The present disclosure relates to methodologies, systems and devices for controlling pressure of a mobile phase in a CO.sub.2-based chromatography system. A pump is used to pump a mobile phase containing CO.sub.2 and is located upstream of a chromatography column. A primary pressure control element is located downstream of the chromatography column and controls the pressure of the mobile phase within the column. A secondary pressure control element is located downstream of the primary pressure control element and maintains the pressure of the mobile phase above a threshold value between an outlet of the primary pressure control element and the point of detection within a detector. The detector is located downstream of both the primary pressure control element and the secondary pressure control element.

An apparatus for mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising a first device arranged and adapted to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from a target and one or more second devices arranged and adapted to aspirate aerosol, smoke, vapour and/or liquid to or towards an analyser. A liquid trap or separator is provided to capture and/or discard liquid aspirated by the one or more second devices.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a system for depositing a chemical of one or more components onto a medium. The system includes a spray assembly for depositing the chemical, a medium for collecting the one or more components forming the chemical, and an enclosure for housing the medium and the spray assembly. The spray assembly includes a capillary for receiving and ejecting a fluid containing the one or more components, a nozzle for receiving and ejecting a gas towards both the medium and the fluid when the fluid is ejected from the capillary, and a spray heater for heating the capillary and the gas. The enclosure includes a translatable drawer for supporting and translating the medium. The system further includes a medium heater for heating the medium.

Disclosed are methods for separating target and non-target analytes in a sample. The methods can utilize an acoustic droplet ejector (ADE) and an open port interface (OPI) to achieve liquid chromatography (LC)-like separation for an analytical instrument such as, for example, a mass spectrometer.

A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analyzing the analyte ions.

A method of analysis using mass and/or ion mobility spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: using a first device to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of a first target of biological material; and mass and/or ion mobility analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said aerosol, smoke, or vapour, or ions derived therefrom so as to obtain first spectrometric data. The method may use an ambient ionisation method.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: (a) using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target in vitro or ex vivo cell population; (b) mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and (c) analysing said spectrometric data in order to identify and/or characterise said target cell population or one or more cells and/or compounds present in said target cell population.

An apparatus is disclosed comprising a first device for generating aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of a target, an inlet conduit to an ion analyser or mass spectrometer, the inlet conduit having an inlet through which the aerosol, smoke or vapour passes, and a Venturi pump arrangement arranged and adapted to direct the aerosol, smoke or vapour towards the inlet.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.

An apparatus is disclosed including a tool comprising a first device for generating aerosol from a target, the first device being deployed through an opening in a tubing of the tool, wherein the tubing is provided with aspiration ports or fenestrations such that the generated aerosol is aspirated into the tubing via the aspiration ports or fenestrations. The aspirated aerosol is then transferred to a mass spectrometer for subsequent mass analysis.