Offset Ion Funnel With Auxiliary Gas Flow for Stable Ion Transport
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ion transport systems in mass spectrometry face challenges in efficiently transporting ions from atmospheric pressure to high-vacuum regions while minimizing gas turbulence and ion fragmentation, and they lack an independent calibrant inlet for real-time monitoring.
Innovation Solution
The ion transport system incorporates a slotted-bore ion transfer tube and an auxiliary tube for delivering an auxiliary gas flow, which includes calibrant ions, to reduce gas turbulence and enhance ion transmission efficiency. The system also features a stacked-ring ion guide configuration with RF and DC electric fields to guide and focus ions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional ion funnel is used to transport ions from atmospheric pressure to high-vacuum region, then ion transport is achieved, but gas turbulence and ion fragmentation occur reducing transmission efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The ion transport system is divided into multiple distinct sections: an ion transfer tube for initial ion conveyance, a stacked-ring ion guide with multiple electrodes for controlled ion guidance, and pressure-restricting apertures for staged pressure reduction. This segmentation allows each component to optimize for its specific function, reducing turbulence and fragmentation while maintaining high transmission efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacked-ring ion guide acts as an intermediary device between the atmospheric pressure ion source and the high-vacuum mass analyzer. It provides a transition zone with controlled electric fields that gently guide ions through the pressure gradient, preventing direct exposure to harsh pressure differences that cause fragmentation and turbulence.
2Quantity of substance
If ion transport system operates at atmospheric pressure ionization, then ion generation is achieved, but pressure difference causes gas flow turbulence
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic pressure control through multiple adjustable pressure-restricting apertures and a stacked-ring ion guide with variable RF and DC voltages. This allows the gas flow to be dynamically managed through different pressure stages, maintaining stability despite the overall pressure difference between ionization and analysis regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacked-ring ion guide serves as an intermediary chamber that buffers the pressure difference between atmospheric pressure ionization and high-vacuum analysis. It creates intermediate pressure zones that stabilize gas flow by preventing direct, turbulent flow across the full pressure gradient.
3Ease of operation
If stacked-ring ion guide with RF and DC electric fields is used, then ion guidance and focusing are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stacked-ring ion guide electrodes serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide RF fields for ion confinement, DC fields for axial guidance and focusing, and act as physical structures defining the ion transport pathway. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, managing complexity while enhancing ion control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines RF and DC voltage applications on the same stacked-ring electrode structure, merging two types of electric field control into a single integrated component. This consolidation simplifies the overall device architecture compared to using separate RF and DC electrode systems, while maintaining superior ion guidance and focusing performance.
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 improves ion transmission efficiency by minimizing gas turbulence and ion fragmentation, while allowing for independent calibration without disrupting sample analysis, thereby enhancing the overall performance and accuracy of mass spectrometry.
Implementation Method 1
an ion funnel comprising an ion inlet aperture configured to receive the ions from the first electrode section, a second ion transport volume, and an ion outlet aperture configured to transfer the ions from the second ion transport volume to a mass analyzer
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of ring electrodes arranged in a stacked configuration, which are generally described as stacked-ring ion guides
Implementation Method 3
The ion transport system incorporates a slotted-bore ion transfer tube and an auxiliary tube for delivering an auxiliary gas flow
Data Source
AI summary
A mass spectrometer ion transport system comprises: (a) an ion transfer tube for receiving ions from an atmospheric pressure ionization ion source and comprising an ion outlet end; (b) an apparatus comprising: a first electrode section comprising a first ion transport volume and configured to receive the ions from the ion outlet end of the ion transfer tube; an ion funnel comprising an ion inlet aperture configured to receive the ions from the first electrode section, a second ion transport volume, and an ion outlet aperture configured to transfer the ions from the second ion transport volume to a mass analyzer, and (c) an auxiliary tube for delivering an auxiliary flow of gas into the first electrode section; wherein the ion funnel ion inlet aperture is offset from a linear axis defined between the ion transfer tube ion outlet end and the ion funnel ion outlet aperture.