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.

In one aspect, a curtain and orifice plate assembly for use in a mass spectrometry system is disclosed, which comprises a curtain plate including a first printed circuit board (PCB) having an aperture configured for receiving ions generated by an ion source of the mass spectrometry system and at least one gas-flow channel, where said first PCB has at least one metal coating disposed on at least a portion thereof. The assembly further includes an orifice plate coupled to the curtain plate, which includes a PCB providing an orifice that is substantially aligned with the aperture of the curtain plate so that the ions entering the assembly via said aperture of the curtain plate can exit the assembly via said orifice of the orifice plate, where the second PCB has at least one metal coating disposed on at least a portion thereof.

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.

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.

In one aspect, a curtain and orifice plate assembly for use in a mass spectrometry system is disclosed, which comprises a curtain plate including a first printed circuit board (PCB) having an aperture configured for receiving ions generated by an ion source of the mass spectrometry system and at least one gas-flow channel, where said first PCB has at least one metal coating disposed on at least a portion thereof. The assembly further includes an orifice plate coupled to the curtain plate, which includes a PCB providing an orifice that is substantially aligned with the aperture of the curtain plate so that the ions entering the assembly via said aperture of the curtain plate can exit the assembly via said orifice of the orifice plate, where the second PCB has at least one metal coating disposed on at least a portion thereof.

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.

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 surface interaction sample introduction (SISI) system for mass spectrometers is disclosed that improves sensitivity and reduces chemical background. SISI comprises of a settling chamber with an inlet orifice that ions created by an ionization source enter the MS impinging surface that is located in front of the inlet orifice, thereby the high-speed gas jet entering the settling chamber from the inlet orifice impinges on the impinging surface resealing ions and molecules into the settling chamber. The impinging surface can be one of the settling chamber surfaces or an extra surface placed inside the settling chamber. The impinging surface can be orthogonal or angled with respect to the gas jet. The impinging surface is heated to apply thermal energy to the jet to promote the liberation of ionized particles from attached impurities. The released ions and molecules leave the settling chamber from an outlet port towards a mass spectrometer 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.

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.