Annular Ion Guide Mass Analyzer Gridless Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional orthogonal acceleration Time of Flight mass analyzers face challenges with ion beam divergence and transmission loss due to grid boundaries, leading to reduced sensitivity and resolution, especially in long flight path instruments.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an annular ion guide with axially segmented cylindrical electrodes, maintaining parabolic DC potentials for simple harmonic motion and using an inductive ion detector within the guide to achieve spatial focusing and high transmission without grid electrodes, allowing ions to form stable radial orbits perpendicular to time of flight dispersion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If grid electrodes are used in conventional orthogonal acceleration TOF mass analyzers, then ion extraction and acceleration can be achieved, but ion beam divergence and transmission loss occur due to grid boundaries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the grid electrodes from the ion extraction and acceleration system, replacing them with a gridless electrostatic lens design. This extraction of the problematic grid components eliminates the boundary effects that cause ion beam divergence and transmission loss, while maintaining the essential ion acceleration function through alternative electrostatic field configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electrostatic lens as an intermediary element between the ion source and the flight path. This lens serves as a mediator that focuses and guides ions without the physical boundaries of grid electrodes, thereby preventing beam divergence while still achieving effective ion extraction and acceleration.
2Measurement precision
If conventional orthogonal acceleration TOF mass analyzers are used, then mass analysis can be performed, but sensitivity and resolution are reduced due to ion beam divergence
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the grid electrodes that cause beam divergence, the patent prevents the spreading of the ion beam, thereby maintaining higher ion beam intensity at the detector and improving both sensitivity and resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical grid electrode system with an electrostatic field-based ion guidance system. This substitution eliminates the physical obstructions and boundary effects of mechanical grids, allowing the ion beam to maintain its coherence and intensity throughout the flight path.
3Measurement precision
If long flight path instruments are used, then mass resolution can be improved, but transmission loss increases due to grid boundaries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the grid electrodes from the long flight path instrument design, eliminating the cumulative transmission losses that would occur over multiple grid boundaries. This allows the instrument to maintain high transmission efficiency even over extended flight paths necessary for high resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a grid-based one-dimensional ion guidance approach to a gridless electrostatic field approach that operates in a different dimensional regime, allowing ions to travel through the extended flight path without encountering the planar boundaries of grid electrodes.
4Power
If grid electrodes are used for ion extraction, then ion acceleration can be achieved, but external ion deflectors are required to prevent beam divergence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the grid electrodes and the associated external ion deflector components, simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining ion acceleration capability through the electrostatic lens design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the ion extraction, focusing, and acceleration functions into a single integrated electrostatic lens system, eliminating the need for separate grid electrodes and external deflectors, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining full ion acceleration capability.
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 configuration enhances resolution and transmission efficiency by preventing beam divergence and overfilling, achieving high duty cycles and tolerance to surface charging, while eliminating the need for external ion deflectors, thus improving mass spectrometry performance.
Implementation Method 1
maintaining parabolic DC potentials for simple harmonic motion
Implementation Method 2
maintaining parabolic DC potentials for simple harmonic motion
Implementation Method 3
an inductive ion detector arranged and adapted to detect ions within the second annular ion guide section
Implementation Method 4
a second device arranged and adapted to orthogonally accelerate ions from the first annular ion guide section into the second annular ion guide section
Data Source
AI summary
A mass analyzer is disclosed comprising an annular ion guide comprising a first annular ion guide section and a second annular ion guide section, wherein the annular ion guide comprises: (i) an inner cylindrical electrode arrangement which is axially segmented and comprises a plurality of first electrodes and (ii) an outer cylindrical electrode arrangement which is axially segmented and comprises a plurality of second electrodes. Ions are introduced into the first annular ion guide section so that the ions form substantially stable circular orbits. Ions are orthogonally accelerated from the first annular ion guide section into the second annular ion guide section and one or more parabolic DC potentials are maintained along a portion of the second annular ion guide section so that ions undergo simple harmonic motion. An inductive ion detector is arranged and adapted to detect ions within the second annular ion guide section.