Movable Ionization Chamber for LC-MS Aperture Concealment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid chromatography mass spectrometers incur additional costs due to the need for a housing unit to conceal the control chamber interior during analysis, which is not necessary if the ionization chamber can be made movable between maintenance and analysis positions.
Innovation Solution
The ionization chamber is designed to be movable between maintenance and analysis positions, with a shielding plate that closes the aperture when in analysis mode and opens it when in maintenance mode, allowing the connecting tubes to pass through, thus concealing the control chamber interior without a housing unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a housing unit is added to conceal the control chamber interior during analysis, then the appearance and professionalism of the instrument is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ionization chamber is made movable between analysis position and maintenance position. During analysis, it covers the control chamber aperture to provide a professional appearance. During maintenance, it moves away to allow access to connecting tubes and components. This dynamic positioning eliminates the need for a permanent housing unit while maintaining aesthetic appearance during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The ionization chamber serves dual functions: it performs ionization during analysis and simultaneously acts as a shielding plate to conceal the control chamber interior. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate housing unit, reducing device complexity while maintaining professional appearance.
2Ease of repair
If the ionization chamber is made movable between maintenance and analysis positions, then ease of maintenance and operational flexibility are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional moving mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The ionization chamber is designed to be movable along the vertical direction between analysis position (covering the aperture) and maintenance position (away from the aperture). This movement allows easy access to connecting tubes and control chamber components for maintenance while maintaining professional appearance during analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding plate is integrated with the ionization chamber structure and moves together with it. This shielding plate mediates between the need for appearance concealment during analysis and the need for access during maintenance, automatically providing coverage when in analysis position and opening access when in maintenance position.
3Shape
If a shielding plate is added to close the aperture during analysis, then the concealment of control chamber interior is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ionization chamber is designed to serve dual functions: performing ionization during analysis and simultaneously acting as a shielding plate to conceal the control chamber interior. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate shielding plate component, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective concealment during analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding function is merged with the ionization chamber structure itself. The ionization chamber body acts as the shielding plate, combining two functions (ionization and concealment) into a single component, thereby eliminating the need for additional separate shielding plate components.
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 allows for the concealment of the control chamber interior during analysis without the need for a housing unit, reducing costs and enhancing operational flexibility by enabling the ionization chamber to switch between positions seamlessly.
Implementation Method 1
the needle electrode generates corona discharge to generate carrier gas ions (buffer ions) which chemically react with mist of a heated sample droplet in the nozzle
Implementation Method 2
there is approximately 5 kV of high voltage applied at the tip of the nozzle to generate a strong non-uniform electric field. The electric field separates electric charges of a liquid sample
Implementation Method 3
The electric field separates electric charges of a liquid sample, and the Coulomb force makes the liquid sample mist
Implementation Method 4
the solvent of the liquid sample evaporates by contacting with surrounding air, generating an ion gas
Data Source
AI summary
The ionization chamber of the mass spectrometer is movable between the maintenance position for performing maintenance of the mass spectrometer unit and the analysis position for performing sample analysis, using a shielding plate synchronized with the motion of the ionization chamber where the shielding plate closes part of the aperture of the predetermined region when the ionization chamber is in the analysis position, whereas the shielding plate opens part of the aperture of the predetermined region when the ionization chamber is in the maintenance position so that connection tubes may pass through the part of the aperture of the predetermined region.