Porous Sample Support Structure for Imaging Mass Spectrometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sample support bodies are not suitable for imaging mass spectrometry, as they are fragile and prone to breaking during sample handling, and lack efficient ionization methods that maintain position information of sample components.
Innovation Solution
A sample support body with a substrate and a porous layer having holes with specific dimensions and a conductive layer, allowing for efficient ionization of sample components while maintaining their two-dimensional distribution information, is developed. The porous layer is designed to handle samples without breaking and facilitate efficient ionization through energy ray irradiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the substrate thickness is reduced to several μm for imaging mass spectrometry, then the sample support body becomes more suitable for high-resolution imaging, but the substrate becomes fragile and prone to breaking during handling
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a thin substrate (several μm thick) combined with a porous layer having specific hole dimensions. The substrate provides the necessary mechanical support while the porous layer enables efficient ionization. This composite approach allows the substrate to be thin enough for high-resolution imaging mass spectrometry while maintaining sufficient strength through the combined structure.
2Productivity
If the porous layer holes have small dimensions (average depth 3-100 μm, depth/width ratio 9-2500), then excess liquid escapes efficiently and sample components remain on the surface, but the manufacturing precision required to create such holes becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a porous layer with specifically controlled hole dimensions (average depth 3-100 μm and depth/width ratio 9-2500) to achieve efficient liquid drainage while maintaining sample components on the surface for effective ionization. The porous structure is designed to balance liquid escape capability with sample retention, optimizing ionization efficiency for imaging mass spectrometry.
3Reliability
If the holes in the porous layer have widened openings toward the surface, then sample components are retained on the surface side increasing ionization area, but the manufacturing complexity of creating such non-uniform hole shapes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous layer features holes with non-uniform cross-sections where the openings are widened toward the surface compared to the narrower portions deeper in the layer. This local variation in hole geometry serves to retain sample components on the surface side where ionization occurs, while still allowing excess liquid to escape through the narrower lower portions. The localized structural differentiation optimizes both sample retention and liquid drainage.
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 sample support body is easy to handle, allows excess liquid to escape, and ensures high-efficiency ionization of sample components while maintaining their position information, enabling high-sensitivity imaging mass spectrometry.
Implementation Method 1
excess liquid (moisture or the like) contained in the sample can easily escape into the plurality of holes
Implementation Method 2
the irradiation area of the energy rays for ionizing the components of the sample increases. Accordingly, for example, by irradiating the surface of the porous layer with the energy rays, the components of the sample can be ionized with high efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A sample support body includes a substrate and a porous layer provided on the substrate and having a surface opposite the substrate. The porous layer includes a body layer having a plurality of holes open to a surface of the porous layer. Each of the plurality of holes includes an extension portion extending in a thickness direction of the substrate and an opening widened from an end of the extension portion on a surface side toward the surface. An average value of the depths of the plurality of holes is 3 μm or more and 100 μm or less. A value obtained by dividing the average value of the depths by an average value of the widths of the plurality of holes is 9 or more and 2500 or less.