A method of spectrometric analysis comprises obtaining one or more sample spectra for an aerosol, smoke or vapour sample. The one or more sample spectra are subjected to pre-processing and then multivariate and/or library based analysis so as to classify the aerosol, smoke or vapour sample. The results of the analysis are used for various surgical or non-surgical applications.

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 analysing the analyte ions.

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

A method is disclosed comprising obtaining or acquiring image or other data from one or more regions of a target using an imaging sensor. The image or other data may then be used to determine one or more regions of interest of the target. An ambient ionisation ion source may then be used to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of the target.

A method is disclosed comprising obtaining physical or other non-mass spectrometric data from one or more regions of a target using a probe. The physical or other non-mass spectrometric data may be used to determine one or more regions of interest of the target. An ambient ionisation ion source may then used to generate an aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of the target.

An apparatus for performing ambient ionisation 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 vapour onto said collision assembly.

A system includes a mass spectrometer and associated sample interfacing equipment. The sample interfacing equipment includes a platform structured to support a sample thereon, a fluid source, a high voltage source, a dispensing probe electrically coupled to the high voltage source and defining a fluid dispensing passage therethrough, a collection probe defining a collection passage therethrough, a sensing arrangement coupled to the dispensing probe, and control logic responsive to the sensing arrangement to control distance between the dispensing probe and the sample. The dispensing probe facilitates formation of one or more ionized sample analytes when dispensing the fluid through the dispensing passage proximate to the sample on the platform. The collecting probe receives at least some of the one or more ionized sample analytes to pass through the collection passage into the mass spectrometer for analysis.

A surface analysis apparatus includes: an ion irradiation unit configured to irradiate a surface of a solid sample with an ion stream of a specific ion species having a preset value of kinetic energy at a predetermined incident angle; an observation unit configured to observe scattered ions that originate from the ion stream and have undergone a charge transfer reaction with an atom or molecule present on a surface of the solid sample; and an information calculation unit configured to obtain information on electrical properties or physical properties on a surface of the solid sample on the basis of an observation result of the scattered ions in the observation unit. As a result, it is possible to efficiently acquire, in a short time, the distribution of the information on the electrical properties or physical properties such as the surface potential of the solid sample.

Disclosed herein is a method of preparing macromolecular structures for analysis, including placing a macromolecular sample on a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device including: a piezoelectric surface, a first transducer in contact with the piezoelectric surface, a second transducer in contact with the piezoelectric surface, and a sample region disposed between the first transducer and the second transducer and configured to receive the macromolecular sample, the sample region configured to remain electrically isolated from each of the first transducer and the second transducer; applying disruption electrical energy, having a disruption frequency and a disruption power, to each of the first transducer and the second transducer to transform the macromolecular sample into a disrupted macromolecular sample; and applying nebulization electrical energy, comprising a nebulization frequency and a nebulization power, to each of the first transducer and the second transducer, to transform the disrupted macromolecular sample into a nebulized macromolecular sample.

A sample support for polymer-spray mass spectrometry includes a support substrate comprising a polymer. The support substrate is configured to support a sample on a surface of the support substrate. The sample support also includes a reservoir formed on the surface of the support substrate. The reservoir is configured to hold a spray solvent.