An interface for receiving ions in a carrier gas from an atmospheric pressure ion source at a spectrometer that is configured to analyse the received ions at a lower pressure includes an interface vacuum chamber having a downstream aperture; a support assembly defining an axial bore arranged to allow a removable capillary tube to extend therethrough; ions being received from the atmospheric pressure ion source through the capillary tube and directed towards the downstream aperture; and a jet disruptor, positioned downstream from the axial bore and configured to disrupt gas flow between the axial bore and the downstream aperture only when the capillary tube is not fully inserted through the axial bore.

The invention generally relates to enclosed desorption electrospray ionization probes, systems, and methods. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a source of DESI-active spray, in which a distal portion of the source is enclosed within a transfer member such that the DESI-active spray is produced within the transfer member.

A concentric APCI surface ionization probe, supersonic sampling tube, and method for use of the concentric APCI surface ionization probe and supersonic sampling tube are described. In an embodiment, the concentric APCI surface ionization probe includes an outer tube, an inner capillary, and a voltage source coupled to the outer tube and the inner capillary. The inner capillary is housed within and concentric with the outer tube such that ionized gas (e.g., air) travels out of the outer tube, reacts with a sample, and the resulting analyte ions are sucked into the inner capillary. A supersonic sampling tube can include a tube coupled to a mass spectrometer and/or concentric APCI surface ionization probe, where the tube includes at least one de Laval nozzle.

A display area 60 of a display unit of a mass spectrometer shows a result of tuning. The display area 60 includes: a tuning-item displaying section 62 configured to display all tuning items and a result of whether each tuning item has been tuned; and an analyzable-condition displaying section 63 configured to display a condition under which an analysis is possible based on the result. The tuning items may be displayed respectively and individually. Alternatively, the tuning items may be displayed in a grouped manner with a plurality of tuning items in a group. Consequently, a user knows, at a glance, whether the tuning necessary for an analysis that the user intends to perform has been performed. If a necessary tuning item has not been tuned, the user immediately starts to tune (only) the tuning item. Further, a user immediately knows in a current state of tuning whether the analysis that the user intends to perform is possible. Therefore, when the analysis is possible, the user can start the analysis. When the analysis is impossible, the user can tune only the tuning item that has not been tuned and is displayed on the tuning-item displaying section 62.

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.

The invention discloses a networking mass analysis method and device, and belongs to the field of mass spectrometer and ion mass analysis. The device comprises an ion source, an ion transporter, an ion deflector and multiple mass analyzers, wherein the ion transporter is connected with one of the multiple mass analyzers, the multiple mass analyzers are connected with the ion deflector respectively, the ion source produces the ions to be detected, the ions to be detected enter any of the mass analyzers connected with the ion deflector via the ion transporter for mass analysis, and the remaining ions to be detected are transported to the corresponding mass analyzers via the ion deflector for mass analysis. The invention can improve the mass analysis duty ratio of continuous ion sources and obtain more mass-to-charge ratio information of ion beams within each time slot.

A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a dual channel Solvent Assisted Inlet Ionization (“SAII”) interface.

A system and method are provided for loading a sample into an analytical instrument using acoustic droplet ejection (“ADE”) in combination with a continuous flow sampling probe. An acoustic droplet ejector is used to eject small droplets of a fluid sample containing an analyte into the sampling tip of a continuous flow sampling probe, where the acoustically ejected droplet combines with a continuous, circulating flow stream of solvent within the flow probe. Fluid circulation within the probe transports the sample through a sample transport capillary to an outlet that directs the analyte away from the probe to an analytical instrument, e.g., a device that detects the presence, concentration quantity, and/or identity of the analyte. When the analytical instrument is a mass spectrometer or other type of device requiring the analyte to be in ionized form, the exiting droplets pass through an ionization region, e.g., an electrospray ion source, prior to entering the mass spectrometer or other analytical instrument. The method employs active flow control and enables real-time kinetic measurements.

The invention generally relates to mass spectral analysis. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve a probe for nano spray desorption electro spray ionization (nano-DESI) with fixed positioning of the channels therein for consistent and stable formation of a liquid bridge for nano-DESI and mass spectrometry imaging (MSI). Probes may incorporate a shear force probe for sensing and maintaining a desired distance between the probe and the sample surface being analyzed.

A mass spectrometry imaging system includes an ionization source located at a first location configured to produce ions from a surface of a sample at the first location; a mass spectrometer located at a second location configured to perform mass spectrometry analysis by analyzing the produced ions based on mass to charge ratio of the ions; and an ion transfer device configured to transfer the ions from the first location to the second location such that the ion transfer device includes a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes configured to be flexible or flexibly connected to each other, and the ion transfer device is configured to be flexible or re-configurable while transferring the ions.