Abstract: A system and sampling probe adaptable to an ultrasonic surgical instrument applies irrigation fluid and ultrasonic or vibrational energy to a target, and aspirates material desorbed from the target into a pick-up conduit. A suction source at the distal end of the conduit may aspirate the material released from the target with the irrigation fluid, thus efficiently sampling a broad range of materials from an arbitrary target to produce an analyzable effluent analyte stream which may be ionized and provided to the inlet of an ion-type analysis instrument, or may be fed directly to an instrument such as a flow cytometer, IR or fluorescence spectrophotometer, or other analyzer. Carrier gas may be provided to more effectively transport the desorbed material, and the probe may be incorporated into a robotic device to automatically carry out surface imaging or to effect sampling in hazardous environments.

Abstract: A heated DESI spray device provides improved resolution or control of analyte desorption at a target locus on a sample. Heating controls spot size and enhances resolution in an imaging mode without impairing signal level. Additionally or alternatively the heated DESI spray may control desorption kinetics of a target analyte or otherwise control analyte discrimination in detection mode. One embodiment of the DESI spray is heated by heating nebulizing gas that accompanies the electrosprayed solvent. Another embodiment heats a separate gas stream that transports or directs desorbed material to the ion aperture of an analysis instrument. Heating may reduce size of primary droplets, alter the impact dynamics or the energy delivered by the spray to the surface, reduce size of secondary droplets and/or assure desolvation, improve species selectivity or otherwise affect sampling and enhance the ion signal level.

Abstract: A system and sampling probe adaptable to an ultrasonic surgical instrument applies irrigation fluid and ultrasonic or vibrational energy to a target, and aspirates material desorbed from the target into a pick-up conduit. A suction source at the distal end of the conduit may aspirate the material released from the target with the irrigation fluid, thus efficiently sampling a broad range of materials from an arbitrary target to produce an analyzable effluent analyte stream which may be ionized and provided to the inlet of an ion-type analysis instrument, or may be fed directly to an instrument such as a flow cytometer, IR or fluorescence spectrophotometer, or other analyzer. Carrier gas may be provided to more effectively transport the desorbed material, and the probe may be incorporated into a robotic device to automatically carry out surface imaging or to effect sampling in hazardous environments.

Abstract: A heated DESI spray device provides improved resolution or control of analyte desorption at a target locus on a sample. Heating controls spot size and enhances resolution in an imaging mode without impairing signal level. Additionally or alternatively the heated DESI spray may control desorption kinetics of a target analyte or otherwise control analyte discrimination in detection mode. One embodiment of the DESI spray is heated by heating nebulizing gas that accompanies the electrosprayed solvent. Another embodiment heats a separate gas stream that transports or directs desorbed material to the ion aperture of an analysis instrument. Heating may reduce size of primary droplets, alter the impact dynamics or the energy delivered by the spray to the surface, reduce size of secondary droplets and/or assure desolvation, improve species selectivity or otherwise affect sampling and enhance the ion signal level.