Systems and methods for sample analysis using swabs
The invention generally relates to systems and methods for sample analysis using swabs. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems that include a probe having a conductive proximal portion coupled to a porous material at a distal portion of the probe that is configured to retain a portion of a sample that has contacted the porous material, and a mass spectrometer having an inlet. The system is configured such that the porous material at a distal portion of the probe is aligned over the inlet of the mass spectrometer.
1. A method for analyzing a sample, the method comprising:
contacting a distal portion of a probe to a sample such that a portion of the sample is retained on the distal portion of the probe;
positioning the distal portion of the probe directly vertically above a distal end of an upward opening inlet of a mass spectrometer;
applying solvent and voltage to the probe to generate ions of the sample that are downwardly expelled from the probe and into the inlet of the mass spectrometer; and
analyzing the ions in the mass spectrometer, thereby analyzing the sample.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sample is an in vivo human tissue sample and a portion of the in vivo human tissue sample is retained on the distal portion of the probe.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the in vivo human tissue sample is along a surface of a resection cavity of the human.
4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising determining if the in vivo human tissue sample comprises abnormal tissue.
5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the abnormal tissue is diseased tissue.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the diseased tissue is cancerous tissue.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the cancerous tissue is from a tumor.
8. A method for assessing a tissue, the method comprising:
contacting a medical swab to a tissue in a manner that a portion of the tissue is retained on the medical swab;
generating ions of one or more analytes from the portion of the tissue retained on the medical swab by:
positioning the portion of the tissue directly vertically above a distal end of an upward opening inlet of a mass spectrometer; and
applying solvent and voltage to the portion of the tissue to generate ions thereof that are downwardly expelled from the swab and into the upward opening inlet; and
analyzing the ions in the mass spectrometer, thereby assessing the tissue.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the tissue is in vivo tissue.
10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the in vivo tissue is tissue at a resection site in a patient.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the analyzing allows for assessment of tumor infiltration into the resection site.