Dopant-Gas Assisted Desorption Ion Source for Mass Spectrometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry methods, such as MALDI-2 and SPICI, still face limitations in achieving high sensitivity for detecting biomolecules and pharmaceutical substances, as only a fraction of ablated material is ionized and detected, necessitating further improvements in ionization yields.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a chamber with a dopant gas at medium vacuum to atmospheric pressure, a desorption device using an energy burst, and an ionization device employing coherent electromagnetic waves for photochemical excitation of dopant gas molecules to enhance ionization of desorbed samples, combined with a voltage-assisted extraction system for transferring ions into analyzers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry methods (MALDI-2, SPICI) are used to detect biomolecules, then detection sensitivity is improved, but ionization yield remains limited as only a fraction of ablated material is ionized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dopant gas as an intermediary substance that mediates the ionization process. The dopant gas molecules absorb the coherent electromagnetic waves and transfer energy to the desorbed sample molecules, enabling more efficient ionization. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing a more effective energy transfer pathway from the laser to the analyte molecules, increasing ionization yield while maintaining detection sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the ionization environment by introducing dopant gas at controlled pressures (medium vacuum to atmospheric pressure) and using coherent electromagnetic waves with specific wavelengths that match the dopant's absorption characteristics. This parameter optimization enables resonant energy transfer to the dopant, which then transfers energy to the analyte, significantly improving ionization efficiency and resolving the limitation of partial ionization in conventional methods.
2Productivity
If dopant gas is introduced into the chamber at medium vacuum to atmospheric pressure, then ionization efficiency is enhanced through photochemical excitation, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dopant gas that serves multiple functions: it absorbs coherent electromagnetic waves, transfers energy to desorbed molecules, and operates across a wide pressure range (medium vacuum to atmospheric pressure). This multi-functionality allows the same system configuration to achieve enhanced ionization efficiency without requiring separate optimization for different pressure regimes, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high productivity.
3Productivity
If coherent electromagnetic waves are used for photochemical excitation of dopant gas, then ionization yield increases, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the wavelength of coherent electromagnetic waves to match the absorption spectrum of the dopant gas, enabling resonant energy transfer. This parameter optimization ensures that energy is absorbed efficiently by the dopant molecules, minimizing energy waste and maximizing ionization yield per unit of energy consumed. The resonant matching reduces the total energy required compared to non-resonant excitation methods.
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
Significantly increases ion yields and detection sensitivity for biomolecules and pharmaceutical substances, improving detection limits by one order of magnitude across a broad mass range without requiring significant financial investment or altering existing mass spectrometry platforms.
Implementation Method 1
irradiate the desorbed sample in the chamber using coherent electromagnetic waves, which are chosen such that the dopant is receptive to them, in particular to bring about the ionization via photochemical excitation of the dopant gas molecules
Implementation Method 2
a desorption device which is arranged and designed to desorb the deposited sample in the chamber using an energy burst
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a device to generate ions from a deposited sample, comprising: A chamber which is arranged and designed to keep the deposited sample in a conditioned environment comprising a dopant gas, A desorption device which is arranged and designed to desorb the deposited sample in the chamber using an energy burst, An ionization device which, for the purpose of ionization, is arranged and designed to irradiate the desorbed sample in the chamber using coherent electromagnetic waves or expose it to an electric discharge, a plasma, or light of an arc discharge lamp with broadband emission spectrum, which are chosen such that the dopant gas is receptive to them, and An extraction device which is arranged and designed to extract ions from the desorbed sample and transfer them into an analyzer. Disclosed is also a method which is preferably conducted on such a device.