An analysis apparatus includes a stage on which an analysis sample as an analysis target and a first adjustment sample used for adjusting a focus are provided. A laser generation unit generates a laser beam for vaporizing the analysis sample or the first adjustment sample by irradiating the sample with the laser beam. A detection unit detects a signal intensity of an element of the analysis sample or the first adjustment sample vaporized by irradiation with the laser beam. A controller determines a focus position of the laser beam with respect to a front surface position of the first adjustment sample based on the signal intensity of the first adjustment sample, and performs a control such that the focus position of the laser beam corresponds with a front surface of the analysis sample.

An apparatus for capturing a target analyte in advance of performing spectroscopic analysis to determine the existence of the target analyte from a source contacted with a collection substrate. The collection substrate is fabricated of a material selected to have an affinity for the target analyte, sufficiently transparent in a spectral region of interest and capable of immobilizing the target analyte thereon in a manner that limits scattering sufficient to obscure spectral analysis. The collection substrate may be coated with a material selected to react with, bind to, or absorb the target analyte. The target analyte may be captured to the collection substrate by one or more of wiping, dabbing or swabbing a target analyte carrier with the collection substrate.

Apparatus and methods for laser ablation sampling, electrophoretic extraction from the laser plume, electrophoretic transport to a container, and capture of macromolecules of interest. In certain embodiments, when macromolecules of interest are nucleic acid, the apparatus and methods further provides for nucleic acid amplification and detection in a rapid mobile platform for environmental and clinical identification of pathogens.

A system for facilitating automated handling using laser ablation system is described that includes a sample generation system. In an embodiment, the sample generation system can include a sample chamber with a sample chamber body, a transmission window and a sealing member coupled to the sample chamber body, an inlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting a sidewall of the interior space, and an outlet conduit extending through the sample chamber body and intersecting at least one of the sidewall of the interior or a lower surface of the sample chamber body; a placement system including a frame, and an actuator assembly coupled to the frame, where the actuator assembly is configured to place the sample adjacent to the sample chamber for laser ablation; and a laser configured to produce a laser beam that is propagated along a beam path to irradiate the sample.

A system for sampling a sample material includes a probe which can have an outer probe housing with an open end. A liquid supply conduit within the housing has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust conduit within the housing is provided for removing liquid from the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be provided for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate. A droplet dispenser can dispense drops of a sample or a sample-containing solvent into the open end of the housing. A sensor and a processor can be provided to monitor and maintain a liquid dome present at the open end.

A laser ablation tomography system includes a specimen stage for supporting a specimen. A specimen axis is defined such that a specimen disposed generally on the axis may be imaged. A laser system is operable to produce a laser sheet in a plane intersecting the specimen axis and generally perpendicular thereto. An imaging system is operable to image the area where the laser sheet intersects the specimen axis.

A laser ablation probe comprises a tubular element adapted for conducting a carrier fluid in a substantially laminar flow. The tubular element comprises a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet arranged at opposite end portions of the tubular element for enabling the carrier fluid to flow through the tubular element. The tubular element further comprises a central portion having an aperture defined therein for admitting an aerosol generated by laser ablation from a material sample into the carrier fluid flow when this sample is positioned outside the tubular element at a distance in the range of 0 μm to 100 μm from the aperture.

An apparatus and a method for analysing a solid specimen material by means of ablating particles of the solid specimen material by laser into a carrier liquid, having: a specimen holder for arranging the solid specimen material covered by the carrier liquid, a laser apparatus for irradiating the solid specimen material to produce a suspension of particles of the solid specimen material and the carrier liquid, an analysis apparatus for analysing the particles, an ablation cell with the specimen holder, having a liquid channel for the carrier liquid and having an entry window made of a material that transmits the laser beam, a supply line for supplying the carrier liquid into the liquid channel of the ablation cell and a discharge line for discharging the suspension of particles of the solid specimen material and the carrier liquid from the liquid channel of the ablation cell into the analysis apparatus.

The invention relates to a biological material molecular analysis device characterized in that it includes:—a laser (34) optionally using an optical parametric oscillator (OPO), configured to emit a wavelength between 2.5 ym and 12 put, said configured laser (34) being intended to ablate said biological material by ejecting charged and/or uncharged particles;—a mass spectrometer (31); and—a probe (S, 10) comprising at least one first analysis fiber (A, 14), connected to the laser (34), and a transfer tube (T, 21), connected to the mass spectrometer (31).

A device for preparing a gaseous sample obtained from a solid sample. The device includes a laser source arranged to emit a laser beam which is capable of generating calcination and/or combustion of a portion of the solid sample, a collector arranged to collect a gaseous sample of a gas emitted during the calcination and/or combustion of the portion of the solid sample; the laser beam has an irradiance less than 5 MW/cm.sup.2 in a given impact zone on a surface of the sample, and including an optical fibre for propagating the laser beam between the laser source and the given impact zone on the surface of the sample.