Method and system using acoustic ejection for preparing and analyzing a cellular sample surface

A system for acoustically depositing a fluid on a surface of a cellular sample, comprising:

• a reservoir containing a fluid;
• an acoustic ejector comprising an acoustic radiation generator for generating acoustic radiation and a focusing means for focusing the acoustic radiation generated;
• an acoustic ejector positioning means for positioning the acoustic ejector in acoustic coupling relationship to the reservoir;
• a cellular sample having a surface;
• and
• a sample positioning means for positioning the cellular sample surface such that at least one designated site thereon is in droplet-receiving relationship to the reservoir.

A method for analyzing a surface of a cellular sample, comprising:

• (a) providing a reservoir containing an analysis-enhancing fluid;
• (b) positioning the cellular sample surface such that a designated site on the cellular sample surface is in droplet-receiving relationship to the fluid containing reservoir, wherein the designated site is one of a plurality of designated sites within an array of such sites;
• (c) applying focused acoustic energy in a manner effective to eject a droplet of the fluid from the reservoir such that the droplet is deposited on the sample surface at the designated site;
• (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) with each different designated site so that at least one droplet is deposited at each designated site;
• (e) applying energy to each of the designated sites to effect release of sample molecules therefrom;
• and
• (f) analyzing the released sample molecules.

A system for acoustically depositing a fluid on a surface of a cellular sample, comprising:

• a reservoir containing an analyte-enhancing fluid;
• an acoustic ejector comprising an acoustic radiation generator for generating acoustic radiation and a focusing means for focusing the acoustic radiation generated;
• an acoustic ejector positioning means for positioning the acoustic ejector in acoustic coupling relationship to the reservoir;
• a cellular sample having a surface;
• a sample positioning means for positioning a cellular sample surface such that a plurality of different designated sites within an array of such sites on the cellular sample surface are successively placed in droplet-receiving relationship to the reservoir;
• an energy applying means for applying energy to the designated sites to effect release and ionization of sample molecules therefrom;
• and
• an analyzing means for analyzing the sample molecules from the designated sites