Planar Electrostatic Ion Trap Arrays for High-Throughput Mass Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-resolution accurate-mass (HR/AM) analyzers using electrostatic ion traps are limited in productivity, with throughput restricted to a few tens to few hundred spectra per second, and face challenges in dynamic range and depth of analysis, particularly in proteomics, due to space charge effects and limitations in electrode accuracy in arrays of mass analyzers.
Innovation Solution
A microscale electrostatic ion trap (μEST) with planar electrodes and low capacitance detection electrodes, allowing for high-resolution accurate-mass analysis of small numbers of ions, including single ions, and capable of parallel operation in arrays, facilitated by lithographic manufacturing techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing HR/AM analyzers use electrostatic ion traps with conventional electrode configurations, then high-resolution accurate-mass analysis is achieved, but productivity is limited to a few tens to few hundred spectra per second
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the ion analysis function into multiple parallel electrostatic ion traps (e.g., 64 traps in a single orbitrap device), allowing simultaneous analysis of multiple ion populations. This segmentation enables the system to process many more spectra per second while maintaining the high-resolution accurate-mass analysis capability of each individual trap through identical electrostatic field configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-channel sequential analysis approach to a multi-channel parallel architecture by arranging multiple ion traps in different spatial dimensions (e.g., stacked in the z-direction). This dimensional expansion allows independent simultaneous operation of multiple traps, dramatically increasing productivity from tens/hundreds to thousands of spectra per second while each trap maintains its high-resolution measurement precision.
2Productivity
If as many species as possible are crowded in a single MS or MS/MS spectrum to maximize productivity, then throughput increases, but space charge effects limit the dynamic range and depth of analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ion population across multiple parallel traps, with each trap receiving and analyzing a separate subset of ions. This distribution prevents space charge accumulation in any single trap, maintaining dynamic range and depth of analysis for low-abundance species. Simultaneously, the aggregate data from all traps achieves high throughput equivalent to analyzing many more species in a single spectrum.
Solution Approach 2:
Each individual ion trap maintains optimized local conditions (electrostatic field configuration, ion capacity) suitable for high-precision analysis of its specific ion population. This local optimization ensures that each trap operates within its linear dynamic range, preserving measurement precision for low-abundance ions, while the global system achieves high productivity through parallel operation of multiple such optimized units.
3Productivity
If arrays of mass analyzers are used to increase throughput, then productivity improves, but inherent limitations on electrode accuracy reduce high-resolution accurate-mass capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple electrostatic ion traps into a single integrated device architecture (e.g., multiple traps sharing a common vacuum chamber, detection system, and control electronics). This unified structure ensures that all traps experience identical environmental conditions and use the same high-precision electrode manufacturing process, maintaining consistent high-resolution accurate-mass capabilities across all channels while achieving high throughput through parallel operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a universal trap architecture where each electrostatic ion trap uses identical electrode configurations and operating principles, allowing any trap to perform high-resolution accurate-mass analysis. This universality ensures that productivity increases through parallelism do not compromise measurement precision, as each trap maintains the same high-resolution capabilities regardless of its position in the array.
4Productivity
If conventional electrostatic ion traps analyze large numbers of ions, then throughput increases, but space charge effects ultimately limit the dynamic range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the total ion population across multiple parallel traps, with each trap analyzing a smaller subset of ions. This segmentation prevents space charge effects from limiting the dynamic range in any individual trap, as each trap operates below its space charge capacity. The combined output from all traps achieves high productivity equivalent to analyzing large numbers of ions while maintaining extended dynamic range for detecting low-abundance species.
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
Enables high-throughput, sensitive, and dynamic range analysis of individual ions with improved throughput and sensitivity, enabling MS/MS and MSn operations, and overcoming limitations of single-channel mass spectrometers.
Implementation Method 1
electrostatic ion trap configuration... electrostatic fields... electrostatic potentials are applied to at least some of the electrodes for confinement of ions
Implementation Method 2
Orbital trapping mass analyzers and some other electrostatic ions traps use image current for non-destructive detection of ions
Data Source
AI summary
An electrostatic ion trap or an array of electrostatic ion traps are provided having a longitudinal length of no more than 10 mm and/or at least one electrode with a capacitance to ground of no more than 1 pF. First and second sets of planar electrodes may be distributed along the longitudinal axis, at least some of the which are configured to receive an electrostatic potential for confinement of ions received in the space between the first and second sets of planar electrodes. An array may comprise an inlet for receiving an ion beam such that a portion of the ion beam can be trapped in each of the ion traps. Signals indicative of ion mass and charge data may be obtained from multiple electrostatic ion traps in the array. This mass and charge data may be combined for identification of components of a mixture of different analyte ions.