Breath Analysis Ion Source With Laminar Clean-Gas Focusing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ionization technologies for gas-phase analysis, such as SESI-MS, face challenges with low ionization efficiency, high background contamination, and instability due to humidity and temperature variations, limiting the detection of low volatility species and making it difficult to establish a quantitative correlation between signal intensity and analyte concentration.
Innovation Solution
A new ionizer configuration that separates the ionization and clean gas regions using a flow deflector and toroidal vortex management, eliminating the need for extra electrodes and minimizing surface area for contamination, while maintaining high ionization efficiency and stability through a carefully arranged fluid configuration and controlled humidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional ionization methods (SESI-MS) are used to detect gas-phase molecules, then volatile species can be detected, but ionization efficiency is low and background contamination is high
Solution Approach 1:
The ionization chamber is segmented into distinct regions: a first region for introducing the sample gas flow containing analyte molecules, and a second region for introducing clean gas flow. This spatial segmentation allows separate optimization of ionization conditions and background control, resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and ionization efficiency by preventing contamination while maintaining effective ionization of volatile species.
Solution Approach 2:
A laminar flow of clean gas is introduced as an intermediary between the ionization region and the mass spectrometer inlet. This clean gas flow acts as a protective barrier that prevents background contamination from entering the mass spectrometer while allowing ionized analyte molecules to pass through, thereby improving measurement precision without sacrificing ionization efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If larger molecules with lower volatility are targeted for detection, then more specific biomarkers can be detected, but the limit of detection increases and accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the ionization chamber to optimize detection of different volatility classes. By controlling and adjusting the temperature, the system can enhance the vapor pressure of low-volatility larger molecules without compromising the detection of volatile species, thereby improving biomarker specificity while maintaining adequate limit of detection through optimized thermal conditions.
3Measurement precision
If quantitative correlation between signal intensity and analyte concentration is established, then accurate measurement is achieved, but signal variability due to humidity and temperature reduces reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates monitoring of humidity and temperature parameters with feedback control mechanisms. By continuously monitoring environmental conditions and adjusting operational parameters accordingly, the system maintains stable ionization efficiency and reduces signal variability, thereby achieving reliable quantitative correlation between signal intensity and analyte concentration despite environmental fluctuations.
Solution Approach 2:
A controlled inert or stabilized gas environment is maintained in the ionization chamber to minimize the influence of humidity and temperature variations. By controlling the atmospheric conditions and using a stable gas matrix, the system reduces background interference and signal variability, enabling reliable quantitative measurements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If low volatility species are detected, then comprehensive metabolite coverage is achieved, but background contamination increases and signal-to-noise ratio decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The ionization chamber is segmented into distinct regions for sample introduction and clean gas flow, allowing comprehensive detection of low-volatility species while preventing background contamination through spatial separation and controlled gas flows.
Solution Approach 2:
A laminar clean gas flow serves as an intermediary barrier that prevents background contamination from reaching the mass spectrometer while allowing ionized low-volatility species to pass through, thereby maintaining comprehensive metabolite coverage with reduced background interference.
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 ionization efficiency, reduces background contamination, and stabilizes the ionization process, allowing for more accurate detection of low volatility species and improved quantitative analysis by maintaining predictable ionization efficiency and reducing signal variability.
Implementation Method 1
an electrospray (102) that produces a flow of charged droplets or charging ions
Implementation Method 2
The molecules react with said charging ions in the ionization region (114) and produce sample ions
Implementation Method 3
A flow deflector (126) accelerates a flow of clean gas (109) towards said inlet of said analyzer (103), and the flow of clean gas is detached from said flow deflector at the edge of said orifice (105). This produces an interface surface in said orifice (105) between said clean gas (109) and said flow of sample gas (111)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A method and apparatus that ionize vapors for their chemical analysis is described. The new ionizer improves the ionization efficiency by reducing dilution of sample molecules and improving transmission of ions to the analyzer. This is accomplished by a new flow configuration, in which a stream of clean gas focuses the ions towards the analyzer. A deflector prevents the formation of turbulent perturbation, and the ionization maintains a laminar regime without the need for additional separating walls or electrodes. The flow within the ionizer is configured so that contaminants released by the inner walls of the ionizer do not reach the ionization region. The resulting ionizer improves the ionization efficiency, and the background levels for low volatility species. This makes it ideal for the analysis of low volatility species in the gas phase. One application of this ionizer is the analysis of human breath in real time.