Focused acoustic radiation, referred to as tonebursts, are applied to a volume of liquid to generate a set of droplets. In one embodiment, a first toneburst is applied to temporarily raise a mound or protuberance on a free surface of the fluid. After the mound has reached a certain state, at least two additional toneburst can be applied to the protuberance to sequentially eject multiple bursts of multiple droplets. In one embodiment, the state of the mound can be maintained by a sustained acoustic signal, during which time multiple additional tonebursts can be applied to sequentially eject multiple bursts of multiple droplets from the mound.

An optimal value is calculated for at least one parameter of an ADE device, an OPI, or an ion source device. For each value of a plurality of parameter values for at least one parameter of the ADE device, the OPI, or the ion source device, three steps are performed using a processor. First, the at least one parameter is set to the value. Second, the ADE device, the OPI, the ion source device, and a mass spectrometer are instructed to produce one or more intensity versus time mass peaks for a sample. Third, a feature value is calculated for at least one feature of the one or more intensity versus time mass peaks. A plurality of feature values corresponding to the plurality of parameter values is produced. An optimal value is calculated for the at least one parameter from the plurality of feature values.

An ADE device identifies an identifiable sequence of one or more ejections from at least one sample using a different value or pattern of values for one or more ADE parameters. The identifiable one or more ejections are performed to produce one or more mass peaks that have a different feature value or pattern of feature values for one or more peak features than other mass peaks produced. Ejection times are stored. One or more detected peaks with the different feature values or pattern of feature values are identified as produced by the identifiable one or more ejections. A delay time is calculated from the time of the identifiable ejections and the time of the identified detected peaks and the peaks are aligned with samples using delay time, stored times, and order of the samples.

A trace of intensity versus time values is received for a series of samples produced by a mass spectrometer. Also, a series of ejections times corresponding to the series of samples produced by a sample introduction system is received. A series of expected peak times corresponding to the series of ejection times are calculated using a known delay time from ejection to mass analysis. At least one isolated peak of the trace is identified using the series of expected peak times. A peak profile is calculated by fitting a mixture of at least two different distribution functions to the at least one isolated peak. For at least one time of the series of expected peak times, an area of a peak at the one time is calculated by fitting the peak profile to the trace at the one time and calculating an area of the fitted peak profile.

Focused acoustic radiation, referred to as tonebursts, are applied to a volume of liquid to generate a set of droplets. In one embodiment, a first toneburst is applied to temporarily raise a mound or protuberance on a free surface of the fluid. After the mound has reached a certain state, at least two additional toneburst can be applied to the protuberance to sequentially eject multiple bursts of multiple droplets. In one embodiment, the state of the mound can be maintained by a sustained acoustic signal, during which time multiple additional tonebursts can be applied to sequentially eject multiple bursts of multiple droplets from the mound.

An aerosolisation system (10) is provided for producing at least one aerosol plume (78) of, optionally charged, droplets (80). The aerosolisation system (10) has a nebuliser (14a), electrically-energisable vibration means (36), and AC control circuit (46b) and an offset voltage controller (68). The nebuliser (14a) includes a vibratable sheet (34) having a first surface (38a) for receiving liquid (76) thereupon, a second surface (38b) opposite the first surface (38a), and an aperture (38c) for permitting fluid therethrough, the aperture (38c) extending from the first surface (38a) to the second surface (38b). The electrically-energisable vibration means (36) in-use causes the vibratable sheet (34) to vibrate. The AC control circuit (46b) has a programmable controller and is configured to control a power supply (30) to output an alternating current to the nebuliser (14a). The offset voltage controller (68) is configured to control a power supply (30) to output an offset voltage to the alternating current control circuit (46b) so that in-use the said alternating current outputted to the nebuliser (14a) is offset by an offset voltage for controlling the production of charged droplets (80) from a liquid (76) received on the first surface (38a).

Systems and methods are disclosed for automated method parameter configuration for differential mobility separations. As non-limiting examples, various aspects of this disclosure provide receiving a sample in an open port interface; transferring the sample to an ionization source; ionizing the transferred sample; introducing the ionized sample into a mass spectrometer; mass analyzing the ionized sample to produce an initial mass analysis result; determining a peak width of the initial mass analysis result; and determining a dwell time for subsequent measurements based on the determined peak width, a pre-defined number of data points across subsequent mass analysis peak widths, and a number of different analytes to be assessed for the sample. The sample may be diluted and transferred to the ionization source by a sample introduction apparatus selected from a group including an acoustic droplet ejector (ADE), a pneumatic ejector, a piezoelectric ejector, and a hydraulic ejector.

Methods of detecting at least one analyte in at least one liquid sample are described. The method includes the steps of desalting the liquid sample, acoustically ejecting the desalted sample into an open-port interface, diluting the desalted sample, and transferring the diluted sample to an ionization source, ionizing the diluted sample, and selecting ions of interest by ion mobility.

A method of newborn screening (NBS) is disclosed comprising directing ultrasonic energy or ultrasonic waves into a metabolite or analyte sample derived from a newborn, neonate or infant so as to cause a mist of charged sample droplets or sample ions to be ejected. The charged sample droplets or sample ions are then mass analysed and a determination is made as to whether or not one or more first metabolites or analytes indicative of a disorder or inborn error are present in the sample.