Multipole Ion Transfer Timing for Variable-Pressure Mass Spectrometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mass spectrometers face challenges in efficiently transferring and detecting both high-mass and low-mass ions due to variations in ion mobility caused by internal gas pressures, leading to decreased instrument sensitivity and analytical efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system adjusts the time allotted for ion transfer between multipole apparatuses based on ion properties such as mass-to-charge ratio, mass, charge, and mobility, and adjusts electrical potential differences to optimize ion transfer, using adjustable gas pressures and voltage profiles to maintain efficient ion transfer across varying conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fixed time duration is used for ion transfer between multipole apparatuses, then the system operation is simple, but ions of different masses and charges are not transferred efficiently, leading to decreased instrument sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the time duration for ion transfer based on real-time measurements of ion mobility and calculated drift times. Instead of using a fixed transfer time, the system continuously adapts the transfer duration to match the specific properties of ions being transferred, thereby optimizing transfer efficiency for ions of different masses and charges without requiring complex manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms by measuring ion mobility characteristics and using this information to adjust subsequent transfer time durations. The measured ion properties feed back into the control system, which then optimizes the transfer parameters for the next ion population, creating a closed-loop control system that improves transfer efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity
2Reliability
If gas pressure is increased to improve ion cooling and trapping, then ion mobility decreases and transfer time increases, but analytical efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the balance between gas pressure and transfer time by treating both as adjustable parameters. By calculating appropriate transfer time durations based on ion mobility measurements and adjusting the transfer time parameter to compensate for reduced ion mobility at higher pressures, the system maintains both reliable ion trapping and acceptable analytical throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary measurements of ion mobility characteristics before initiating ion transfer. By obtaining advance information about ion properties and predicting the required transfer time, the system can optimize both the gas pressure conditions and transfer duration beforehand, ensuring efficient trapping without excessive loss of analytical 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
This approach enables efficient and accurate transfer and detection of ions of all sizes and masses, preserving the versatility of hybrid mass spectrometer systems and improving analytical efficiency by optimizing transfer times and gas pressures.
Implementation Method 1
trapping ions within and moving ions into and out of a trapping volume that includes some amount of an inert 'bath' or 'cooling' gas that serves to remove kinetic energy from the ions, via non-fragmenting collisions with the gas
Implementation Method 2
adjusts electrical potential differences to optimize ion transfer, using adjustable gas pressures and voltage profiles to maintain efficient ion transfer across varying conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A mass spectrometer system, comprises: an ion source; a first and a second multipole apparatus; one or more ion gates or ion lenses between the first and second multipole apparatuses; at least one power supply configured to provide voltages to electrodes of the ion source, the mass analyzer, the first and second multipole apparatuses and the one or more ion gates or ion lenses; and a computer or electronic controller electrically coupled to the at least one power supply, wherein the computer or electronic controller comprises computer-readable instructions that are operable to cause the at least one power supply to supply voltages to the electrodes that cause transfer of ions from the first multipole apparatus to the second multipole apparatus, wherein a duration of a time allotted for completion of the transfer of the ions is dependent upon one or more properties of the ions being transferred.