Abstract: Microfluidic devices provide substances to a mass spectrometer. The microfluidic devices include first and second surfaces, at least one microchannel formed by the surfaces, and an outlet at an edge of the surfaces which is recessed back from an adjacent portion of the edge. Hydrophilic surfaces and/or hydrophobic surfaces guide substances out of the outlet. A source of electrical potential can help move substances through the microchannel, separate substances and/or provide electrospray ionization.

Abstract: A component list extraction method improves the quality of data extracted from a series of spectra, images, or other data sets, resulting in more accurate analysis and data mining. A series of spectra, such as mass spectra, are obtained and thresholded to distinguish peaks from noise. Conventionally, all data below the noise threshold are recorded as having zero intensity, which introduces an artificial discontinuity in the data. Instead, a composite peak list is constructed containing peaks occurring in at least a minimum number of spectra, and intensity values are recorded for corresponding peak locations in all spectra, even those having intensities below the noise threshold. The resulting intensities serve as inputs to a data mining or analysis method. The method can also be used as a peak detection method to determine components characterizing a sample type or patient population. The method is particularly useful for biological marker discovery and image processing.