IMPROVEMENTS TO MASS SPECTROMETRY

摘要

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) apparatus and method comprising a laser (100) and a multimode optical fiber (101) to deliver a laser beam to a MADLI ion source (104). A vibration coupling (109) is provided at a region along the length of optical fiber (101) to impart an oscillatory vibrational motion at the optical fibre (101) to move the irradiation intensity maxima at the sample (104) to increase the effective irradiation surface area. The present apparatus and method provide increased imaging sensitivity and a corresponding reduction in data acquisition times.