Double Bend Ion Guide for Mass Spectrometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mass spectrometers face issues with false signals and instrument contamination due to neutral species and photons present in the ion beam, which affect the accuracy and reliability of ion analysis.
Innovation Solution
A multipole device configured to doubly bend an ion beam using a DC electric field, allowing ions to be directed along specific orthogonal trajectories, effectively separating ions from unwanted species like photons and neutrals by employing multiple electrodes with varying DC voltages to create desired bend angles within a single multipole.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single bend ion guide is used to direct ions, then the device complexity is low, but the separation of ions from neutral species and photons is insufficient leading to false signals and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The ion guide is divided into two sequential bending sections within a single multipole device. The first section bends ions at a first angle (e.g., 90 degrees) while the second section bends them at a second angle (e.g., 45 degrees). This segmentation allows enhanced separation of ions from neutral species and photons without requiring multiple separate devices, thus improving reliability while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces angular dimensionality by bending the ion beam in two different directions sequentially. Instead of a single linear path, the ion trajectory is deflected through two distinct angular changes, creating a two-dimensional bending path that effectively separates ions from interfering neutral species and photons based on their different response to electric fields.
2Volume of moving object
If narrow openings in ion guides are used, then the device size is reduced, but contamination by neutral species increases causing instrument drift
Solution Approach 1:
The double bend ion guide performs preliminary separation of ions from neutral species before they can contaminate the mass analyzer. By deflecting ions through two sequential bends while neutrals continue in a straight line, the device pre-cleans the particle stream, preventing neutral species from reaching and contaminating the analyzer even when openings are narrow.
3Measurement precision
If photons are present in the particle stream, then the background signal level increases, but the detection sensitivity is reduced due to elevated noise
Solution Approach 1:
The double bend ion guide extracts and removes photons from the particle stream by exploiting their lack of charge. Since photons are not affected by the electric fields in the bending sections, they continue in a straight line and are separated from the deflected ions. This extraction eliminates the harmful background noise that photons would otherwise contribute to detector signals.
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 solution enhances the separation of ions of interest from interfering species, reduces background noise, and minimizes contamination, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of mass spectrometry analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a first multipole comprising a plurality of electrodes configured to provide a DC electric field effective to direct first ions of an entering particle beam along a first internal trajectory that is substantially orthogonal to an entry trajectory of the particle beam
Implementation Method 2
the plurality of electrodes of the first multipole are further configured to direct the directed, first ions along a second internal trajectory that is substantially orthogonal to the first internal trajectory
Data Source
AI summary
Certain configurations of devices are described herein that include a DC multipole that is effective to doubly bend the ions in an entering particle beam. In some instances, the devices include a first multipole configured to provide a DC electric field effective to direct first ions of an entering particle beam along a first internal trajectory at an angle different from the entry trajectory of the particle beam. The first multipole may also be configured to direct the ions in the first multipole along a second internal trajectory that is different than the angle of the first internal trajectory of the particle beam.