A method of ion imaging is disclosed that includes automatically sampling a plurality of different locations on a sample using a front device which is arranged and adapted to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from the sample. Mass spectral data and/or ion mobility data corresponding to each location is obtained and the obtained mass spectral data and/or ion mobility data is used to construct, train or improved a sample classification model.

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.

Systems and methods for delivering a sample to a mass spectrometer are provided. In one aspect, the systems and methods can provide efficient cooling of an ion source probe to prevent overheating and the resulting degradation in ion sampling. In some aspects, such cooling can result in improved consistency and/or efficiency of ion formation. Moreover, ion source cooling in accordance with various aspects of the present teachings can allow for the use of higher temperatures in the ionization chamber (thereby improving desolvation) and/or can enable the use of lower flow rate sample sources than with conventional techniques.

The invention relates to a temperature control plasma source analyzer arrangement (1) comprising a plasma source (3), at least one preheating device (2), preferably comprising a temperature control means (21) for heating and/or cooling at least one gas flow of the plasma source (3) relative to room temperature, of, and an analyzer (4); wherein the at least one gas flow comprises a sample gas flow (5) with a sample aerosol (15), the plasma source (3) is configured to ionize the sample aerosol (15) of the sample gas flow (5), and the analyzer (4) is configured to analyze the ionized sample aerosol (15); wherein the preheating device (2) is configured to increase temperature of the at least one gas flow; the preheating device (2) is located in front of the plasma source (3) so that the at least one gas flow reaches the plasma source (3) only after leaving the preheating device (2); the preheating device (2) is configured to controllably increase the temperature of the at least one gas flow; and the arrangement (1) is designed as a modular system, wherein the preheating device (2) is constructed as a separate module

Methods for preparing a biological sample for testing by Maldi where such methods are selected based on sample parameters. Maldi scores are obtained for a range of sample parameters (e.g. McFarland, dispense volume and number of dispenses). From the data, sample preparation parameters can be selected for a biological sample being prepared for Maldi testing. One sample preparation strategy uses multiple dispenses of sample with an intervening drying step, which yields more accurate Maldi scores, particularly for samples at the low range of McFarland values (e.g. below about 2).