This disclosure relates to systems and methods for high speed modulation sample imaging. Disclosed herein are systems and methods for performing imaging mass cytometry, including analysis of labelling atoms by elemental (e.g., atomic) mass spectrometry. Aspects include a sampling system having, and method of using, a femtosecond (fs) laser and/or laser scanning. Alternatively or in addition, aspects include systems and methods for co-registering other imaging modalities with imaging mass cytometry.

The invention relates to methods for processing ion-spectrometric measurement signal data which are recorded spatially resolved across a two-dimensional sample, comprising: —providing the measurement signal data which have a plurality of measurement signal histograms, where a histogram contains a measurement signal tuple with intensity dimension (J), mass dimension (m), and collision cross-section dimension (σ), or quantities derived therefrom; —specifying first and second selections of ionic species for the sample, whose presence in histograms is detectable and distinguishable using the collision cross-section dimension or proxy; —determining the spatially resolved content of ionic species from the first and second selections in histograms of the finite areas (A.sub.fin,x,y), and computing the various contents to form spatially resolved content scores (G.sub.x,y); and —labeling the sample with the content scores (G.sub.x,y). The invention also relates to methods for acquiring and processing ion-spectrometric measurement signal data, and ion mobility-mass spectrometers.

A method of analysing a target is disclosed comprising ablating a portion of a target so as to cause an aerosol plume to be produced and light or other electromagnetic radiation to be emitted. The aerosol plume is analysed using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry and the emitted light or other electromagnetic radiation is analysed using optical spectroscopy in order to determine one or more regions of interest of the target and/or one or more margins or bounds of a region of interest of the target.

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.

The invention provides a matrix observation device where a location to be irradiated with a laser beam that provides high efficiency of the ionization can be found from among sample spots arranged on a sample plate. The device is formed of: a stage 31 on which a sample plate 20 on which a sample is to be arranged is to be placed; a light source unit 40 that emits ultraviolet rays for observation with which the sample plate 20 is irradiated; and an image acquisition unit 50 for detecting light from the sample plate 20 so as to create an optical image, and the sample contains a matrix that absorbs the ultraviolet rays for observation.

A sample support is a sample support for sample ionization, including: a substrate formed with a plurality of through holes opening to a first surface and a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface; a conductive layer provided not to block the through hole in the first surface; and a frame body provided in a peripheral portion of the substrate to surround an ionization region in which a sample is ionized when viewed in a thickness direction of the substrate, in which a marker for recognizing a position in the ionization region is provided in the frame body.

A method for in-situ joint nanoscale three-dimensional imaging and chemical analysis of a sample. A single charged particle beam device is used for generating a sequence of two-dimensional nanoscale images of the sample, and for sputtering secondary ions from the sample, which are analysed using a secondary ion mass spectrometry device. The two-dimensional images are combined into a three-dimensional volume representation of the sample, the data of which is combined with the results of the chemical analysis.

Apparatus is disclosed comprising a first ion source (210) arranged and adapted to emit a spray of charged droplets (211) and a detector or sensor (203) arranged and adapted automatically to detect, sense or determine one or more first parameters or properties of the spray of charged droplets (211) as the spray of charged droplets (211) impacts upon a surface of the detector or sensor 203. The apparatus further comprises a control system (204) arranged and adapted to adjust, correct and/or optimise one or more second parameters or properties of the spray of charged droplets (211) based on the one or more first parameters or properties of the spray of charged droplets (211) detected, sensed or determined by the detector or sensor (203).

A method comprises obtaining a stack for an energy storage device, the stack comprising one or more layers; laser ablating the stack so as to form a cut through one or more of the layers, thereby producing one or more laser ablation products; and analysing, using a mass spectrometry-based analysis technique, the laser ablation products thereby to determine one or more characteristics of the stack. Also disclosed is an apparatus.

A method is disclosed comprising obtaining or acquiring chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data from one or more regions of a target (2) using a chemical sensor (20). The chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data may be used to determine one or more regions of interest of the target (2). An ambient ionisation ion source 1 may then be used to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour (5) from one or more regions of the target (2).