A carrier for holding a biological sample includes a substrate. The substrate is configured to engage a first sample chamber comprising a first opening characterized by a first opening diameter or a second sample chamber comprising a second opening characterized by a second opening diameter that is greater than the first opening diameter. The substrate includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion. The lower portion is disposed below the upper portion and comprises a bottom surface configured to receive a biological sample. The intermediate portion is characterized by a first substrate diameter and the lower portion is characterized by a second substrate diameter that is less than the first substrate diameter.

Systems and methods for capturing cells of interest from a larger group of cells are provided. In some embodiments, the cells are held within cell culture media inside a chamber during laser dissection.

A method for preparing a sample of organic material for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) may include obtaining granular organic material, forming a portion of the granular organic material into a sample pellet, and searing the organic material. The searing may include searing only an exposed end surface of the sample pellet on which LIBS analysis is to be performed. The method may include pressing the seared sample pellet to consolidate the material comprising the seared end surface.

According to the present invention, a system (1; 1) for processing at least one substrate (2) containing a dried fluid sample (21) is provided, the system (1; 1) comprising a support (12) configured to position the substrate (2), a laser device (3) for directing a laser beam (31) to the substrate (2), configured to cut at least one area of the substrate (2) containing the dried fluid sample (21) by means of the laser beam (31), a container holder (4; 4) configured to hold and position a container (5) for receiving the cut area, the container holder (4; 4) being arranged below the substrate (2), and an extraction subsystem (6) for extracting fume and/or dust generated when laser cutting the substrate (2), wherein the extraction subsystem (6) consists of at least two extraction components (61, 62) sandwiching the substrate (2) there between. Furthermore, a method for automated processing at least one substrate (2) containing a dried fluid (21) sample by means of such a system (1; 1) is provided.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a wafer breaking method and a chip failure analysis method. The wafer breaking method includes: providing a wafer sample, which includes a first surface with a target point and a second surface opposite to the first surface; forming a first crack and a second crack, orthographic projection of which on the first surface are on the same straight line as the target point in a preset direction; forming a cutting slot, there is a preset distance between a bottom of the cutting slot and the first surface, and orthographic projection of the first crack and the second crack are on the same straight line as the cutting slot; and breaking the wafer sample along the cutting slot, such that the wafer sample is broken in the preset direction to obtain a cross section of the target point in the preset direction.

A method for preparing a sample of organic material for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) may include obtaining granular organic material, forming a portion of the granular organic material into a sample pellet, and searing the organic material. The searing may include searing only an exposed end surface of the sample pellet on which LIBS analysis is to be performed. The method may include pressing the seared sample pellet to consolidate the material comprising the seared end surface.

The present invention relates to a method for the detection of analytes in a tissue sample, wherein a combination of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) analysis and laser capture microdissection (LCM) is carried out on a tissue sample on a conductive glass slide, using the same section for MSI and LCM. The method can be used for the detection of proteins, lipids, metabolites and glycans.

A method and system for detecting, manipulating and isolating circulating tumor cells found in organic fluids comprising a simplified laser assisted transfer process. A liquid specimen of the organic fluid containing an enriched population of tumor cells and a population of non-tumor cells is spread onto a donor substrate with an interlayer comprising a semi-transparent polymeric adhesive tape. A fluorescent staining of at least one of the cell populations present in the liquid specimen is required to identify-using optical and fluorescence microscopy, the location of the cells to be manipulated and/or isolated. The laser beam energy is absorbed by the polymeric adhesive tape giving place to the formation of a blister that mechanically interacts with the liquid specimen and such interaction can induce the expulsion of a portion of the liquid specimen comprising the selected tumor cells or non-tumor cells, which can be a single cell or a cell cluster, towards the receiving substrate.

Apparatus and methods for delivering biological samples to an ICP source of a mass cytometer are disclosed. Biological material is disposed on a plurality of discrete sites on a carrier. The plurality of discrete sites are configured to retain biological material and to release the biological material upon application of energy. The carrier is positioned in proximity to a gas conduit and upon release from the discrete sites, the biological material becomes entrained in a gas flow, which delivers discrete portions of biological material through the conduit to the ICP source for analysis by mass cytometry. The apparatus and methods can provide a continuous stream of discrete portions of biological material to a mass cytometer or mass spectrometer.

A method for preparing a sample of organic material for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) may include obtaining granular organic material, forming a portion of the granular organic material into a sample pellet, and searing the organic material. The searing may include searing only an exposed end surface of the sample pellet on which LIBS analysis is to be performed. The method may include pressing the seared sample pellet to consolidate the material comprising the seared end surface.