Electrostatic Trap Perturbation for Mass Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Real electrostatic traps face issues due to non-ideal geometries and electrical perturbations, leading to phase separation and reduced mass accuracy, peak shape, and analytical performance in mass spectrometry.
Innovation Solution
Introducing deliberate non-linearities or perturbations in the electrostatic field to control the phase separation of ions, optimizing trap parameters such as electrode geometry and applied voltages to constrain phase spread within acceptable limits, ensuring ions maintain coherent oscillations and accurate mass analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ideal hyper-logarithmic electrode geometry is used, then isochronous oscillations and mass accuracy are improved, but manufacturing precision and geometric accuracy become more difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by deliberately introducing controlled perturbations to the electrode geometry and field configuration. Instead of striving for perfect hyper-logarithmic geometry, the invention modifies the field parameters to compensate for manufacturing imperfections, transforming the ideal but unachievable geometry into a practical design that maintains mass accuracy through controlled deviations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of manufacturing imperfections and field perturbations into a beneficial outcome. By deliberately introducing controlled non-idealities and perturbations, the invention transforms what would normally be sources of error into a mechanism that maintains phase coherence and mass accuracy, effectively using the perturbations to counteract their own negative effects.
2Measurement precision
If electrostatic fields are used for ion trapping, then mass analysis is achieved, but phase separation occurs due to non-ideal geometries and electrical perturbations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using detection means to monitor ion oscillations and using this information to adjust and optimize the field configuration. The system continuously adapts the electrostatic field parameters based on observed ion behavior, compensating for phase separation effects and maintaining coherence through active control and optimization of field parameters.
3Stability of the object's composition
If high vacuum is maintained for energy conservation, then ion oscillation coherence is improved, but system complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the electrostatic trap to inherently maintain ion coherence through its field configuration, reducing reliance on extreme vacuum conditions. The optimized field geometry and controlled perturbations create a trapping environment that is more tolerant of vacuum variations, allowing the system to maintain performance with less stringent vacuum requirements.
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 maintains analytical performance by limiting phase spread to less than 2π radians over the measurement period, preventing signal degradation and ensuring accurate mass spectrometry results.
Implementation Method 1
the electrode arrangement being arranged to generate a trapping field defined by a potential U'(r,φ,z)=U(r,φ,z)+W, where U(r,φ,z) is an ideal potential which traps ions in the Z-direction
Implementation Method 2
the motion of ions with mass m and charge q along the axis z is described as a simple harmonic oscillator with an exact solution for q,k>0... in reality there is a limit to the accuracy with which any practical construction can approximate that ideal geometry... any divergence from the ideal electrode geometry, and/or inclusion of electrical perturbations, will result in a perturbation to the ideal field which in turn will transform the harmonic axial oscillations of the ideal field into non-linear oscillations
Data Source
AI summary
An electrostatic trap such as an orbitrap is disclosed, with an electrode structure. An electrostatic trapping field of the form U′(r, ϕ, z) is generated to trap ions within the trap so that they undergo isochronous oscillations. The trapping field U′(r, ϕ, z) is the result of a perturbation W to an ideal field U(r, ϕ, z) which, for example, is hyperlogarithmic in the case of an orbitrap. The perturbation W may be introduced in various ways, such as by distorting the geometry of the trap so that it no longer follows an equipotential of the ideal field U(r, ϕ, z), or by adding a distortion field (either electric or magnetic). The magnitude of the perturbation is such that at least some of the trapped ions have an absolute phase spread of more than zero but less than 2π radians over an ion detection period Tm.