Ion Mobility Analyzer with Dual Ion Storage for High Duty Cycle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Filter-type ion mobility spectrometers have a low ion utilization efficiency due to their filtering behavior, resulting in a duty cycle less than 1%, which limits their sensitivity and qualitative capability.
Innovation Solution
An ion mobility analysis apparatus with two ion storage zones that temporarily store ions not meeting the scanning conditions, allowing them to be analyzed when conditions become appropriate, thereby achieving a near 100% ion utilization efficiency and improving sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If filter-type ion mobility spectrometer is used to scan operating parameters to separate ions with different mobilities, then mobility resolution is improved, but ion utilization efficiency deteriorates to less than 1% duty cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by storing ions in advance in an ion storage zone before the mobility analysis. Ions are accumulated continuously and then pulsed to the mobility analyzer when conditions are appropriate, allowing the system to prepare ions for analysis ahead of time rather than losing them during parameter scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an ion storage zone as an intermediary component between the ion source and the mobility analyzer. This intermediate storage zone temporarily holds ions that cannot be analyzed immediately, mediating between continuous ion generation and the scanning nature of the mobility analyzer, thereby preventing ion loss.
2Productivity
If ion storage zone is introduced to increase duty cycle, then ion utilization efficiency is improved to near 100%, but other properties such as resolution or dynamic range may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using pulsed ion release from the storage zone. Instead of continuous release, ions are stored and then released in periodic pulses synchronized with the mobility analyzer's scanning cycle, allowing high duty cycle while maintaining resolution through controlled timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves continuity of useful action by continuously accumulating ions in the storage zone while the mobility analyzer scans. The ion accumulation is continuous, and the analysis capability is maintained through periodic pulsing, ensuring that ion utilization is maximized without compromising the analytical process.
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
The apparatus effectively increases the duty cycle of filter-type ion mobility spectrometers to nearly 100%, enhancing sensitivity and qualitative capability by ensuring almost all ions are analyzed without loss, even during continuous scanning.
Implementation Method 1
Ion mobility spectrometers can be used to analyze the mobility or differential mobility of ions
Implementation Method 2
the value of amplitude of an electric field orthogonal to the direction of a gas flow can be scanned so that the ions with different mobilities pass through a receiving slit successively
Data Source
AI summary
A high duty cycle ion mobility analysis apparatus includes an ion source, first and second ion storage zones, and an ion mobility analyzer. The ion mobility analyzer includes first and second channels containing a gas flow paralleled to an ion migration direction and a direct current electric field in the opposite direction of the gas flow, and the direct current electric fields in the channels are different in strength. In a continuous scanning period, ions that have not reached appropriate scanning conditions or have missed the appropriate scanning conditions and thus are unable to pass through the mobility analyzer are temporarily stored in two independent ion storage zones without being lost to be analyzed by the mobility analyzer until conditions of the scanning period or a next scanning period are appropriate.