Ionization Device Sampling Probe Thermal Desorption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal desorption and ionization devices for mass spectrometry face challenges such as high operating environment requirements, complex structure, low analysis sensitivity, poor reproducibility, and limited sample throughput due to the arrangement of components affecting carrier gas and electric fields.
Innovation Solution
An ionization device with a detachable sampling probe that can be heated under normal pressure, integrated with a heating assembly to rapidly desorb samples without vacuumization, ensuring reproducibility and sensitivity by arranging the ionization part downstream, and using high-resistivity conductors for efficient heating and portability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wire mesh is arranged between the ionization component and the analysis assembly inlet, then the sample can be thermally desorbed and ionized, but the carrier gas flow field is disturbed and signal stability is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into three distinct functional modules: sampling module, ionization module, and analysis module. The sampling module with wire mesh is positioned upstream, the ionization module with carrier gas generation device is in the middle, and the analysis assembly is downstream. This segmentation eliminates the interference between components by ensuring the sampling module does not obstruct the carrier gas flow field in the ionization and analysis regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional plane arrangement to a three-dimensional spatial configuration. The sampling module, ionization module, and analysis module are arranged in three-dimensional space with optimized positioning, allowing the carrier gas to flow freely through the ionization region while the sampling module performs thermal desorption in a separate spatial zone.
2Device complexity
If the sampling probe and heating assembly are integrated, then the device structure is simplified, but the heating rate and desorption efficiency need to be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling probe and heating assembly are merged into an integrated sampling module. The wire mesh serves dual functions as both the sample carrier and the heating element, eliminating the need for separate heating components and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining effective thermal desorption capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the heating parameters by controlling the temperature and heating rate of the wire mesh. The heating assembly is designed to provide sufficient thermal energy for rapid desorption of analytes from the sample matrix, with temperature parameters optimized to balance desorption efficiency and prevent sample degradation.
3Reliability
If thermal desorption is performed under vacuum, then ionization efficiency is maintained, but the operating environment requirements become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a carrier gas (such as nitrogen or helium) to create an inert atmosphere in the ionization region. This allows thermal desorption to be performed under atmospheric pressure conditions while maintaining an environment suitable for ionization, thereby relaxing the vacuum requirements and enabling greater operational flexibility without compromising ionization efficiency.
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 solution enables rapid and efficient sample desorption with improved reproducibility and sensitivity, reducing molecular structure destruction and expanding the range of analyzable samples, while simplifying the device structure and operation.
Implementation Method 1
the heating assembly is used to heat the sampling probe under or near the normal pressure to enable the sample to be desorbed on the surface of the sampling probe
Implementation Method 2
using high-resistivity conductors for efficient heating
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of mass and/or ion mobility spectrometers. Provided is an ionization device and a mass spectrometer and an ion mobility spectrometer having same. Further provided is an ionization method. A sampling probe of the ionization device of the present invention is able to actively and rapidly collect samples, while a sampling device and a thermal desorption device are combined into one, simplifying and compacting the sampling device. An ionization part is provided downstream of the sampling and desorption part, ensuring that the sampling probe will not interfere with a flow field or an electric field between the ionization part and the analysis assembly inlet, thus ensuring repeatability of the device signal and flexibility of analysis.