An apparatus for performing ambient ionization mass and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a substantially cylindrical, tubular, rod-shaped, coil-shaped, helical or spiral-shaped collision assembly; and a first device arranged and adapted to direct analyte, smoke, fumes, liquid, gas, surgical smoke, aerosol or vapor onto said collision assembly.

An apparatus is disclosed which uses electrodes to analyse a test sample.

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 collection container for separating and collection particles suspended in a sample fluid added to the collection container includes at least one barrier-forming fluid which is immiscible relative to the sample fluid and which has a specific gravity which is different from the specific gravity of the sample fluid. The barrier-forming fluid is situated in the collection container to be in contact with the sample fluid and to form with the sample fluid a fluidic imaging barrier at the interface between the sample fluid and the barrier-forming fluid. The particles suspended in the sample fluid will separate therefrom when centrifugal or gravitational forces are applied to the container and will collect at the fluidic imaging barrier for imaging by an optical imaging system.

Provided herein are an optical test platform and corresponding method of manufacturing the same. The test platform may include a shell defining a cavity for receiving a sample tube, a first aperture, and a second aperture. The first aperture and the second aperture of the shell may each be configured to optically couple the cavity with an exterior of the shell. The test platform may further include a first window and a second window embedded in the shell. The first window may seal a first aperture and the second window may seal a second aperture. The first window and second window may each permit the optical coupling of the cavity with the exterior of the shell. The first window and the second window may be optically coupled via the cavity, and the shell may prohibit optical coupling between the first window and the second window through the shell.

A method for determining a value indicative of the impedance of a suspension in the framework of impedance spectroscopy comprises the following steps: generating an excitation current through the suspension, oscillating at an excitation frequency; determining a first impedance measurement value on the basis of the excitation current and a first voltage at a first pair of measurement electrodes; determining a second impedance measurement value on the basis of the excitation current and a second voltage at a second pair of measurement electrodes; determining the value indicative of the impedance of the suspension by correlating the first impedance measurement and the second impedance measurement.

A method is provided for calibrating impedance-spectroscopic biomass sensors that are embodied to detect information regarding the quantity and/or size of living cells in a biomass by means of an electric field having a periodically changing field direction A calibration suspension encompasses an electrically conductive viscously flowable or viscoelastic carrier substance and electrically conductive solid particles and/or solid semiconductor particles received therein. An electric field is generated having a periodically changing field direction, which acts on the calibration suspension. At least one permittivity value is detected, respectively representing a permittivity of the calibration suspension, in a context of at least two electric fields having different field direction change frequencies. A difference value is ascertained that represents a difference between the detected permittivity values. The difference value is compared with a reference value associated with the calibration suspension.

The present disclosure relates to a piezoelectric membrane microelectrode array for spatially resolved electrical or mechanical stimulation and simultaneous spatially resolved measurement of electrical or mechanical activity of biological material. The array comprises at least two membrane microelectrode units, that are both arranged on a common substrate.

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.

A testing system includes a well cover portion, a sensor portion extending from the well cover portion, a sensing surface disposed on the sensor portion, a conducting wire extending through the sensor portion and contacting the sensing surface, a transducer connected to the conducting wire, and a reference electrode extending through the well cover portion.