Tandem Ion Mobility Spectrometer for Ion Storage and Reanalysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tandem ion mobility spectrometers suffer from low duty cycle and ion loss due to the selection process of ions within the target mobility range, complicating system configuration and reducing ion utilization efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A tandem ion mobility spectrometer with a U-shaped analyzer (UMA) featuring dual channels and an ion dissociation device, allowing ions outside the target mobility range to be stored and later analyzed, with adjustable electric fields for efficient ion selection and dissociation, achieving 100% ion utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ions outside the target mobility range are lost during the selection process in the first TIMS, then the resolution and sensitivity for target ions are improved, but the duty cycle of the system is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the discarding and recovering principle by temporarily discarding ions outside the target mobility range during the first TIMS selection process, then recovering them through the second TIMS analysis. The second TIMS performs a broader mobility range analysis to capture and analyze ions that were initially filtered out, ensuring complete ion utilization while maintaining high resolution for target ions in the first TIMS.
2Reliability
If ion gates are placed at the ion outlet of the first TIMS to kill ions outside the target mobility range, then the specificity of ion selection is improved, but the system configuration is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ion selection function from the first TIMS outlet by implementing a second independent TIMS device. Instead of adding complex ion gates at the first TIMS outlet, the system extracts ions through the first TIMS and performs a second mobility-based selection in the second TIMS, simplifying the overall configuration while maintaining high selection specificity.
3Reliability
If only ions within the target mobility range are selected during a single scanning cycle, then the specificity of detection is improved, but the utilization efficiency of ions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through two sequential scanning cycles using two TIMS devices. The first TIMS performs a initial mobility-based selection, and the second TIMS performs a subsequent mobility-based analysis. This periodic, multi-stage approach ensures that all ions are utilized across the two cycles, with the first cycle providing specificity and the second cycle recovering and analyzing previously filtered ions.
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
Enhances ion resolution and sensitivity by storing non-target ions, reducing spatial charge effects, and improving duty cycle without sacrificing sensitivity, enabling efficient ion mobility analysis of both target and fragment ions.
Implementation Method 1
Ion mobility spectrometry is a technique that separates ions based on their mobility. The power supply is electrically connected with the first electrode array, the second electrode array, the third electrode array and the fourth electrode array, and configured to apply an electric field force to ions in the first channel and the second channel which is opposite to a direction of a force exerted by the gas flow on the ions.
Implementation Method 2
The gas flow supply supplies gas flow to the first channel and the second channel.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to the field of ion mobility analysis, and particularly provides a tandem ion mobility spectrometer and an ion mobility analysis method. The tandem ion mobility spectrometer incorporates an ion dissociation device into a basic structure of a UMA, enabling ion mobility spectrometric analysis of ions within a target mobility range as well as fragment ions resulting from dissociation of the ions, achieving higher resolution. Additionally, by configuring an electric field in a first channel to allow ions to accumulate therein, when the ions within the target ion mobility range are released, ions outside the target ion mobility range which need to be analyzed can remain stored in the first channel and be released for analysis later, making ion utilization more efficient.