Slide analysis a gripper with three sensors for controlling a slide grip sequence and at least one rotatable carousel with a slide receiving channel. The systems also include a robot with a robot arm that holds a slide gripper residing inside the housing in communication with the rotatable carousel. The systems also include a load lock chamber and a door sealably coupled to the second end portion and an acquisition vacuum chamber with an X-Y stage and a slide holder with a vacuum seal.

The present disclosure discloses a silicon nanowire chip and silicon nanowire chip-based mass spectrometry detection method. The detection method includes the following steps: step 1 of manufacturing a silicon nanowire chip, comprising: subjecting a monocrystalline silicon wafer to a surface washing pretreatment, a metal-assisted etching and a post-alkali etching to obtain a silicon nanowire chip with a tip, and performing a surface chemical modification or a nanomaterial modification on the silicon nanowire chip; step 2 of evaluating mass spectrometry performance of the silicon nanowire chip; and step 3 of performing a tip-contact sampling and in-situ ionization mass spectrometry detection.

A system for sampling a sample material includes a device for directing sample into a capture probe. The device for supplying sample material to the probe can be a device for radiating energy to the surface to eject sample from the sample material. A probe includes an outer probe housing having an open end. A liquid supply conduit has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end. An exhaust conduit removes liquid from the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be in fluid connection with the liquid exhaust conduit for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate, which exceeds the first volumetric flow rate such that gas with sample is withdrawn with the liquid. The probe can produce a vortex of liquid in the liquid exhaust conduit. A method for sampling a surface and a sampling probe system are also disclosed.

A sample support body includes: an insulating substrate having a measurement region formed with a plurality of through holes; a frame formed with an opening part opening to a first face and a second face to correspond to the measurement region, and formed on the first surface such that the opening part overlaps the measurement region when viewed from a thickness direction of the substrate; an adhesive layer to bond the substrate and the frame and having a protruding portion protruding from an inner surface of the opening part toward the measurement region; and a conductive layer having a first portion provided along the inner surface of the opening part, a second portion provided along the first surface of the measurement region, and a third portion provided along a surface of the protruding portion so as to connect the first portion and the second portion.

A nozzle for an ionisation source comprises: a light passage having an inlet end and an outlet end; and a gas flow passage in fluid communication with the light passage, wherein the gas flow passage is configured to convey, in use, a flow of gas into the light passage such that the flow of gas travels substantially towards the outlet end of the light passage.

The invention proposes preparing biological samples for spectrometry which contain cell structures and/or whole cells of human or animal origin (e.g. thin human and animal tissue sections) or prokaryotes (e.g. microorganisms), and which require constant relative humidity, in a temperature-controlled gas volume whose humidity is determined by a saturated substance solution, for example a suitable salt solution. The invention exploits a physico-chemical phenomenon called “deliquescence”, which manifests itself by keeping the relative humidity above the saturated substance solution constant with a high degree of precision when a specified temperature is maintained. Pure succinic acid exhibits deliquescence at approx. 99% relative humidity, for example. Since an enormous variety of deliquescent salts and other suitable substances are available, it is possible to find the suitable substance for almost any desired relative humidity, with adjustment of the temperature, where necessary.

A sample support used for ionizing a component of a sample includes: a substrate having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a plurality of through-holes that are open on the first surface and on the second surface; a conductive layer provided on at least the first surface; and a cationizing agent provided in the plurality of through-holes to cationize the component with a predetermined atom.

Provided is a sample pretreatment device configured to apply, to the surface of a sample, a solution in which a predetermined substance is dissolved or dispersed. In order to properly and efficiently unclog a nozzle due to the deposition of the crystal of a matrix substance, the device includes a spray unit (3) including a solution tube (32) for the solution to pass through, a gas tube (33) for a spray gas to pass through, and a nozzle part (30) configured to spray the solution arriving at the terminal end of the solution tube by ejection of the spray gas through the gas tube, as well as a cleaning liquid supplier (4, 41) configured to put a cleaning liquid on an opening of the nozzle part from outside the spray unit.

Methods for an instrument including a light source of are provided. A method for an instrument including a light source includes providing light from the light source to a target location in a process chamber. The method includes receiving the light at a sensor. The method includes determining, using data from the sensor, a first position of the light at the target location. Moreover, the method includes determining whether to adjust the light to a second position at the target location. Related instruments are also provided.

A sample support includes: a substrate having a plurality of through-holes opening on a first surface and on a second surface; a first member having a plurality of first openings and disposed on the first surface; a second member having a plurality of second openings and disposed on the second surface, and; a bonding member disposed between the first member and the second member; and a conductive layer integrally provided on a region of the second surface corresponding to each of the plurality of second openings. The plurality of through-holes include a plurality of first through-holes located between each of the plurality of first openings and each of the plurality of second openings, and a plurality of second through-holes located between the first member and the second member. Each of the plurality of second openings communicate with each of the plurality of first openings through the plurality of first through-holes.