Ion Analyzer Radical Generation via Vacuum Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ion analyzers face challenges in generating radicals from easy-to-handle gases under high vacuum conditions, leading to low utilization efficiency and safety concerns with hydrogen gas, and inefficiencies in dissociating large molecular compounds like proteins and peptides.
Innovation Solution
An ion analyzer with a radical generation chamber using a vacuum discharge unit, such as a radio-frequency plasma source, to generate radicals from materials like water vapor or air, which are easy to handle and react with precursor ions to produce product ions, including fragment and adduct ions, without the need for atmospheric pressure spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If hydrogen gas is used to generate hydrogen radicals for ion dissociation, then dissociation selectivity is improved, but safety concerns and handling difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces dangerous hydrogen gas with air, which is freely available and safe. The radicals generated from air (oxygen radicals, nitrogen radicals) achieve the desired dissociation effect without the safety hazards of hydrogen gas handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a radical generation chamber as an intermediary component that generates radicals from safe materials (air, water vapor) and delivers them to the reaction chamber. This mediator system eliminates the need to handle dangerous hydrogen gas directly while maintaining radical generation efficiency.
2Productivity
If atmospheric pressure space is provided for radical generation, then radical generation efficiency is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from atmospheric pressure to high vacuum conditions. By optimizing radical generation under vacuum using electron impact or photodissociation methods, the system achieves efficient radical production without requiring atmospheric pressure spaces, thus simplifying the overall apparatus structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical compression systems (needed for atmospheric pressure) with electromagnetic fields (electron impact, photodissociation) to generate radicals under vacuum. This substitution eliminates complex pressure control mechanisms while maintaining radical generation efficiency.
3Use of energy by moving object
If collision induced dissociation is used, then energy utilization is improved, but dissociation selectivity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic pulsed laser irradiation or cyclic electron impact to generate radicals in controlled bursts. This periodic action allows precise timing of radical generation and delivery to precursor ions, achieving both efficient energy utilization and high dissociation selectivity at specific bond sites.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs localized radical generation at specific positions within the reaction chamber, creating high radical density zones where precursor ions are most concentrated. This local quality approach ensures that energy is deposited precisely where needed, maximizing dissociation selectivity while minimizing overall energy consumption.
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 enables efficient generation and utilization of radicals under high vacuum, effectively dissociating precursor ions at specific sites, particularly in peptides, with high reactivity and safety, improving the analysis of large molecular compounds.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum discharge unit configured to generate vacuum discharge in the radical generation chamber
Implementation Method 2
a radical generation chamber using a vacuum discharge unit, such as a radio-frequency plasma source
Implementation Method 3
the precursor ions are irradiated with radicals generated from the material gas by vacuum discharge... the precursor ions react with the radicals to generate product ions
Data Source
AI summary
An ion analyzer that generates product ions from precursor ions derived from a sample component and analyzes the product ions includes a reaction chamber (2) into which the precursor ion is introduced, a radical generation chamber (51), a material gas supply source (52) configured to introduce material gas into the radical generation chamber (51), a vacuum evacuator (57) configured to evacuate the radical generation chamber (51), a vacuum discharge unit (53) configured to generate a vacuum discharge in the radical generation chamber (51), a radical irradiation unit (54) configured to irradiate an inside of the reaction chamber (2) with radicals generated from the material gas in the radical generation chamber (51), and a separation and detection (3) configured to separate and detect product ions generated from the precursor ion by reaction with the radicals according to at least one of a mass-to-charge ratio and ion mobility.