Targeted Ion Parking Selectivity Mass Spectrometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ion parking methods in mass spectrometry suffer from decreased selectivity due to charge reduction of all molecules within a subset of ionized molecules together, leading to noise and species being parked along with the masses of interest, reducing the ability to selectively retain specific ions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing targeted ion parking systems that selectively choose ions based on mass or mobility characteristics using mass analyzers and mobility cells, allowing for charge state reduction of specific subsets of ions while inhibiting reactions for ions of interest, thereby increasing selectivity and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ion parking methods are used to control ion to ion transfer reactions, then the rate of ion to ion transfer reactions is inhibited in a selective fashion, but selectivity decreases because all molecules within a subset of ionized molecules are charged reduced together, causing noise and species to be parked along with the masses of interest
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ion population into specific subsets based on mass-to-charge ratio before applying ion parking. By isolating target ions from the broader ion population using mass selection, the method applies charge reduction selectively only to the desired ions rather than all ions in the subset, thereby maintaining high selectivity and preventing noise species from being parked alongside the analytes of interest
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different treatment conditions to different ion populations. Target ions are subjected to ion parking (charge reduction) while other ions are excluded from this process. This localized application of the ion parking effect to specific mass-to-charge ratios enhances selectivity by ensuring that only the desired ions undergo charge state reduction, leaving noise and interfering species unaffected
2Measurement precision
If ion parking is used to migrate analyte ions to lesser multiple charged states, then higher mass-to-charge ratios are achieved, but the ability to selectively retain specific ions is reduced due to co-parking of noise and species
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs mass selection of target ions before applying ion parking. By pre-isolating the ions of interest based on their initial mass-to-charge ratios, the method ensures that subsequent charge reduction affects only the desired analytes. This preliminary separation step prevents co-parking of noise and interfering species, thereby maintaining measurement precision while preserving selectivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the target ions from the complex ion population by selecting them based on specific mass-to-charge ratios before ion parking is applied. This extraction of the desired ions isolates them from noise and interfering species, allowing the ion parking process to migrate only the selected analytes to higher mass-to-charge ratios without compromising selectivity
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 enhances the selectivity and throughput of ion parking by allowing specific ions to be mass-selected and parked at higher m/z values, reducing noise and improving the accuracy of mass spectrometry analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a subset of ionized molecules of a sample corresponding to each mass-to-charge ratio is selected and transmitted from a first location to a second location by a mass analyzer
Implementation Method 2
reagent ions are reacted with the subset of ionized molecules to reduce the charge state of the subset of ionized molecules
Implementation Method 3
including proton transfer reactions
Implementation Method 4
a subset of ionized molecules of a sample corresponding to each ion mobility is selected and transmitted from a first location to a second location by a mobility cell
Data Source
AI summary
A plurality of targeted ion characteristics and a charge reduction amount are received. A subset of ionized molecules of a sample corresponding to each characteristic of the plurality of targeted ion characteristics is transmitted from a first location to a second location, producing a plurality of selected ionized molecules. Reagent ions are transmitted to the second location to reduce the charge state of the selected ionized molecules. The charge state reduction of the selected ionized molecules is stopped at the charge state reduction amount, producing a plurality of parked targeted ions in the second location. The targeted ion characteristics can include mobilities or mass-to-charge ratios. Quantitation information for an analyte can be obtained by performing targeted ion parking on a plurality of standards, developing a calibration function, performing targeted ion parking on a sample and using the calibration function to determine the concentration of the analyte in the sample.