High resolution imaging apparatus and method
AssigneesStandard BioTools Canada Inc., University of Ottawa
InventorsPaul Corkum, Alexander V. Loboda
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the high resolution imaging of samples using imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) and to the imaging of biological samples by imaging mass cytometry (IMC™) in which labelling atoms are detected by IMS. LA-ICP-MS (a form of IMS in which the sample is ablated by a laser, the ablated material is then ionised in an inductively coupled plasma before the ions are detected by mass spectrometry) has been used for analysis of various substances, such as mineral analysis of geological samples, analysis of archaeological samples, and imaging of biological substances. However, traditional LA-ICP-MS systems and methods may not provide high resolution. Described herein are methods and systems for high resolution IMS and IMC.
Claims5
A method of analysing a biological sample comprising:
- staining the biological sample with a contrast agent for electron microscopy,
- labelling the sample with labelling atoms,
- imaging the biological sample by electron microscopy,
- directing a beam of radiation emitted by the laser source towards a location on the biological sample to produce an ablated plume of sample material;
- ionising the ablated plume of sample material;
- and
- detecting the sample ions from the sample material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.