Mass spectrometry cartridge including a base in mechanical communication with a spray substrate holder, an absorbent pad between the base and the spray substrate holder, a translatable sample well holder interposed between the spray substrate holder and a top cover, the top cover configured to house a conductive element, wherein when the translatable sample well holder is in a first position, the translatable well holder is vertically above the absorbent pad, when the translatable sample well holder is in a second position, the translatable well holder is vertically above a spray substrate are disclosed. Methods of analyzing a sample are also disclosed.

The present disclosure describes embodiments directed to a bubble based ion source system comprising an ion source configured to generate a plurality of ions, an ion channel, an electrode, and/or any other components. The ion source can include a container at least partially comprising a solvent or solution, a bubble generator coupled to the container configured to generate a plurality of bubbles within the solvent, and/or any other component. The ion channel can receive ions that are generated based on solvent from the bubbles.

A microwave microstrip resonator apparatus including a housing; a resonator within the housing; an output conductor within the housing and spaced apart from the resonator so as to define a capacitive gap therebetween; a reaction vessel configured to reside with the capacitive gap; and a power supply coupled to the resonator whereby contents within the reaction vessel are heated when energy is supplied to the resonator by the power supply. A mass spectrometer may also be coupled to an outlet end of the reaction vessel such that the contents within the reaction vessel are, simultaneously, delivered to the mass spectrometer for analysis.

A droplet (415) is ejected from a surface (411) of a fluid sample containing an analyte using an ejector (420). A solvent is pumped into a solvent inlet (432) of an open port probe (OPP) (430) spaced apart from the surface using a pump (438). The solvent is pumped to send it from the solvent inlet (432) to a tip (431) of the OPP (430) through a solvent capillary (434) of the OPP (430), receive the droplet (415) at the tip (431) where the droplet is combined with the solvent to form an analyte-solvent dilution, and transport the dilution from the tip (431) to an output (435) of the OPP (430) through a sample capillary (436) of the OPP (430). The solvent is heated to a temperature above a threshold temperature using a heating element (437). The solvent is heated to reduce the viscosity of the solvent below a threshold viscosity and maintain the viscosity below the threshold viscosity as the dilution is transported from the tip (431) to the outlet (435).

An atmospheric pressure ionisation source comprising: an ionisation chamber, comprising an aperture for receiving at least the distal end of a capillary into the ionisation chamber in use, the aperture having a capillary axis; a desolvation heater having a nozzle, for directing a stream of heated gas onto the distal end of the capillary in use, the nozzle having a nozzle axis; a corona discharge device including a corona pin having a corona axis, the corona pin for ionizing a sample in the ionisation chamber in use; and an inlet cone of a mass spectrometer arranged in the ionisation chamber, the inlet cone defining a cone entrance having a cone axis, wherein the cone axis is substantially coaxial with the corona axis and the capillary axis is substantially perpendicular to and intersects with the nozzle axis.

Bubble plasma ionisation probe for analysing liquids by mass spectrometry. A means of a detecting analytes dissolved in a liquid by mass spectrometry is described. Gas flows from a source through a first conduit 105 and thereafter through a coaxial second conduit 103 that also serves as the inlet to the mass spectrometer 102. The coaxial arrangement of conduits is submerged in the liquid to be analysed 301. Using a feedback loop, the gas pressure is adjusted and controlled such that an attached bubble 302 forms at the open end of the first conduit 105. A plasma 305 is provided in the bubble. The plasma is preferably generated by a dielectric barrier discharge between a collar electrode 107 and mass spectrometer inlet 103. Analytes dissolved in the liquid are both desorbed form the gas-liquid interface and ionised by the action of the plasma. Ions formed in this way become entrained in the gas flow and are consequently transferred to the mass spectrometer, where they are analysed.

A method for determining in a sample, by mass spectrometry, the amount of one or more analytes selected from the group consisting of 12,13-DiHOME, 3-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), 3-hydroxyoctanoate, 3-methylglutarylcarnitine, 3-ureidopropionate, 7-alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (7-Hoca), citrate, fucose, fumarate, gamma-tocopherol, glutamate, glutarate, glycerol, glycochenodeoxycholate, glycocholate, hypoxanthine, maleate, malonate, mannose, orotate, 2,3-pyrdinedicarboxylate, ribose, serine, taurine, taurochenodeoxycholate, taurocholate, palmitoleate, linolenate, xanthine, xylitol, and combinations thereof is described. The method comprises subjecting the sample to an ionization source under conditions suitable to produce one or more ions detectable by mass spectrometry from each of the one or more analytes; measuring, by mass spectrometry, the amount of the one or more ions from each of the one or more analytes; and using the measured amount to determine the amount of each of the one or more analytes in the sample.

Disclosed herein are mass spectrometry sample substrates. Also disclosed herein are mass spectrometry sample strips and cartridges that include a solid phase extraction (SPE) element. The mass spectrometry sample substrates, sample strips, and cartridges can be used in paper spray mass spectrometry to detect and quantify one or more analytes present in a biological sample. Also disclosed are methods for collecting and concentrating one or more analytes from a biological sample, as well as for storing a biological sample that includes one or more analytes. Methods for analyzing the one or more analytes from the biological sample are also provided.

Systems and methods are described for indirect detection of a missed sample from an autosampler. A method embodiment includes, but is not limited to, drawing a fluid through operation of an autosampler; directing the fluid via a fluid line to a valve of a fluid handling system, the valve including or being adjacent to a sensor to detect a presence or absence of liquid sample; directing the fluid from the valve into a holding line coupled to the valve; determining whether a threshold amount of liquid sample is present in the fluid in the holding line; and when it is determined that liquid sample is present in the fluid in the holding line in an amount less than the threshold amount, transferring a carrier fluid having a marker component to an analytic detector, the marker component present in the carrier fluid in an amount indicative of a missed sample.

A system for sampling a sample material includes a probe which can have an outer probe housing with an open end. A liquid supply conduit within the housing has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to 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 conduit within the housing is provided for removing liquid from the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be provided for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate. A droplet dispenser can dispense drops of a sample or a sample-containing solvent into the open end of the housing. A sensor and a processor can be provided to monitor and maintain a liquid dome present at the open end.