Ion Spectrometer Continuous Storage Orthogonal Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mass spectrometers using sequential scanning analyzers operate with a low duty cycle, resulting in ion wastage and reduced sensitivity, especially when using continuous ion sources like electrospray ionization, as they can only transmit ions within a narrow range of mass to charge ratios at a given time.
Innovation Solution
An ion spectrometer design featuring an ion source generating a continuous beam of ions with a wide range of mass to charge ratios, an ion trap that receives and orthogonally ejects ions with a narrower range, and an analyzer that separates ions based on their characteristics, allowing for continuous ion storage and selective ejection, thereby improving the duty cycle and reducing ion wastage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sequential scanning mass analyzers are used to transmit ions with a narrow range of mass to charge ratios, then mass analysis precision is improved, but ion transmission efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ion trap performs preliminary accumulation of ions across a wide mass range before analysis. Ions are continuously trapped and stored in the ion trap, preparing them in advance for subsequent selective ejection and analysis, thereby resolving the conflict between narrow bandwidth analysis and continuous ion availability
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the time dimension of ion acquisition from the time dimension of ion analysis. Ions are accumulated continuously in the ion trap while the mass analyzer operates sequentially, creating a temporal decoupling that allows high-resolution mass analysis without sacrificing ion transmission efficiency
2Measurement precision
If sequential scanning mass analyzers operate with a narrow transmission window, then mass resolution is improved, but duty cycle deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ion trap accumulates ions in advance across the entire mass range before the mass analyzer begins its scanning sequence. This preliminary accumulation ensures that ions are ready for immediate analysis without time loss, maintaining high duty cycle while achieving high mass resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The ion trap operates continuously to accumulate ions while the mass analyzer performs sequential scanning. The continuous trapping action ensures no ions are lost during the analyzer's scanning cycle, maintaining continuous useful action and high duty cycle despite the sequential nature of the mass analysis
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 design enhances the duty cycle to around 10-20%, allowing more ions to be processed efficiently and achieving higher sensitivity and speed by storing and selectively ejecting ions, thus improving the dynamic range and detection limits.
Implementation Method 1
a power supply, coupled to the ion source and ion trap so as to provide a potential causing ions generated by the ion source to continuously flow into the ion trap
Implementation Method 2
an ion trap, arranged to receive ions from the ion source along an axis, and to eject ions with a second range of mass to charge ratios orthogonally to that axis
Implementation Method 3
an ion analyser, arranged to receive ions ejected from the ion trap and separate the ions in accordance with at least one characteristic of the ions
Data Source
AI summary
An ion spectrometer is provided, comprising: an ion source, arranged to generate ions continuously with a first range of mass to charge ratios; and an ion trap, arranged to receive ions from the ion source along an axis, and to eject ions with a second range of mass to charge ratios orthogonally to that axis, the second range of mass to charge ratios being narrower than the first range of mass to charge ratios. In some embodiments, ions generated by the ion source continuously flow into the ion trap. Additionally or alternatively, ion optics receive ions ejected from the ion trap and cool the ions without substantial fragmentation. An ion analyser receives ions ejected from the ion trap or ion optics and separates the ions in accordance with at least one characteristic of the ions.