Ion Guide Temperature Control via Orthogonal DC Field
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ion guides in mass spectrometry struggle to effectively control the temperature of ions as they travel through the device, leading to issues with characterization of large bimolecular ions and detection limits in small molecule analysis due to non-covalently bound solvent and salt complexes.
Innovation Solution
An ion guide with a plurality of electrodes, where an orthogonal DC field is applied to control the temperature of ions, and an electrostatic driving potential is used to urge ions along the axial length, allowing for controlled heating or cooling of ions through varying the amplitude and duration of the DC field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If collisional activation or RF boundary activation is used to increase ion temperature, then weakly bound adducts can be removed, but the control over ion temperature is not precise and may affect ion transmission efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a DC field orthogonal to the ion guide axis to control ion temperature through parameter changes. By adjusting the DC field strength and duration, precise control over ion heating is achieved without compromising ion transmission efficiency. This resolves the contradiction by providing independent control of temperature parameter while maintaining reliable ion transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dimensional solution by applying the DC field in a direction orthogonal to the ion guide axis. This spatial separation allows temperature control to be achieved without interfering with the axial ion transmission path, thus resolving the contradiction between temperature control and transmission efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If higher temperature is applied to remove solvent clusters, then detection limits in small molecule analysis improve, but ion energy increases which may cause unwanted fragmentation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by controlling the DC field strength and application duration to achieve precise temperature control. This allows reaching the optimal temperature for removing solvent clusters and improving detection limits while stopping before causing unwanted fragmentation, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and harmful effects.
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 method enables precise control over the temperature of ions, enhancing the quality of mass spectral data by selectively removing weakly bound adducts and improving the detection limits in small molecule analysis.
Implementation Method 1
applying an orthogonal DC field along at least a portion of the ion guide in order to control (e.g., increase or decrease) the temperature of ions as they travel through said ion guide
Implementation Method 2
applying an electrostatic driving potential to said plurality of electrodes to urge ions along the axial length of the ion guide
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a method of guiding ions, comprising providing an ion guide comprising a plurality of electrodes, confining ions radially within said ion guide by applying one or more voltages to said plurality of electrodes, applying an orthogonal DC field along at least a portion of said ion guide in order to control the temperature of ions as they travel through said ion guide, and applying an electrostatic driving potential to said plurality of electrodes to urge ions along the axial length of the ion guide, wherein said electrostatic driving potential is applied in the form of a DC travelling wave potential or other transient DC potential.