Chemically Guided Ambient Ionisation Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

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).

1 . A method comprising:
 obtaining or acquiring chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data from one or more regions of a target, wherein said chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data comprises fluorescence data;   using said chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data to determine one or more regions of interest of said target;   using a first device to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of said target; and   mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said aerosol, smoke or vapour or ions derived from said aerosol, smoke or vapour in order to obtain mass spectrometric data and/or ion mobility data.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first device comprises or forms part of an ambient ion or ionisation source or wherein said first device generates said aerosol, smoke or vapour for subsequent ionisation by an ambient ion or ionisation source or other ionisation source. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said target comprises native or unmodified target material. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said native or unmodified target material is unmodified by the addition of a matrix or reagent. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first device is arranged and adapted to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of said target without said target requiring prior preparation. 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first device comprises an ion source selected from the group consisting of: (i) a rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometry (“REIMS”) ion source; (ii) a desorption electrospray ionisation (“DESI”) ion source; (iii) a laser desorption ionisation (“LDI”) ion source; (iv) a thermal desorption ion source; (v) a laser diode thermal desorption (“LDTD”) ion source; (vi) a desorption electro-flow focusing (“DEFFI”) ion source; (vii) a dielectric barrier discharge (“DBD”) plasma ion source; (viii) an Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe (“ASAP”) ion source; (ix) an ultrasonic assisted spray ionisation ion source; (x) an easy ambient sonic-spray ionisation (“EASI”) ion source; (xi) a desorption atmospheric pressure photoionisation (“DAPPI”) ion source; (xii) a paperspray (“PS”) ion source; (xiii) a jet desorption ionisation (“JeDI”) ion source; (xiv) a touch spray (“TS”) ion source; (xv) a nano-DESI ion source; (xvi) a laser ablation electrospray (“LAESI”) ion source; (xvii) a direct analysis in real time (“DART”) ion source; (xviii) a probe electrospray ionisation (“PESI”) ion source; (xix) a solid-probe assisted electrospray ionisation (“SPA-ESI”) ion source; (xx) a cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (“CUSA”) device; (xxi) a focussed or unfocussed ultrasonic ablation device; (xxii) a microwave resonance device; and (xxiii) a pulsed plasma RF dissection device. 
     
     
         9 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said target comprises biological tissue, biological matter, a bacterial colony or a fungal colony. 
     
     
         26 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising directing light or ultra-violet radiation on to said target. 
     
     
         51 . A method as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein said ultra-violet radiation has a wavelength in a range selected from the group consisting of: (i) 100-150 nm; (ii) 150-200 nm; (iii) 200-250 nm; (iv) 250-300 nm; (v) 300-350 nm; and (vi) 350-400 nm. 
     
     
         52 . A method as claimed in  claim 50  or  51 , further comprising detecting light or electromagnetic radiation emitted from said target. 
     
     
         53 . A method as claimed in  claim 52 , further comprising determining a fluorescence or autofluorescence profile or spectrum. 
     
     
         54 . A method as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein said fluorescence or autofluorescence profile or spectrum comprises a measure of the intensity of light or electromagnetic radiation emitted from said target as a function of frequency or wavelength. 
     
     
         55 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising comparing a fluorescence or autofluorescence profile or spectrum relating to a region of said target with a fluorescence or autofluorescence profile or spectrum obtained from a control sample, a control region, control data or predetermined data in order to determining one or more regions of interest of said target. 
     
     
         56 - 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising using said chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data to determine the margins or bounds of one or more regions of interest of said target. 
     
     
         71 - 73 . (canceled) 
     
     
         74 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising using one or more contrast agents to enhance said chemical data. 
     
     
         75 . A method as claimed in  claim 74 , wherein said one or more contrast agents comprise one or more fluorescent contrast agents. 
     
     
         76 - 87 . (canceled) 
     
     
         88 . A method of mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry comprising a method as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         89 . Apparatus comprising:
 a device arranged and adapted to obtain chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data from one or more regions of a target, wherein said chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data comprises fluorescence data;   a control system arranged and adapted to use said chemical or other non-mass spectrometric data to determine one or more regions of interest of said target;   a first device for generating aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of said target; and   a mass analyser and/or ion mobility analyser for mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said aerosol, smoke or vapour or ions derived from said aerosol, smoke or vapour in order to obtain mass spectrometric data and/or ion mobility data.   
     
     
         90 - 171 . (canceled) 
     
     
         172 . An ambient ionisation ion source comprising apparatus as claimed in  claim 89 . 
     
     
         173 - 174 . (canceled) 
     
     
         175 . A mass spectrometer and/or ion mobility analyser comprising apparatus as claimed in  claim 89   
     
     
         176 - 197 . (canceled)