MALDI Ion Source Shared Optical Path for Laser Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional MALDI systems face misalignment errors due to separate optical paths for the laser and visible light, making it difficult to accurately direct the laser beam at the target area and hindering the use of high-resolution optical devices that could enhance sample throughput and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system integrates the laser and optical radiation paths, using a first optical element to reflect the laser and transmit reflected light along a shared path, allowing the imaging device to view the target area and ensuring accurate alignment by sharing common optics, including a second refractive optical element for focusing and a third reflective element for redirecting radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate optical paths are used for laser and visible light in conventional MALDI systems, then the laser can be directed at the sample and the imaging device can view the target area, but misalignment errors occur making it difficult to accurately direct the laser beam at the target area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the laser optical path and visible light optical path into a single shared optical path. The laser beam and reflected visible light both travel through the same optical elements (lenses, mirrors, windows), ensuring that the imaging device views exactly the same area that the laser irradiates. This eliminates misalignment errors between separate optical paths while maintaining system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical elements in the shared path serve multiple functions: they guide the laser beam to the target area, transmit reflected visible light to the imaging device, and maintain precise spatial correspondence between the two optical paths. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by using the same components for both imaging and laser delivery, ensuring alignment accuracy without requiring separate complex optical systems.
2Measurement precision
If powerful optical lenses are employed to enhance resolution for viewing and ionization of smaller target areas, then optical resolution is improved, but misalignment of separate optical paths is exacerbated or requires expensive duplicative mechanisms for readjustment
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the laser and visible light paths into one shared optical path, the patent allows powerful optical lenses to be used for both imaging and laser focusing without creating misalignment issues. The same lens that focuses the laser also defines the field of view for the imaging device, ensuring that high resolution is achieved for both functions simultaneously without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical lenses in the shared path perform dual functions: they provide high-resolution imaging for the camera and simultaneously focus the laser beam with the same precision. This eliminates the need for expensive duplicative adjustment mechanisms that would be required if separate optical paths were used, as the alignment is inherently maintained by the shared path architecture.
3Loss of information
If separate optical paths are used for laser and visible light, then the laser beam can be directed along a dedicated path, but it is difficult to determine whether the laser beam is directed at the sample of interest in the target area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optical paths so that the imaging device captures images of the exact area that the laser beam irradiates. This provides real-time visual feedback showing the precise location of the laser spot on the sample, allowing operators to confirm accurate targeting and eliminating the uncertainty associated with separate optical paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared optical path enables real-time visual feedback through the imaging device, showing operators exactly where the laser is directed on the sample. This feedback mechanism allows immediate verification of sample targeting accuracy and enables precise positioning of the laser beam on the desired sample area, resolving the information loss problem of separate paths.
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 configuration reduces misalignment errors, enables high-resolution imaging and focusing, and allows for precise targeting of multiple sample areas, increasing sample throughput by enabling the use of high-magnification lenses and precise sample targeting.
Implementation Method 1
the first optical element reflecting the laser radiation along a first direction and transmitting the light reflected from the target area that has traversed the first optical path in a second direction
Implementation Method 2
a second optical element arranged along the first optical path to focus the laser radiation onto the target area
Data Source
AI summary
A MALDI ion source includes a sample plate for receiving a sample, a laser for producing laser radiation to ionize the sample, a first optical element arranged so as to direct the laser radiation along a first optical path toward the target area, and a second optical element arranged along the first optical path to focus the laser radiation onto the target area. The first and second optical elements are arranged that light that is reflected from the target area travels along the first optical path through the first and second optical elements, the first optical element reflecting the laser radiation along a first direction and transmitting the light reflected from the target area that has traversed the first optical path in a second direction. An imaging device for viewing the plate surface may be arranged to receive the light that has been reflected from the target area and has traversed the first optical path through the first and second optical elements.