Multi-Reflection Mass Spectrometer Mirror Tilt Aberration Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometers face temporal aberrations due to tilted mirror electrodes, which cause ions to have different flight times based on their injection angles, leading to reduced resolution and the inability to compensate for mechanical imperfections such as misalignment and curvature in the mirrors.

Innovation Solution

The use of correction electrodes with varying voltage offsets along the drift direction to counteract the intended tilt aberrations and unintended perturbations, allowing for a consistent ion flight time across different injection angles and mechanical imperfections, thereby maintaining high mass resolving power and spatial focusing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If tilted mirror electrodes are used to extend ion flight path, then flight path length is increased, but mechanical precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveion flight pathVSAvoidmirror alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical precision requirements with an electrical correction system. Instead of relying on perfectly aligned mirror electrodes, the invention uses correction electrodes with adjustable voltages to compensate for misalignment and curvature errors, substituting mechanical precision with electrical control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The correction electrodes are designed to automatically compensate for mechanical imperfections through voltage adjustment. The system self-corrects for mirror misalignment and curvature by applying appropriate voltage offsets to the correction electrodes, eliminating the need for precise mechanical adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If stripe electrodes are used to correct ToF aberrations, then mass resolution is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemass resolutionVSAvoidelectrode configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The correction electrodes serve multiple functions: they correct temporal aberrations, compensate for mirror misalignment, and adjust for curvature errors. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate correction mechanisms, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining high mass resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution effectively corrects for time-of-flight aberrations and mechanical imperfections, ensuring consistent ion detection and maintaining high mass resolving power even with imperfect mirror configurations, without requiring precise mechanical adjustments.

Implementation Method 1

the correction electrodes are electrically biased with voltages so as to produce, in at least a portion of the space extending between the opposing mirrors, a combined voltage offset which varies as a function of the distance along the Y direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric field: Electric Field

Implementation Method 2

ions are extracted from an ion trap and injected into the mirror electrodes and the ions are then reflected between the mirror electrodes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon reflection in electric field: Electric Field

Implementation Method 3

multi-reflection time-of-flight (MR-ToF) mass analyser

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS20240395531A1Multi-reflection mass spectrometer

Publication Date: 2024.11.28 THERMO FISHER SCI BREMEN

AI summary

A multi-reflection time of flight mass spectrometer comprises two ion-optical mirrors elongated along a drift (Y) direction and separated in the Z direction and tilted so that their separation in the Z direction decreases with distance along the Y direction. Correction electrodes extend along the Y direction in or adjacent the space between the mirrors. Each correction electrode has a surface parallel to the Y-Z plane shaped such that its separation from one of the mirrors varies along the Y direction. The correction electrodes are biased to produce a combined voltage offset which varies as a function of distance along the Y direction. A first component corrects for an intended aberration arising from the mirror tilt and a second component to correct for unintended aberrations arising from perturbations to the ideal time of flight extending from maximum to minimum perturbations.