Multi-bore Capillary for Mass Spectrometer Ion Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mass spectrometers face limitations in ion flow due to turbulence and attendant ion losses when the internal diameter of capillary bores exceeds 0.9 mm, restricting the increase in ion flow rate, and metal capillaries are electrically conductive, limiting ion transport across potential differences.
Innovation Solution
A multi-bore capillary made of non-metallic materials like glass, with varying bore patterns and sizes, and conductive end portions for applying electrical potential, allowing increased ion flow without turbulence and enabling efficient ion transport across potential differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the internal diameter of the capillary bore is increased to improve ion flow rate, then ion flow rate increases, but turbulence and ion losses increase causing actual reduction in ion flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The single capillary bore is divided into multiple smaller capillary bores. This segmentation allows the system to maintain small diameters (avoiding turbulence) while collectively providing increased ion flow capacity through multiple parallel pathways.
2Strength
If metal capillaries are used to improve structural strength, then mechanical strength increases, but electrical conductivity increases limiting ion transport across potential differences
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary structure uses a composite design: the main body is made of non-metallic insulating material (such as glass or plastic) to prevent electrical conductivity and allow potential difference application, while conductive materials (such as metal coatings or end portions) are applied only where structural strength or electrical connection is needed.
3Productivity
If multiple metal capillaries are used to increase ion flow, then ion flow capacity increases, but electrical conductivity and limitation on applying potential differences increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple non-metallic capillaries instead of metal capillaries. This segmentation into multiple insulating pathways maintains ion flow capacity while eliminating the electrical conductivity problem, allowing potential differences to be applied across each capillary.
Solution Approach 2:
The capillaries use non-metallic insulating materials for the main body to prevent electrical conductivity, enabling the application of potential differences across the capillary ends for efficient ion transport.
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 multi-bore capillary design enhances ion flow and sensitivity by avoiding turbulence, maintaining small diameters to prevent ion losses, and allowing for efficient ion transport and declustering, resulting in improved detection sensitivity and analyte signal levels.
Implementation Method 1
the extraction of ions formed in a sample plume from a liquid chromatograph device is limited by the onset of turbulence and attendant ion losses in the capillary bore
Implementation Method 2
transporting ions through potential differences in the capillary tubes, such as applying a potential difference across opposite ends of the capillary tubes
Implementation Method 3
Mass spectrometers include an ion source for ionizing the samples for subsequent fragmentation, analysis and detection
Data Source
AI summary
A mass spectrometer system an ion source configured to produce ions and a non-metallic capillary configured to receive at least a portion of the ions from the ion source. The capillary includes an elongated body and multiple bores traversing the elongated body in a longitudinal direction. The bores transport the received ions through the capillary toward a mass analyzer of the mass spectrometer system for detection.