Multi-Channel Ion Detector for Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) instruments face inefficiencies in duty cycle due to pulsed ion accelerators, leading to ion loss and complex data reconstruction in multi-pulsing methods, which are prone to errors and require extensive computer processing.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a TOF-MS system with a multi-channel ion detector and ion dispersion devices that modulate drift energy or transverse position, allowing ions to travel in spatially separated flight paths, enabling improved duty cycle and simplified data reconstruction by encoding ion packets with unique drift energies or positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multi-pulsing methods are used to improve duty cycle, then ion transmission efficiency is improved, but data reconstruction complexity increases and errors are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by encoding ion packets with unique drift energies or transverse positions before they enter the flight tube. This pre-encoding approach allows the detection system to directly identify which accelerator pulse each ion originated from, eliminating the need for complex post-acquisition data reconstruction algorithms and significantly reducing processing errors while maintaining improved duty cycle
2Productivity
If single-channel detector is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ion transmission efficiency and sensitivity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-channel detector to a multi-channel detector array, adding spatial dimensionality to the detection system. Each channel is aligned with a specific flight path corresponding to ions from different accelerator pulses or different transverse positions. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous detection of multiple ion packets, dramatically improving ion transmission efficiency and sensitivity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
3Measurement precision
If ion accelerator operates in pulsed mode, then mass resolution is improved, but duty cycle efficiency deteriorates due to ion loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary encoding of ion packets with unique drift energies or transverse positions before acceleration. This allows the pulsed ion accelerator to operate at high repetition rates without losing ions, as each ion packet is pre-marked for identification. The preliminary encoding enables the system to maintain both high mass resolution from pulsed operation and high duty cycle efficiency by preventing ion loss through proper timing and identification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of ion packets by modulating drift energy or transverse position to encode identification information. These parameter changes allow the system to distinguish between ions from different accelerator pulses, enabling the pulsed accelerator to operate continuously at optimal pulse rates without ion loss, thereby improving duty cycle while maintaining mass resolution
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 duty cycle efficiency, reduces data reconstruction errors, and simplifies processing, leading to improved sensitivity, dynamic range, and mass accuracy in TOF-MS systems.
Implementation Method 1
modulating a drift energy of the ions according to a repeating modulation sequence comprising a plurality of iterations, wherein the drift energy at each iteration is different from the drift energies of the other iterations
Implementation Method 2
modulating a transverse position the ions such that the ions travel in the flight tube in a plurality of flight paths spatially separated along a transverse axis orthogonal to the drift axis
Implementation Method 3
detecting arrival times of the ions at a plurality of channels of an ion detector aligned with the respective flight paths
Data Source
AI summary
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) utilizes a multi-channel ion detector to detect ions traveling in separate flight paths, spatially dispersed along a drift axis and/or a transverse axis, in a flight tube of a TOF analyzer. The ion beams may be dispersed by drift energy, deflection along the drift and/or transverse axis, ion mass, or a combination of two or more of the foregoing. The dispersion may be carried out before, at, or after an ion accelerator of the TOF analyzer. Ion packets may be accelerated into the flight tube at a multi-pulse firing rate. Tandem MS may be implemented on parallel ion beams simultaneously.