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 sample introduction system for a spectrometer comprises a desolvation region that receives or generates sample ions from a solvent matrix and removes at least some of the solvent matrix from the sample ions. A separation chamber downstream of the desolvation region has a separation chamber inlet communicating with the desolvation region, for receiving the desolvated sample ions along with non-ionised solvent and solvent ion vapours. The separation chamber has electrodes for generating an electric field within the separation chamber, defining a first flow path for sample ions between the separation chamber inlet and a separation chamber outlet. Unwanted solvent ions and non-ionised solvent vapours are directed away from the separation chamber outlet. The sample introduction system has a reaction chamber with an inlet communicating with the separation chamber outlet, for receiving the sample ions from the separation chamber and for decomposing the received ions into smaller products.

A method is disclosed comprising obtaining or acquiring chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data from one or more regions of a target (2) using a chemical sensor (20). The chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data may be used to determine one or more regions of interest of the target (2). An ambient ionisation ion source 1 may then be used to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour (5) from one or more regions of the target (2).

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 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.

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.

Provided is an ion analyzer characterized by: an ionization chamber (10) to be maintained at atmospheric pressure; an analysis chamber (11) for analyzing an ion generated in the ionization chamber (10); a vacuum pump (15, 16) for evacuating the inside of the analysis chamber (11); a capillary (102) for allowing the ionization chamber (10) and the analysis chamber (11) to communicate with each other; a conductance changer (103, 104) for changing the conductance of the capillary (102); and a controller (20) for operating the conductance changer (103, 104) in such a manner as to decrease the conductance of the capillary (102) when the degree of vacuum in the analysis chamber (11) is lower than a predetermined degree of vacuum.

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.

An apparatus for mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising a first device arranged and adapted to generate aerosol, smoke or vapor from a target and one or more second devices arranged and adapted to aspirate aerosol, smoke, vapor and/or liquid to or towards an analyzer. A liquid trap or separator is provided to capture and/or discard liquid aspirated by the one or more second devices.

In an ionization device for an ionization chamber (11) separated from an analysis chamber (12-14) by a partition wall having an ion introduction port (113), an ionization probe (111) sprays a liquid sample. A heated-gas supply mechanism (112), which includes a gas supply source and a heating section (1122) for heating a gas supplied from the gas supply source, expels the gas in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the liquid sample is sprayed from the ionization probe. A controller (32) controls an operation of the heated-gas supply mechanism so that the gas is continuously expelled from the heated-gas supply mechanism regardless of the presence or absence of an operation by a user while the liquid sample is sprayed from the ionization probe. The continuous expulsion of the gas from the heated-gas supply mechanism prevents this mechanism from being contaminated by the sprayed liquid.