Ion Mobility Spectrometer With Ion Modification for Higher Selectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ion mobility spectrometers lack sufficient methods for analyzing, modifying, and influencing ions beyond the basic ion mobility spectrometry, limiting their selectivity, linearity, and sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an ion modification area between the ion packet provision device and the drift chamber, which allows for physical and chemical modifications of ions through electric fields and additional substances, enabling changes such as displacement, speed alteration, cluster formation, fragmentation, and chemical reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If only basic ion mobility spectrometry is used, then the device structure remains simple, but the analysis capabilities and selectivity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The drift chamber is divided into multiple segments: a first drift chamber for initial ion separation, an ion modification area for additional processing, and a second drift chamber for further separation. This segmentation allows each section to perform specific functions, enhancing overall analysis capabilities while maintaining manageable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to ion analysis by inserting an ion modification area between the ion packet provision device and the drift chamber. This modification area introduces additional processing steps (chemical reactions, cluster formation, fragmentation) that occur in a separate spatial zone, thereby expanding analysis capabilities without overwhelming the device structure
2Measurement precision
If no ion modification is performed, then the device operation is simple, but the selectivity and sensitivity of analysis are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Reagent gases are introduced as intermediaries in the ion modification area to facilitate chemical reactions with the ions. These reagent gases act as mediators that enhance selectivity by enabling specific chemical interactions between ions and the modification chamber environment, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring complex operational procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The ion modification area enables changes in ion parameters such as chemical composition, cluster formation, and fragmentation through controlled chemical reactions. By modifying ion parameters before detection, the system achieves higher selectivity and sensitivity while keeping operational complexity manageable through automated parameter control
3Loss of information
If ions are directly detected without modification, then the process is efficient, but additional information and sensitivity are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The ion modification area performs preliminary actions on ions before they enter the drift chamber for detection. Chemical reactions, cluster formation, and fragmentation processes are carried out in advance to enrich ion packets with additional information, ensuring that more comprehensive data is available for subsequent detection without significantly increasing process complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The ion modification area serves multiple functions: it can perform chemical reactions, induce cluster formation, cause fragmentation, and modify ion mobility properties. This multi-functionality allows a single additional component to provide diverse information enhancement capabilities, thereby reducing the need for multiple separate devices and limiting the increase in process complexity
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
Enhances the analysis capabilities by providing additional information, improving selectivity, linearity, and sensitivity through modifications like displacement, speed alteration, cluster formation, and fragmentation of ions.
Implementation Method 1
by generating in the modification chamber an electrical field, in particular an alternating electrical field, having a field strength exceeding a predetermined value and causing thereby a displacement of at least one species from the ions present in a direction deviating from the drift direction
Implementation Method 2
by generating in the modification chamber an electrical field, in particular an alternating electrical field, having a field strength exceeding a predetermined value and causing thereby fragmentation of ions
Implementation Method 3
by generating in the modification chamber an electrical field, in particular an alternating electrical field, having a field strength exceeding a predetermined value and causing thereby promotion of chemical reactions of the ions
Implementation Method 4
a drift chamber, through which the ions are guided over a predetermined distance in a drift direction to the ion detector
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an ion mobility spectrometer comprising the following features:a) at least one ion packet provision device configured to provide packets of ions separated from one another in succession at time intervals,b) an ion detector,c) at least one drift chamber, through which the ions are guided over a predetermined distance in a drift direction to the ion detector in order to be discharged there.The invention additionally relates to a method for analyzing substances by ion mobility spectrometry by means of an ion mobility spectrometer of the above-mentioned type.