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 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 desorption atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (DAPCI) system delivers a primary ion beam composed of an inert, high velocity gas and solvent ions to a surface to effect desorption and ionization of both volatile and non-volatile species present on surfaces. A electrode having a tapered tip is connected to a high voltage power supply. The tapered tip projects outward from a capillary carrying a high-speed flow of gas. A vapor of a solvent is mixed into the annular gas flow surrounding the needle. The gaseous solvent vapor is ionized in close proximity to the tapered tip by virtue of the high voltage applied to the electrode. The high-speed flow of gas and solvent vapor ions extending outward from the capillary is directed toward a substrate on which an analyte of interest may have been deposited.

Abstract: A new method and system for desorption ionization is described and applied to the ionization of various compounds, including peptides and proteins present on metal, polymer, and mineral surfaces. Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) is carried out by directing charged droplets and/or ions of a liquid onto the surface to be analyzed. The impact of the charged particles on the surface produces gaseous ions of material originally present on the surface. The resulting mass spectra are similar to normal ESI mass spectra in that they show mainly singly or multiply charged molecular ions of the analytes. The DESI phenomenon was observed both in the case of conductive and insulator surfaces and for compounds ranging from nonpolar small molecules such as lycopene, the alkaloid coniceine, and small drugs, through polar compounds such as peptides and proteins. Changes in the solution that is sprayed can be used to selectively ionize particular compounds, including those in biological matrices.