Field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry system
Inventors
Wilks, Ashley • Hart, Matthew • Hartwell, Stephen • Hart, Alison • Jamieson, Lara • Allsworth, Max • Somerville, John
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9366649-B2
Publication Date
2016-06-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus, system and method for detecting, identifying, classifying and/or quantifying chemical species in a gas flow using a micro-fabricated ion filter coupled to a system adapted to apply drive signals to the ion filter. Coupled to the ion filter is a system adapted to measure the output of the ion filter, which in turn is coupled to a system adapted to extract numerical parameters from the measured output of the ion filter to facilitate chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification of the gas flow.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method using a micro-fabricated ion filter for detecting, identifying, classifying and/or quantifying chemical species in one or more gas flows in which one or more gas flows are adjustable. A drive signal is applied to the ion filter, the output of the ion filter is measured, and numerical parameters are extracted from the measured output to facilitate chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification of the gas flow. The approach uses numerical parameters derived from the ion-filter output, including ion current measurements and peak properties.
The method uses Field Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS) separation in which measurements of ion current as a function of one or more of compensation field and dispersion field are used to facilitate chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification. An analyte peak property is used in combination with a reactant ion peak property to ascertain identity, class and/or concentration of the analyte. In other implementations, the region of the spectrum where one or more peak parameters undergoes a change is used to facilitate chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification.
The invention further supports humidity and spectral-behavior control and analysis through selecting and/or adjusting dispersion-field waveform frequency to modify the effects of humidity on a resulting spectrum. Spectral analysis is used to identify points such as a dimer breakdown by using a dispersion field value at which a dimer peak falls below a threshold value, and by using relationships between at least two peak intensities. In addition, changes in peak properties as a function of one or more of compensation field and dispersion field are used to infer a value for the mobility of an ion species, which can be used to facilitate chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00005, clm-00006, clm-00008, clm-00009, and clm-00011. Across these claims, the inventive features primarily include micro-fabricated FAIMS ion filtering with drive-signal control, extraction of numerical parameters from measured ion-filter output, and spectral/peak-property inference using compensation field and dispersion field, with additional features for adjustable gas flow, reactant-ion-combined identity/class/concentration determination, humidity-related dispersion frequency selection, dimer-breakdown threshold detection, and mobility inference from peak-property changes.
Adjustable gas flow with numerical-parameter extraction and affinity-based quantification correction
A method using a micro-fabricated ion filter for detecting, identifying, classifying and/or quantifying chemical species in one or more gas flows wherein one or more of the gas flows are adjustable, comprising applying drive signals to the ion filter; measuring the output of the ion filter; and extracting numerical parameters from the measured output of the ion filter to facilitate chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification of the gas flow wherein relative peak amplitudes at a plurality of sample flow dilutions are used to infer one or more relative affinities and wherein the one or more inferred relative affinities is used to calculate one or more quantification correction factors.
FAIMS ion-current measurements with analyte peak property and reactant ion peak property for identity/class/concentration
Using measurements of ion current as a function of one or more of compensation field and dispersion field to facilitate chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification wherein an analyte peak property is used in combination with a reactant ion peak property to ascertain identity, class and/or concentration of the analyte.
Spectrum region selection based on peak-parameter change
Using measurements of ion current as a function of one or more of compensation field and dispersion field to facilitate chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification wherein the region of the spectrum at which one or more peak parameters undergoes a change is used to facilitate chemical identification, classification and/or quantification.
Humidity-effect modification via selected or adjusted dispersion-field waveform frequency
Using measurements of ion current as a function of one or more of compensation field and dispersion field to facilitate chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification wherein the frequency of the dispersion field waveform is selected and/or adjusted to modify the effects of humidity on a resulting spectrum.
Dimer breakdown identification using peak-intensity relationship and dimer threshold crossing
Using measurements of ion current as a function of one or more of compensation field and dispersion field to facilitate chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification wherein the relationship between at least two peak intensities is used to facilitate chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification and further using the dispersion field value at which a dimer peak falls below a threshold value to identify a point of dimer breakdown to facilitate chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification.
Ion mobility inference from peak-property changes as a function of compensation and dispersion fields
Using measurements of ion current as a function of one or more of compensation field and dispersion field to facilitate chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification and using changes in peak properties as a function of one or more of compensation field and dispersion field to infer a value for the mobility of an ion species to facilitate chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on FAIMS using a micro-fabricated ion filter with applying drive signals, measuring the output, and extracting numerical parameters from the measured output. The claims further use ion current versus compensation/dispersion field and derived peak properties to enable identity/class/concentration determination, dimer-breakdown identification, humidity-affected spectrum modification via dispersion-field waveform frequency selection, and inference of ion mobility from peak-property changes.
Stated Advantages
Facilitates chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification of the gas flow.
Provides quantification correction factors calculated from relative affinities inferred using relative peak amplitudes at sample flow dilutions.
Ascertains identity, class and/or concentration of an analyte using an analyte peak property combined with a reactant ion peak property.
Facilitates chemical identification, classification and/or quantification by using a spectrum region where peak parameters undergo a change.
Modifies effects of humidity on a resulting spectrum by selecting and/or adjusting dispersion-field waveform frequency.
Identifies a point of dimer breakdown using a dispersion field value where a dimer peak falls below a threshold value.
Infers a value for the mobility of an ion species from changes in peak properties to facilitate chemical detection, identification, classification and/or quantification.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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