Ion Guiding Device with Segmented Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ion guiding devices are limited in their ability to efficiently transfer ions radially or with a non-zero radial component of velocity across pseudo-potential barriers between parallel ion guides, which restricts the flexibility and efficiency of ion manipulation in mass spectrometry.
Innovation Solution
The ion guiding device employs a configuration where ions are transferred multiple times between two parallel ion guides with radially or longitudinally positioned pseudo-potential barriers, allowing for radial or axial velocity components, and featuring segmented rod sets, quadrupole, hexapole, or octapole structures with specific electrode spacings and voltages to create pseudo-potential barriers and valleys, enabling efficient ion transfer and confinement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ions are transferred radially across pseudo-potential barriers between parallel ion guides, then ion transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for multiple segmented electrodes and RF voltage controls
Solution Approach 1:
The ion guide is divided into multiple axially segmented rod sets, where each segment can be independently controlled with different RF voltages and DC offsets. This segmentation enables the creation of pseudo-potential barriers at specific locations, allowing efficient radial ion transfer between parallel guides while maintaining independent control over different axial regions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different axial segments of the rod electrodes are assigned different voltage characteristics (RF amplitude, frequency, DC offset) to create localized pseudo-potential barriers. This local quality variation enables precise control over where and how ions are transferred radially between guides, improving transfer efficiency at specific locations without affecting the entire guide structure.
2Reliability
If multiple RF voltages are applied to create pseudo-potential barriers, then ion confinement and selective transfer are improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
RF voltages are applied periodically to the segmented rod electrodes, creating oscillating pseudo-potential barriers that confine ions axially while allowing controlled radial transfer. The periodic nature of RF operation enables ion manipulation through resonant effects, improving confinement reliability while managing energy consumption through efficient oscillating field utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The RF voltage parameters (amplitude, frequency, phase, DC offset) are dynamically adjusted across different axial segments to create the desired pseudo-potential landscape. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves reliable ion confinement and selective transfer while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption through efficient voltage modulation.
3Volume of moving object
If electrode spacing is reduced to improve ion guide compactness, then device size is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ion guide is constructed from multiple axially segmented rod sets with controlled spacing. This segmentation allows the overall guide to be compact while maintaining adequate spacing between individual rod segments. The modular segmented structure enables precise positioning of each segment independently, reducing the cumulative tolerance stacking that would occur in a fully continuous structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from a two-dimensional cross-sectional view to a three-dimensional segmented structure, where rod electrodes are arranged in multiple axial layers. This dimensional approach allows compact overall guide size while maintaining sufficient radial and axial spacing between rod segments, thereby reducing manufacturing precision requirements compared to a tightly packed single-layer configuration.
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 configuration enhances ion transfer efficiency and flexibility, allowing for mass selective or mass-to-charge ratio selective transfer of ions, improving the overall performance of ion guiding and mass spectrometry by enabling ions to be confined and isolated in separate potential wells within the guides.
Implementation Method 1
a first device arranged and adapted to create one or more pseudo-potential barriers at one or more points along the length of the ion guiding device between the first ion guiding path and the second ion guiding path
Implementation Method 2
Ions are preferably transferred radially or with a non-zero radial component of velocity across one or more radial or longitudinal pseudo-potential barriers disposed between the first ion guide and the second ion guide
Data Source
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AI summary
An ion guiding device comprises two or more parallel conjoined ion guides, wherein the two or more parallel conjoined ion guides comprise a first ion guide comprising a rod set ion guide comprising a plurality of rod electrodes, and a second ion guide comprising a rod set ion guide comprising a plurality of rod electrodes. The first ion guide comprises a first ion guiding region having a first cross-sectional area, and the second ion guide comprises a second ion guiding region having a second cross-sectional area, wherein the first and second cross-sectional areas are substantially different.