Auxiliary Electrode Ion Guide for Mass Spectrometer Contamination Cutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mass spectrometry systems suffer from contamination of downstream components due to ion deposition, leading to reduced sensitivity and increased downtime for cleaning, especially when handling complex high molecular weight biologics.
Innovation Solution
An auxiliary electrode assembly is integrated with the ion guide to control ion transmission, using specific geometries and biasing approaches to attenuate or cutoff high m/z ions before they reach sensitive downstream components, maintaining ion stability and reducing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If atmospheric pressure ionization is used to efficiently ionize molecules, then ionization efficiency is improved, but contamination of downstream components increases due to interfering ions and neutral molecules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes unwanted interfering ions and neutral molecules from the ion beam at the inlet orifice, separating them from the analyte ions before they enter the ion guide. This allows atmospheric pressure ionization to continue operating efficiently while preventing contamination of downstream vacuum components.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet orifice acts as an intermediary component between the atmospheric pressure ion source and the vacuum chamber. It provides a transition zone where unwanted species are removed, allowing efficient ionization to continue while protecting downstream components from contamination.
2Measurement precision
If ions are transmitted through the ion guide to the mass analyzer, then analytical sensitivity is improved, but contamination of downstream components increases due to ion deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes unwanted interfering ions at the inlet orifice before they enter the ion guide, reducing the total ion load that reaches downstream components. This maintains analytical sensitivity for analyte ions while decreasing contamination from interfering species.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies operating parameters including ion guide voltage, RF amplitude, and pressure to optimize ion transmission while minimizing deposition. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system maintains sensitivity while reducing contamination of downstream components.
3Productivity
If the ion guide chamber pressure is increased to improve ion transmission, then ion transmission efficiency is improved, but contamination of downstream components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts unwanted ions and neutral molecules at the inlet orifice, allowing the ion guide chamber to operate at higher pressures for improved transmission efficiency without proportionally increasing contamination. The removal of unwanted species at the entrance decouples transmission efficiency from contamination levels.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If downstream vacuum chambers are disassembled for cleaning, then contamination is removed, but system downtime and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by removing unwanted ions and neutral molecules at the inlet orifice before they can contaminate downstream components. This preventive approach reduces the frequency and extent of cleaning required, minimizing system downtime and operational disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service contamination prevention through the inlet orifice design that automatically removes unwanted species from the ion beam. This continuous self-cleaning action reduces the need for manual disassembly and cleaning of downstream components.
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 system throughput, improves robustness, and decreases downtime by minimizing contamination in mass spectrometry systems, particularly when sampling complex high molecular weight biologics.
Implementation Method 1
An auxiliary electrode assembly is integrated with the ion guide to control ion transmission, using specific geometries and biasing approaches to attenuate or cutoff high m/z ions
Implementation Method 2
an ion guide positioned downstream of the ion source can be configured for receiving, selecting, channeling, and/or transmitting the generated ions to a mass analyzer
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods described herein utilize a multipole ion guide that can receive ions from an ion source for transmission to downstream mass analyzers while preventing unwanted/interfering/contaminating ions from being transmitted into the high vacuum changes of mass spectrometry systems. In various aspects, RF and/or DC signals can be provided to auxiliary electrodes interposed within a quadrupole rod set so as to control or manipulate the transmission of ions from the multiple ion guide.