Dual-Laser Mass Spectrometry for Organic and Inorganic Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mass spectrometry systems are complex, costly, and limited in their ability to effectively analyze both organic and inorganic components of a sample, often requiring significant capital investment, space, and training, and suffer from low ionization efficiency and matrix effects.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using a dual-laser approach with a Nd:YAG laser for desorption and ablation, where a first beam with a fundamental wavelength of 1064 nm desorbs organic material and a second beam with a wavelength of 266 nm ablates inorganic material, both being ionized and analyzed using a mass spectrometer, allowing for efficient analysis of both organic and inorganic components under vacuum conditions without plasma interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mass spectrometry systems are used, then analysis capability is provided, but system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines desorption, ablation, and ionization functions into a single integrated laser source system. The laser source performs multiple operations (desorbing organic material, ablating inorganic material, and ionizing both types of material) that traditionally would require separate instruments, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive analysis capability
Solution Approach 2:
The laser source is designed to perform multiple functions: it can desorb organic material, ablate inorganic material, and ionize both organic and inorganic materials. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate specialized instruments, reducing overall system complexity and cost while preserving broad analytical versatility
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mass spectrometry systems are used, then analysis is performed, but capital investment and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple analytical functions (desorption, ablation, ionization) into a single compact system located on a benchtop. This integration dramatically reduces the space requirement compared to conventional systems that would require separate instruments for each function, while still providing comprehensive analysis capability for both organic and inorganic materials
3Quantity of substance
If plasma sources are used for ionization, then ionization is achieved, but matrix effects increase and quantification accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ionization function from the plasma environment and implements it directly through laser irradiation. By removing the plasma source and using laser-induced ionization instead, the system eliminates matrix effects that plague plasma-based methods, thereby improving quantification accuracy while maintaining high ionization efficiency for both organic and inorganic materials
4Quantity of substance
If inductively coupled plasma sources are used, then ionization is achieved, but transmission losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the inductively coupled plasma source from the system and replaces it with direct laser ionization. This extraction eliminates the complex plasma generation and maintenance infrastructure that causes significant transmission losses, thereby reducing energy loss while maintaining effective ionization of both organic and inorganic materials
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 efficient, cost-effective analysis of both organic and inorganic materials with high ionization efficiency and reduced matrix effects, suitable for benchtop and field applications, and eliminates the need for inductively coupled plasma sources, improving quantification and reducing transmission losses.
Implementation Method 1
applying, using a first laser source, a first beam to a sample to desorb organic material from a location of the sample
Implementation Method 2
applying, using the first laser, a second beam to the sample to ablate inorganic material from the location of the sample
Implementation Method 3
ionizing the desorbed organic material using a second laser source to generate ionized organic material
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for sample analysis include applying, using a first laser source, a first beam to a sample to desorb organic material from a location of the sample and ionizing the desorbed organic material using a second laser source to generate ionized organic material. The ionized organic material is then analyzed using a mass spectrometer. A second beam from the first laser is then applied to the sample to ablate inorganic material from the location of the sample. The ablated inorganic material is then ionized using the second laser source to generate ionized inorganic material. The mass spectrometer is then used to analyze the ionized inorganic material. During analysis, one or more images of the sample may also be captured and linked to the collected analysis data.