The present invention relates to a remote chamber and a direct analysis in real time (DART)-mass spectrometry (MS) system using same, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a remote chamber and a DART-MS system using same, wherein the degree of spatial freedom between a DART device and an MS device can be improved and additional conditions can be applied to a sample.

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.

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.

Methods for determining the hardness and/or ductility of a material by compression of the material are provided as a first aspect of the invention. Typically, compression is performed on multiple sides of a geologic material sample in a contemporaneous manner. Devices and systems for performing such methods also are provided. These methods, devices, and systems can be combined with additional methods, devices, and systems of the invention that provide for the analysis of compounds contained in such samples, which can indicate the presence of valuable materials, such as petroleum-associated hydrocarbons. Alternatively, these additional methods, devices, and systems can also stand independently of the methods, devices, and systems for analyzing ductility and/or hardness of materials.

The mass spectrometry device includes: a sample container for containing a sample; a heater for heating the sample container; an ion source for ionizing the sample vaporized in the sample container by being heated by the heater; an introduction unit that includes a valve, and that introduces the vaporized sample in the sample container into the ion source; a mass spectrometry unit that includes a vacuum chamber, and to which ions generated in the ion source are introduced; a vacuometer for measuring a degree of vacuum of the vacuum chamber; and a controller that controls the valve to intermittently introduce the vaporized sample in the sample container into the ion source. The controller controls an open time of the valve according to the degree of vacuum of the vacuum chamber that varies as a result of the ions being intermittently introduced into the mass spectrometry unit.

A method for characterising ions includes trapping a first-generation ions in an ion trap; cooling the plurality of first-generation ions; photo-fragmenting the plurality of cooled first generation ions to obtain a plurality of second-generation ions, the second-generation ions being different to the first-generation ions, the plurality of second-generation ions being at least of one first type; selecting the first type of second-generation ions in the ion trap by ejecting, out of the trap, any residual first-generation ion and any second-generation ion of a type different from the first type; cooling the second-generation ions of the first type selected and trapped in the trap; photo-fragmenting the cooled second-generation ions of the first type to obtain a plurality of third-generation ions, the plurality of third-generation ions being different from the plurality of second-generation ions, the plurality of third-generation ions being at least of one first type; detecting the plurality of last-generation ions.

An ionization source for Electrospray Ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry includes a mass spectrometer having a source vacuum chamber having an inlet and an outlet. The outlet is disposed at an opening of the mass spectrometer. The ionization source further includes a hollow emission needle having an exit disposed at the inlet of the vacuum chamber. The hollow emission needle is configured to convey a first material toward the exit. An auxiliary line is disposed adjacent to the hollow emission needle to convey a second material toward the exit. A voltage supply apparatus is applied between the hollow emission needle and the mass spectrometer to establish a voltage between the hollow emission needle and the mass spectrometer and to induce particles to enter the mass spectrometer for analysis.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for analyzing a sample from a surface. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems that include a sample introduction member that has an inlet, an outlet, and an opening along a wall of the sample introduction member. The sample introduction member may be configured such that the opening couples with a surface that includes a sample in a manner in which molecules of the sample enter the sample introduction member via the opening and exit the sample introduction member via the outlet. A mass spectrometer is configured to receive the molecules of the sample.

For increasing a speed of fragmentation of a sample, such as a protein and a peptide, to enhance introduction efficiency into a detector, such as a mass spectrometer, a liquid feeding pump 2, a sample injector 3, and a separation column 6 that are connected via pipes are included, and further, a heating unit 4 for heating a pipe between the sample injector 3 and the separation column 6, and a pressure regulating unit 5 provided between the heating unit 4 and the separation column 6 for regulating the inner pressure of the pipe heated by the heating unit 4, are included.

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.