TOF Mass Spectrometer Equipotential Ion Detector
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current Time-of-Flight (TOF) mass spectrometers face limitations in reliability, cost, complexity, and performance due to high voltage isolation requirements, which affect their ability to efficiently analyze nonvolatile molecules like proteins, peptides, and small molecules, particularly in applications requiring broad mass range and high sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
The design of a TOF mass spectrometer where the MALDI sample plate, ion detector output, and recording device are at a common electrical potential, often ground potential, eliminating the need for high voltage isolation and reducing instrument complexity, thereby enhancing reliability and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high voltage isolation is implemented between ion source and ion detector, then mass spectrometer can operate with proper electrical potential differences for ion acceleration and detection, but instrument complexity and cost increase due to isolation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies equipotentiality by electrically connecting the ion source housing and ion detector housing to a common electrical potential (ground), eliminating the need for high voltage isolation between these components. This reduces instrument complexity while maintaining proper electrical potential differences within each housing for ion acceleration and detection operations.
2Reliability
If high voltage isolation is implemented between ion source and ion detector, then proper electrical potential differences are maintained for ion acceleration, but cost increases due to isolation components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates costly high voltage isolation components by connecting both housings to a common electrical potential. This reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining the necessary electrical potential differences for ion acceleration in the ion source and ion detection in the detector housing through internal voltage references.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple analyzer types are combined in a single instrument, then cost is reduced compared to separate instruments, but instrument complexity increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mass spectrometer into separate functional housings (ion source housing and ion detector housing) that can be independently designed and manufactured, then combined. This modular approach reduces overall instrument complexity while maintaining the capabilities of multiple analyzer types, making the system more manageable and cost-effective.
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 configuration improves the reliability, reduces costs, and enhances the performance of TOF mass spectrometers by eliminating high voltage breakdown risks, allowing for more efficient analysis of a broad range of molecules with improved sensitivity and speed.
Implementation Method 1
A pulsed ion source is positioned to apply a pulse of energy to the sample plate so as to generate a pulse of ions
Implementation Method 2
An ion accelerator is positioned proximate to the sample plate so that ions entering the ion accelerator are accelerated into an evacuated drift space
Implementation Method 3
An ion detector produces a corresponding electrical signal in response to the arrival of the pulse of ions
Data Source
AI summary
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes a sample plate that supports a sample for analysis. A pulsed ion source generates a pulse of ions from the sample positioned on the sample plate. An ion accelerator receives the pulse of ions generated by the pulsed ion source and accelerates the ions. An ion detector includes an input in a flight path of the accelerated ions emerging from the field-free drift space and an output that is electrically connected to the sample plate. The ion detector converts the detected ions into a pulse of electrons.