An analysis system, an auxiliary analysis apparatus, and an analysis method are provided. The analysis method is used to perform a composition analysis operation on an analyte of a sample, and includes: a first heating step, a first mass spectrometry analysis step, a second heating step, a second mass spectrometry analysis step, and an analysis step. A heating device heats a non-analyzed area and a to-be-analyzed area of the sample in the first and the second heating step, respectively. In the first and the second mass spectrometry analysis step, gas generated after heating of the sample is guided into a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer, and two pieces of analysis data are correspondingly obtained. The analysis step is to compare the two pieces of analysis data and generate analysis result data. The analysis result data contains components of a composition that forms at least one portion of the analyte.

A sample preparation apparatus for an elemental analysis system comprising a sample combustion and/or reduction and/or pyrolysis arrangement for receiving a sample of material to be analysed, and producing therefrom a sample gas flow containing atoms, molecules and/or compounds; a gas chromatography (GC) column into which the sample gas flow is directed; a heater for heating at least a part of the GC column; and a controller for controlling the heater. The controller is configured to control the heater so as to increase the temperature of at least the part of the GC column whilst the sample gas flow in the GC column elutes.

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.

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 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.

An apparatus for ionizing analyte molecules comprised in a flow of a first gas. The apparatus includes an inlet tube through which the first gas may be discharged into an ionization region. The apparatus also includes a nozzle electrode disposed around the inlet tube to define a substantially annular space between the exterior of the inlet tube and the interior of the nozzle electrode. The sheath tube includes an inlet for introducing a fluid into the substantially annular space and an outlet through which the fluid may be discharged into the ionization region. The apparatus is configured to ionize the analyte molecules optionally via electrospray or chemical ionization.

Provided is an analysis device capable of obtaining sufficient sensitivity to a gas phase component, which is the analysis target, by a mass spectrometer even when a reactive gas is used as a carrier gas in evolved gas analysis. An analysis device 1 includes a heating device 3, a first carrier gas introduction device 4, a connecting conduit 5, a capillary tube 6, an oven 2, a mass spectrometer 7, and a second carrier gas introduction device 8. The second carrier gas introduction device 8 is configured to introduce helium, hydrogen and/or nitrogen into the connecting conduit 5.

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.

A method of mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: providing an analyte; supplying a matrix compound to said analyte such that said analyte dissolves in said matrix; forming first droplets of the dissolved analyte; and colliding said first droplets with a collision surface. The use of matrix improves the analyte ion signal.

Disclosed herein is a method for correcting an evolved gas analyzer and the evolved gas analyzer. The method includes: correcting a mass spectrum position to be located at a reference spectrum position, the mass spectrum position corresponding to a mass-to-charge ratio m/z of a mass spectrum of a gas component of a reference sample; calculating a sensitivity correction factor Cs=Ss/S by using an area S and a reference area Ss of a chromatogram, the sensitivity correction factor being used to measure an area of a chromatogram of the gas component of a test sample; and calculating a heating correction factor H=t/ts by using a time t and a reference time is indicating a maximum peak of the chromatogram about the reference sample, the heating correction factor being used to correct a heating rate of the test sample when measuring the gas component of the test sample.