Ion Carousel Synchronizes SLIM and Mass Spectrometer Scan Rates
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The mismatch between the scan times of structures for lossless ion manipulations (SLIM) devices and mass spectrometers affects the resolution of ion separation in IMS-MS devices, leading to challenges in synchronizing mass and ion mobility spectra, particularly when multiple ion sub-packets with different mobilities arrive at time-of-flight spectrometers, which increases complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
An ion carousel is introduced to act as a liaison between SLIM devices and mass spectrometers, receiving ion packets and selectively ejecting ions of similar mobility into the mass spectrometer, with the temporal separation between ejections based on the scan rate of the mass spectrometer to prevent overlapping of mass spectra and reduce the need for co-adding multiple ion packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If SLIM devices and mass spectrometers are coupled directly, then ion separation can be performed, but the mismatch in scan times reduces the resolution of ion separation and complicates synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
An ion carousel is introduced as an intermediary device between the SLIM device and the mass spectrometer. The ion carousel receives ion packets from the SLIM device, stores them in potential wells, and ejects them into the mass spectrometer in a synchronized manner that matches the mass spectrometer's scan rate, thereby resolving the scan time mismatch and improving ion separation resolution without increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The ion carousel performs preliminary actions by receiving and storing ion packets from the SLIM device before they enter the mass spectrometer. By pre-synchronizing the ion packets with the mass spectrometer's scan rate through controlled ejection timing, the system prepares the ion stream in advance, eliminating synchronization issues during actual mass analysis
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ion sub-packets with different mobilities are received by time-of-flight spectrometers, then more comprehensive ion analysis is achieved, but overlapping of mass spectra increases and requires co-adding multiple ion packets
Solution Approach 1:
The ion carousel implements periodic action by ejecting ion packets into the mass spectrometer at regular intervals that match the mass spectrometer's scan rate. This periodic ejection ensures that each ion packet is analyzed during a dedicated scan cycle, preventing spectral overlap while maintaining the ability to analyze multiple ion sub-packets with different mobilities through sequential processing
3Reliability
If ion packets are co-added to improve signal-to-noise ratio, then detection sensitivity increases, but the process increases complexity and cost of the spectrometer system
Solution Approach 1:
The ion carousel acts as an intermediary that enables signal accumulation through controlled periodic ejection of ion packets. Instead of requiring complex co-adding hardware and software processing, the carousel physically accumulates ions in potential wells and delivers them sequentially to the mass spectrometer, improving signal-to-noise ratio through natural signal accumulation while maintaining simpler system architecture
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 enhances the signal-to-noise ratio by synchronizing the ejection of ions with the mass spectrometer's scan rate, improving the resolution of IMS-MS spectra and reducing the complexity and cost associated with time-of-flight spectrometers.
Implementation Method 1
The first inner array of electrodes are configured to generate a traveling waveform which includes a plurality of potential wells that travel along a first direction on the first loop path and are configured to receive ions from the first and second ion packets
Implementation Method 2
IMS relies on applying a constant or a time-varying electric field to a mixture of ions. An ion having a larger mobility (or smaller collision cross section [CCS]) moves faster under the influence of the electric field compared to an ion with a smaller mobility (or larger CCS)
Implementation Method 3
MS involves ionizing the mixture of chemical species followed by acceleration of the ion mixture in the presence of electric and/or magnetic fields. Ions with different mass-to-charge ratios can undergo different deflections, and can be identified based on the spatial location of detection by a detector
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an ion carousel having a first surface and a second surface adjacent to the first surface. The second surface includes a first inner array of electrodes arranged along a first loop path and configured to receive a first ion packet and a second ion packet temporally separated from the first ion packet by a separation time. The first inner array of electrodes generates a traveling waveform which includes a plurality of potential wells that travel along the first loop path and receive ions from the first and second ion packets. The plurality of potential wells include at least a first potential well and a second potential well. An output switch is configured to selectively eject ions from the first potential well out of the carousel at time T1 and eject ions from the second potential well out of the carousel at time T2.