquisition rate without negatively affecting mass resolution or duty cycle, allowing for more precise and efficient analysis of ions across a broad mass range.
Implementation Method 1
ion trap mass spectrometers use electrode structures to form trapping chambers (e.g., 'ion traps') to contain ions introduced into the mass spectrometer by means of electrostatic and electrodynamic fields
Implementation Method 2
ion trap mass spectrometers use electrode structures to form trapping chambers (e.g., 'ion traps') to contain ions introduced into the mass spectrometer by means of electrostatic and electrodynamic fields
Implementation Method 3
This type of mass spectrometer operates by superimposing a high-frequency (e.g., radio frequency (RF)) voltage onto a direct current (DC) voltage of four rod electrodes to form a quadrupole electrodynamic field that confines the ions radially
Implementation Method 4
Trapped ions are cooled through collisions with the background gas molecules
Implementation Method 5
The mass analyzer manipulates and separates the ions according to their mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios within the mass spectrometer by using electric and/or magnetic fields
Implementation Method 6
The mass analyzer manipulates and separates the ions according to their mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios within the mass spectrometer by using electric and/or magnetic fields
Implementation Method 7
the detector may record an induced charge or current when an ion passes by or hits a surface of the detector
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for operating a mass spectrometer are described. In various aspects, ions of a mass range of interest may be mass-selectively ejected from an accumulation ion trap into a multi-ion trap structure. Each ion trap of the multi-ion trap structure may be configured to confine ions within a portion of the mass range of interest. The ions may be simultaneously scanned from the ion traps of the multi-ion trap structure for concurrent detection at a detector component.