Dynamic Vacuum Inlet for Compact IMS-MS Instruments

Solution Overview

Problem

Current analytical instruments, when used as hyphenated systems, require significant vacuum pumping capacity and are not optimized for compact or portable applications due to constant vacuum inlet operation, limiting their efficiency and practicality.

Innovation Solution

A dynamically controlled vacuum inlet system that adjusts its size based on the arrival timing of sample components, using ion mobility spectrometer data to control valve opening and closing, thereby reducing the need for continuous vacuum pumping and enabling a compact or portable ion mobility spectrometer-mass spectrometer (IMS-MS) instrument.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a constant vacuum inlet operation is used in hyphenated analytical instruments, then the system maintains stable vacuum conditions for analysis, but the vacuum pumping capacity requirement increases significantly and the instrument size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevacuum stabilityVSAvoidinstrument size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum inlet is operated periodically rather than continuously. The system opens the vacuum inlet only during specific time windows when sample ions are expected to arrive at the interface, and closes it during other periods. This periodic operation maintains adequate vacuum conditions during analysis while dramatically reducing the average pumping capacity requirement and enabling compact instrument design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The vacuum inlet operation is made dynamic through fast switching valves that can rapidly open and close based on real-time detection of sample arrival. The system dynamically adjusts the inlet state (open/closed) according to the actual presence of analyte ions, optimizing vacuum conditions only when needed rather than maintaining constant vacuum operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a constant vacuum inlet operation is used in hyphenated analytical instruments, then the system maintains stable vacuum conditions for analysis, but the vacuum pumping capacity requirement increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevacuum stabilityVSAvoidvacuum pumping capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum inlet is operated periodically rather than continuously. The system opens the vacuum inlet only during specific time windows when sample ions are expected to arrive at the interface, and closes it during other periods. This periodic operation maintains adequate vacuum conditions during analysis while dramatically reducing the average pumping capacity requirement and enabling compact instrument design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The vacuum inlet operation is made dynamic through fast switching valves that can rapidly open and close based on real-time detection of sample arrival. The system dynamically adjusts the inlet state (open/closed) according to the actual presence of analyte ions, optimizing vacuum conditions only when needed rather than maintaining constant vacuum operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If ion mobility spectrometer and mass spectrometer operate in parallel, then both ion mobility and mass information are acquired simultaneously, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata acquisition efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines ion mobility spectrometry and mass spectrometry into a single hyphenated instrument where both analytical dimensions operate in parallel. The system integrates an IMS drift region with a mass spectrometer, allowing simultaneous acquisition of ion mobility and mass-to-charge ratio information from the same sample ions, thereby doubling the information content without requiring separate independent instruments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The interface region serves multiple functions: it acts as both the detection region for ion mobility measurement and the inlet for the mass spectrometer. The fast switching valve system provides universal control for both instruments, and the data system integrates information from both analytical dimensions, reducing overall system complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 reduces the vacuum pumping requirement by up to 80%, allowing for the construction of compact or portable IMS-MS instruments while maintaining analysis efficiency and accuracy, and enables simultaneous ion mobility and mass spectrometry data acquisition.

Implementation Method 1

separating ion packets based on their drift time through a drift region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon mobility:

Implementation Method 2

a mass spectrometer that is capable of ionizing sample molecules

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonization: Ionisation

Data Source

PatentUS9142395B2Parallel ion mass and ion mobility analysis

Publication Date: 2015.09.22 EXCELLIMS CORP

AI summary

The present invention relates to a parallel IMS and MS measurement method where a sample flow is split and delivered to an IMS and a MS in parallel. A parallel acquisition MS/IMS method is used to supplement LC-MS and or MS data by using a synchronized MS/IMS acquisition.