Mass Spectrometer Probe Gas Flow Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ion attachment mass spectrometers face challenges in achieving high sensitivity, reproducibility, and maintaining the integrity of sample components during analysis, particularly due to the limitations of N2 pressure and buoyant forces affecting the movement of neutral gas phase molecules, leading to potential loss or alteration of sample components during component separation.
Innovation Solution
A mass spectrometer design that includes an ionization chamber generating fragment-free ions and a mass spectrometer chamber with a probe that heats a liquid or solid sample to generate gas, which is then introduced with a third-body gas to enhance the ascending force and reduce diffusion and adsorption issues, using a modified connecting pipe arrangement to improve the flow and viscosity of the gas, thereby enhancing the detection efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If N2 gas is introduced into the ionization chamber to stabilize ion-attached molecules, then excess energy is removed from the molecules, but the neutral gas phase molecules cannot ascend effectively due to lack of buoyant force and may be lost through diffusion and adsorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third-body gas (different from N2) that serves as an intermediary to transfer kinetic energy from ascending neutral molecules to the gas molecules, thereby stabilizing ion-attached molecules while simultaneously providing buoyant force to prevent loss of neutral gas phase molecules through diffusion and adsorption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the type of gas introduced into the ionization chamber from conventional N2 to a different third-body gas, altering the physical parameters (buoyant force, kinetic energy transfer) to simultaneously achieve molecular stabilization and prevent sample loss
2Measurement precision
If the sample evaporation chamber is arranged separately from the ionization chamber, then the ionization process can be optimized, but the neutral gas phase molecules require additional time to move from the evaporation chamber to the ionization chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses gas flow dynamics (pneumatics) by introducing third-body gas that creates upward flow to rapidly transport neutral gas phase molecules from the evaporation chamber to the ionization chamber, reducing transport time while maintaining ionization quality
3Productivity
If the probe is arranged to heat the sample from the outside, then the sample can be evaporated efficiently, but the neutral gas phase molecules are released in a direction perpendicular to the central axis, reducing detection efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the buoyant force of the introduced third-body gas to counteract the perpendicular release direction of neutral molecules, creating an upward ascending force that directs molecules toward the ionization chamber and improves detection efficiency while maintaining evaporation 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 achieves significantly improved sensitivity, reproducibility, and reduced sample loss, with a sensitivity increase of about 50 times and improved responseness and memory, while maintaining the original molecular form of the sample components.
Implementation Method 1
the sample is evaporated and releases neutral gas phase molecules of the sample as a gas
Implementation Method 2
introducing a predetermined gas from the probe to the ionization chamber to transport, to the ionization chamber, the gas to be detected that is generated at the probe
Implementation Method 3
the neutral gas phase molecules are ionized, generating ions
Data Source
AI summary
A mass spectrometer includes an ionization chamber (100) which generates fragment-free ions to be detected from an introduced gas to be detected, and a mass spectrometer chamber (140) including a mass spectrometer (160) which fractionates by mass the ions to be detected that are transported from the ionization chamber and which detects the ions. The mass spectrometer further includes a probe (111) which holds a liquid sample or a solid sample and causes the liquid sample or the solid sample to generate the gas to be detected upon heating by a heating means, and a gas introduction means (170) which introduces a predetermined gas from the probe to the ionization chamber to transport, to the ionization chamber, the gas to be detected that is generated at the probe.