IMS Ion Accumulation Regions for Near-100% Duty Cycle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ion loss occurs in IMS-MS systems due to the ion optics, which reduces the overall duty cycle by eliminating ions, necessitating a solution for ion accumulation and management before mass analysis.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of ion transfer devices with high-capacity regions for ion accumulation, featuring electrodes that generate pseudopotentials and drive potentials to temporally separate and accumulate ions, synchronized with a gating element to control ion flow to a mass analyzer, ensuring a 100% duty cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If ion optics are closed to prevent ions from entering the mass spectrometer, then ion loss is prevented, but the duty cycle is reduced due to elimination of ions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by accumulating ions in advance in the ion accumulation region before they reach the ion optics. The ion accumulation region stores ions when the ion optics are closed, and then releases them when the ion optics are open, ensuring ions are ready for transmission without being lost during the gating period. This resolves the contradiction by preparing ions beforehand rather than losing them at the gate.
Solution Approach 2:
The ion accumulation region acts as an intermediary between the ion source and the ion optics. It buffers the ion stream, decoupling the continuous ion production from the intermittent ion optics opening. This mediator allows the system to maintain high duty cycle by storing ions during closed periods and releasing them during open periods, preventing both ion loss and maintaining productivity.
2Productivity
If ions are continuously transmitted to the mass spectrometer, then duty cycle is maximized, but ion optics must remain open causing ion loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through the synchronized operation of the ion accumulation region and ion optics. The ion accumulation region periodically accumulates ions during closed periods and releases them during open periods, matching the periodic opening/closing of the ion optics. This periodic rhythm allows continuous ion capture while maintaining controlled transmission windows, achieving both high duty cycle and minimal ion loss.
Solution Approach 2:
By accumulating ions in advance before the ion optics open, the system performs preliminary action that prepares the ion stream for efficient transmission. This advance accumulation ensures that when the ion optics open, ions are already ready for transmission, maximizing the utilization of the open period and maintaining high duty cycle without continuous ion optics opening.
3Productivity
If ion optics are opened continuously to maintain 100% duty cycle, then productivity is maximized, but ion loss increases due to elimination during closed periods
Solution Approach 1:
The ion accumulation region serves as a mediator that buffers between continuous ion production and intermittent ion optics transmission. It maintains a reservoir of accumulated ions that can be drawn from during transmission periods, allowing the ion optics to operate at optimal opening frequencies without losing ions during closed periods. This intermediary enables sustained 100% duty cycle operation with minimal ion loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers ions that would otherwise be lost during ion optics closed periods by accumulating them in the ion accumulation region. Instead of discarding ions when the gate is closed, the system recovers and stores them for later transmission, transforming what would be waste into a valuable reservoir that maintains high productivity without continuous transmission.
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
The solution effectively prevents ion loss by accumulating and releasing ions efficiently, achieving a near 100% duty cycle and enhancing ion utilization efficiency and sensitivity in IMS-MS systems.
Implementation Method 1
The first plurality of electrodes are configured to receive a first voltage signal and generate at least a portion of a first pseudopotential that inhibits ions from approaching the at least one surface
Implementation Method 2
the second plurality of electrodes are configured to receive a second voltage signal and generate a drive potential
Implementation Method 3
The separation region is configured to temporally separate ions based on mobility
Data Source
AI summary
An IMS device is provided that includes at least one surface, first and second pluralities of electrodes disposed on the surface, and an ion path having first and second accumulation regions and a separation region. The IMS device is configured to receive, guide, temporally separate, and discharge ions. Each accumulation region is configured to switch between accumulation and release states in which ions are accumulated and released therefrom, respectively. The separation region is positioned downstream of the first accumulation region and configured to temporally separate ions based on mobility. The first accumulation region is synchronized with a downstream mass filter while the second accumulation region is dependent upon the state of a gating element, which is positioned downstream of the IMS device and configured to control the flow of ions to a mass analyzer. A method in accordance with the foregoing is also provided.