Rectilinear Ion Trap Without Separating Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mass spectrometry techniques face challenges in analyzing complex samples containing multiple analyte ions, as prior art ion traps often result in ion loss due to collisions with electrodes and limited ability to transfer ions between pseudopotential wells without losses.
Innovation Solution
The development of a mass spectrometric apparatus and method utilizing a rectilinear ion trap with no electrodes separating pseudopotential wells, allowing ions to be transmitted between wells without collisions, enabling resonance ejection of selected ions while maintaining others, and supporting various quadrupole methods like mass selective stability and resonance ejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior art ion traps use electrodes to separate pseudopotential wells, then ion confinement is achieved, but ion loss occurs due to collisions with electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the central electrode structure that separates pseudopotential wells in prior art ion traps. By extracting this problematic component, ions can be transmitted between wells without colliding with physical barriers, thereby reducing ion loss while maintaining confinement through electrostatic fields alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses electrostatic fields as an intermediary to achieve ion confinement and well separation without physical electrodes. The pseudopotential wells are created and maintained through carefully designed electrode configurations that generate appropriate field distributions, allowing ions to be confined and transferred without direct contact with solid surfaces.
2Reliability
If electrodes are present to create pseudopotential wells, then ion trapping is enabled, but ion transmission between wells is hindered by collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the central separating electrode that blocks ion transmission between pseudopotential wells. This removal allows ions to move freely between wells along the axis without colliding with physical barriers, significantly improving transmission efficiency while the trapping function is maintained through the overall electrode field configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent confines ions primarily in the radial dimension through electrostatic fields while allowing free movement in the axial dimension between wells. This dimensional separation enables efficient ion transmission along the axis without requiring physical openings or apertures that would compromise radial confinement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex electrode structures are used to create multiple pseudopotential wells, then ion manipulation capability is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the electrode structure to serve multiple functions simultaneously: creating pseudopotential wells for ion confinement, enabling ion transmission between wells, and providing control over ion manipulation operations. This multi-functional design reduces the need for separate specialized components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic control of electrode potentials to create and manipulate pseudopotential wells as needed. By varying voltages applied to different electrode segments, the system can dynamically adjust well positions, depths, and configurations to suit different analytical requirements, providing versatility without permanent structural complexity.
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 manipulation and analysis of ions by allowing selective or unselective transfer between pseudopotential wells, reducing ion loss and enhancing the ability to perform complex mass spectrometric analyses of samples with multiple analyte ions.
Implementation Method 1
rectilinear ion trap with no electrodes separating pseudopotential wells
Implementation Method 2
containing and manipulating ions in a multitude of pseudopotential wells
Implementation Method 3
resonance ejection of selected ions while maintaining others
Data Source
AI summary
In an apparatus for performing a mass spectrometric analysis of a sample, a plurality of electrodes are positioned and driven by RF potentials to form a plurality of adjacent pseudopotential wells. Ions may be manipulated, reacted, analyzed, and ejected from the apparatus in a manner similar to conventional ion traps. In addition, selected ions or groups of ions may be passed from one pseudopotential well to another pseudopotential well without ion losses due to physical obstructions. The apparatus may be used alone or in conjunction with other mass analyzers to produce mass spectra from analyte ions.