Jet Separator for Ion Transfer in Mass Spectrometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current desorption ionization techniques face challenges in transferring analyte ions efficiently from their generation point to the mass spectrometer, particularly when using external ionization sources at atmospheric pressure, which results in reduced sensitivity and compatibility issues with conventional high vacuum ionization sources.
Innovation Solution
The use of a jet separator to selectively enrich the transfer of ions from a carrier gas, allowing for the collection and transfer of analyte ions into a high vacuum region of a mass spectrometer, thereby increasing sensitivity and enabling the coupling of desorption ionization sources with conventional high vacuum ionization sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If desorption ionization is performed at atmospheric pressure with external ionization sources, then the sampling distance from the mass spectrometer can be increased, but the transfer efficiency of analyte ions to the mass spectrometer decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A jet separator is introduced as an intermediary device between the atmospheric pressure ionization source and the high vacuum mass spectrometer. The jet separator uses a supersonic gas flow to create a pressure gradient that efficiently transports ions over longer distances while maintaining high transfer efficiency through the formation of a focused ion beam in the expanding gas flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into distinct pressure zones: an atmospheric pressure ionization region, an intermediate pressure region containing the jet separator, and a high vacuum mass spectrometer region. This segmentation allows each component to operate in its optimal pressure environment while the jet separator bridges the transition, enabling both long sampling distance and high ion transfer efficiency.
2Stress or pressure
If multiple pumping stages with small orifices are used to reduce gas pressure, then the vacuum level for mass analysis is achieved, but the orifices act as ion focusing lenses reducing ion transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The ion focusing lens function is extracted from the vacuum orifices and transferred to dedicated ion optics components positioned downstream of the jet separator. This separation allows the orifices to focus solely on pressure reduction while specialized ion lenses handle ion focusing and transmission, eliminating the conflicting functions and optimizing both vacuum generation and ion transmission independently.
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 approach enhances the sensitivity of desorption ionization techniques by enabling the sampling of a larger carrier gas volume and efficient collection of analyte ions at a significant distance from the mass spectrometer, while maintaining the integrity of the high vacuum environment.
Implementation Method 1
the jet separator, invented by Ryhage, it has been possible to efficiently remove carrier gases from the flow of gaseous molecules exiting the end of a Gas Chromatography (GC) column
Implementation Method 2
This method utilizes low mass atoms or molecules including Helium, Nitrogen and other gases that can be present as long lived metastables as a carrier gas
Implementation Method 3
the transfer of ions into the inlet of the MS relies in large part on the action of the vacuum to draw the ions into the MS inlet
Data Source
AI summary
In various embodiments of the invention, a device permits more efficient collection and transmission of ions produced by the action of a carrier gas containing metastable neutral excited-state species into a mass spectrometer. In one embodiment of the invention, the device incorporates the source for ionization in combination with a jet separator to efficiently remove excess carrier gas while permitting ions to be more efficiently transferred into the vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer. In an embodiment of the invention, improved collection of ions produced by the carrier gas containing metastable neutral excited-state species at greater distances from between the position of the analyte and the position of the mass spectrometer are enabled.