Vacuum Driven Mass Spectrometer Interface with Adjustable Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
In differential mobility spectrometer/mass spectrometer systems, there is a tradeoff between selectivity and sensitivity, with increasing residence time enhancing selectivity but reducing sensitivity, and existing systems struggle to optimize this balance effectively.
Innovation Solution
A mass spectrometer system with a curtain gas chamber and a vacuum chamber is used, where a throttle gas or bleed gas is introduced to control the gas flow rate and residence time of ions, allowing for adjustable selectivity and sensitivity by modifying the gas flow dynamics between the differential mobility spectrometer and the mass spectrometer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the residence time of ions in the differential mobility spectrometer is increased, then selectivity is improved, but sensitivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of gas flow rate through the differential mobility spectrometer, allowing the residence time of ions to be adjusted in real-time. By making the flow rate variable rather than fixed, the system can optimize the balance between selectivity and sensitivity based on analytical requirements, resolving the trade-off through dynamic parameter adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of gas flow rate to control ion residence time in the differential mobility spectrometer. By adjusting this parameter, the system can shift the balance between selectivity and sensitivity, enabling optimization for different analytical scenarios without requiring fundamental design changes.
2Reliability
If the gas flow rate through the ion conduit is increased, then sensitivity is improved, but selectivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic adjustment of gas flow rate to control the trade-off between sensitivity and selectivity. By making the flow rate variable, operators can optimize performance for different analytical needs, achieving high sensitivity when required while maintaining the ability to enhance selectivity when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in gas flow rate to modulate ion residence time, thereby controlling the balance between sensitivity and selectivity. This parameter adjustment mechanism allows the system to adapt to different analytical requirements without compromising either performance metric.
3Measurement precision
If the residence time of ions is increased to improve resolution, then the transmission efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of ion residence time through variable gas flow rate adjustment. This allows the system to optimize resolution when needed while maintaining adequate transmission efficiency, resolving the trade-off by making residence time a controllable parameter rather than a fixed design constraint.
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 enables precise control over the tradeoff between selectivity and sensitivity, improving resolution while maintaining acceptable sensitivity by adjusting the gas flow rate and residence time of ions within the differential mobility spectrometer.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum chamber surrounding the mass spectrometer for maintaining the mass spectrometer at a vacuum pressure lower than the internal operating pressure, such that the vacuum chamber is operable to draw the gas flow including the ions through the ion conduit and into the vacuum chamber
Implementation Method 2
there is a tradeoff between selectivity and sensitivity, both of which are linked to the residence time of the ions in the differential mobility spectrometer. Specifically, increasing the residence time of the ions in the differential mobility spectrometer may increase selectivity, but at the price of reducing sensitivity
Data Source
AI summary
A mass spectrometer system and method of operating same are provided. The system comprises an ion conduit for receiving ions; a boundary member defining a curtain gas chamber containing the ion conduit; a curtain gas supply for providing a curtain gas to an inlet of the ion conduit to provide a gas flow into the conduit, and a curtain gas outflow out of a curtain gas chamber inlet; a mass spectrometer at least partially sealed to, and in fluid communication with, the conduit for receiving the ions from the conduit; a vacuum chamber surrounding the mass spectrometer operable to draw the gas flow including the ions through the conduit and into the vacuum chamber; and, a gas outlet for drawing a gas outflow from the gas flow located between the conduit and the mass spectrometer to increase the gas flow rate through the conduit.