A system for sampling and analysis of the chemical composition of any material from any surface is provided. The system comprises of a sniffing line to collect a specimen from a surface for evaluation and a thermal desorption system to thermally desorb an analyte from the sampled material, The system may further comprise of an ionization system to form an ionized analyte. A mass spectrometer is then used to analyze the chemical composition of the ionized analyte sample.

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 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 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 el 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 heater for ionization is used to produce ions from a sample. The heater for ionization has a bobbin, an electric heating wire and an electrode. The bobbin extends in one direction. The electric heating wire is wound around the bobbin. The electrode is welded to the electric heating wire. In the bobbin, a groove portion extending in the one direction is formed. The electrode is fitted into the groove portion.

The present invention is directed to a method and device to desorb an analyte using heat to allow desorption of the analyte molecules, where the desorbed analyte molecules are ionized with ambient temperature ionizing species. In various embodiments of the invention a current is passed through a mesh upon which the analyte molecules are present. The current heats the mesh and results in desorption of the analyte molecules which then interact with gas phase metastable neutral molecules or atoms to form analyte ions characteristic of the analyte molecules.

An apparatus for performing ambient ionization 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 vapor onto said collision assembly.

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.

The present invention relates to the field of mass and/or ion mobility spectrometers. Provided is an ionization device and a mass spectrometer and an ion mobility spectrometer having same. Further provided is an ionization method. A sampling probe of the ionization device of the present invention is able to actively and rapidly collect samples, while a sampling device and a thermal desorption device are combined into one, simplifying and compacting the sampling device. An ionization part is provided downstream of the sampling and desorption part, ensuring that the sampling probe will not interfere with a flow field or an electric field between the ionization part and the analysis assembly inlet, thus ensuring repeatability of the device signal and flexibility of analysis.

A mass spectrometer (ion analyzer) includes: an ionization chamber; a sample probe fixed to a wall of the ionization chamber and configured to nebulize a liquid sample into the ionization chamber; a gas heater including a tubular member having both end walls and a peripheral wall, a heater configured to heat the inside of the tubular member, a gas flow inlet and a gas flow outlet provided in the peripheral wall or the end wall of the tubular member, and a gas flow outlet pipe having one end connected to the gas flow outlet and the other end inserted into the ionization chamber; a fixture configured to fix the gas heater to the wall of the ionization chamber; and a cooling unit configured to cool the fixture.