A heating device having a heating element patterned into a robust MEMs substrate, wherein the heating element is electrically isolated from a fluid reservoir or bulk conductive sample, but close enough in proximity to an imagable window/area having the fluid or sample thereon, such that the sample is heated through conduction. The heating device can be used in a microscope sample holder, e.g., for SEM, TEM, STEM, X-ray synchrotron, scanning probe microscopy, and optical microscopy.

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).

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.

An ionizing system includes a channel having an inlet disposed in a first pressure region and an outlet disposed in a second pressure region, a pressure of the first pressure region being greater than a pressure of the second pressure region. A heater is coupled to the channel and configured to heat the channel. A device is configured to introduce an analyte into the channel where the analyte is ionized.

A method for producing multiply charged ions is provided. In the method, a laser is used to ablate a sample comprising a matrix and an analyte. The sample is in the liquid form when it is ablated and the ions produced are passed through a heated conduit. The multiply charged ions produced may be used in mass spectrometry to measure the mass of the analyte.

A detection apparatus and a detection method are disclosed. In one aspect, the detection apparatus includes a sampling device for collecting samples to be checked. It further includes a sample pre-processing device configured to pre-process the sample from the sampling device. It further includes a sample analyzing device for separating samples from the pre-processing device and for analyzing the separated samples. The detection apparatus is miniaturized and highly precise, and is capable of quickly and accurately detecting gaseous phase or particulate substances, and it has applications for safety inspections at airports, ports, and subway stations.

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.

A micro-fabricated device for controlling trapped ions includes a storage unit configured to store and cool the trapped ions. The storage unit includes a first cooling zone configured to cool ions located in the first cooling zone based on a laser cooling technique. The storage unit further includes a first closed shuttling path extending through the first cooling zone and configured to shuttle the trapped ions to periodically pass through the first cooling zone. A method for storing and cooling trapped ions in a device for controlling trapped ions is also described.

Systems and method are disclosed that facilitate the controlled collection an aerosol sample from an aerosol plume and the controlled injection of the aerosol sample into an analysis device such as a mass spectrometer. The disclosed embodiments decouple the aerosol sample collection process from the aerosol sample injection process via the use of an intermediate collection chamber, into which an aerosol sample is collected from an aerosol plume prior to injection into an analytic device. In some embodiments, temporal coordination is provided between the generation of the aerosol plume and the collection of an aerosol sample from the aerosol plume into an intermediate chamber, with optional incubation in the intermediate chamber prior to injection. The disclosed systems and methods have been found to facilitate a reduction in the temporal variations (stability) and/or the spatial inhomogeneity of the composition of the aerosol sample that is injected into the analytic device.

Methods and apparatus for providing samples to a detector are provided. A detector inlet for providing a sample to an analytical apparatus for detecting a substance of interest includes a first sampling pathway configured to receive a first flow of air including a vapour for sampling by the analytical apparatus; and a second sampling pathway configured to receive a second flow of air, the second sampling pathway including a heater configured to heat an aerosol, present in the second flow of air, to vaporise the aerosol for sampling by the analytical apparatus; wherein the detector inlet is operable to open and close each of the first and second sampling pathways to enable at least one of the first flow of air and the second flow of air.