Methods and apparatuses for analyzing biological samples by mass spectrometry

摘要

The present invention provides a method for classifying disease. The method comprises the following steps:
(a) generating a diseased specimen including an energy absorbent matrix;
(b) striking the specimen with a laser beam such that a predetermined first laser spot on the specimen releases first sample proteins;
(c) measuring the atomic mass of the released first sample proteins over a range of atomic masses;
(d) moving the specimen relative to the laser beam a predetermined linear distance functionally related to a size of the predetermined first laser spot;
(e) striking the specimen with the laser beam such that a predetermined second laser spot on the specimen releases second sample proteins;
(f) measuring the atomic mass of the released second sample proteins over a range of atomic masses;
(g) analyzing an atomic mass window of interest within the range of atomic masses to determine the spatial arrangement of specific proteins within the sample;
(h) identifying the specific proteins as a function of the spatial arrangement; and
(i) correlating the identified specific proteins with one or more diseases to classify the diseased specimen.