Ion Mobility Imaging Analysis with Correlation-Based Data Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

The increase in data dimensions in imaging ion mobility mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) results in significant data processing challenges, including resource shortages and prolonged processing times in standard personal computers due to the large amount of data generated, which is difficult to handle with existing imaging mass spectrometry data analysis software.

Innovation Solution

The method involves reducing data dimensions by limiting the ion mobility range based on mass-to-charge ratio correlations and performing peak detection, or merging two-dimensional axes into a one-dimensional axis using ion mobility and mass-to-charge ratio correlations, thereby reducing data volume and processing workload.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If ion mobility mass spectrometry is used for imaging analysis, then measurement precision and information quality are improved, but data volume and processing complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddata volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes redundant data from the three-dimensional ion mobility mass spectrometry data by identifying and eliminating regions with no ion signals (zero-value regions). This extraction approach removes unnecessary data while preserving the essential information needed for analysis, directly reducing data volume without compromising measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by selectively processing only the necessary portions of the data. Instead of processing the entire three-dimensional data set, the method identifies and processes only the regions containing actual ion signals, performing analysis on partial data that is sufficient for obtaining meaningful results while avoiding the computational burden of processing all data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Loss of information

If ion mobility mass spectrometry is used for imaging analysis, then information quality is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation qualityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes redundant data from the three-dimensional ion mobility mass spectrometry data by identifying and eliminating regions with no ion signals (zero-value regions). This extraction approach removes unnecessary data while preserving the essential information needed for analysis, directly reducing data volume without compromising measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by selectively processing only the necessary portions of the data. Instead of processing the entire three-dimensional data set, the method identifies and processes only the regions containing actual ion signals, performing analysis on partial data that is sufficient for obtaining meaningful results while avoiding the computational burden of processing all data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Device complexity

If standard personal computers are used for data processing, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but processing capacity and speed are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidprocessing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes redundant data from the three-dimensional ion mobility mass spectrometry data by identifying and eliminating regions with no ion signals (zero-value regions). This extraction approach removes unnecessary data while preserving the essential information needed for analysis, directly reducing data volume without compromising measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of the data by transforming three-dimensional data into two-dimensional data through the removal of zero-value regions. This parameter change reduces the data dimensionality and volume, making the data suitable for processing by standard personal computers with limited computational resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250334547A1Imaging Analysis Method and Apparatus Using Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 SHIMADZU CORP

AI summary

One mode of an imaging analysis apparatus according to the present invention includes: a measurement unit configured to acquire analysis result data by performing ion mobility mass spectrometry for each of a plurality of micro regions in a predetermined measurement region in a sample; a correlation investigation unit (22, 23) configured to investigate a correlation between an m/z and an ion mobility in the analysis result data based on the analysis result data acquired by the measurement unit; and a data reduction unit (24, 25) configured to reduce an amount of the analysis result data by limiting an ion mobility range according to the m/z or limiting an m/z range according to the ion mobility based on the correlation obtained by the correlation investigation unit.