Method and system for formation and withdrawal of a sample from a surface to be analyzed

Abstract

A method and system for formation and withdrawal of a sample from a surface to be analyzed utilizes a collection instrument having a port through which a liquid solution is conducted onto the surface to be analyzed. The port is positioned adjacent the surface to be analyzed, and the liquid solution is conducted onto the surface through the port so that the liquid solution conducted onto the surface interacts with material comprising the surface. An amount of material is thereafter withdrawn from the surface. Pressure control can be utilized to manipulate the solution balance at the surface to thereby control the withdrawal of the amount of material from the surface. Furthermore, such pressure control can be coordinated with the movement of the surface relative to the port of the collection instrument within the X-Y plane.

1 . A method for formation of a sample on and withdrawal of the formed sample from a surface to be analyzed, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an instrument having a port through which a liquid solution is conducted onto the surface to be analyzed;   positioning the port of the instrument adjacent the surface to be analyzed;   conducting the liquid solution onto the surface through the port of the instrument so that the liquid solution conducted onto the surface interacts with material comprising the surface; and   withdrawing an amount of material from the surface.   
   
   
       2 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the step of conducting includes a step of maintaining the port of the instrument in a stationary relationship with respect to the surface so that as the liquid solution is conducted onto the surface, the instrument port is maintained in a stationary relationship with respect to the surface. 
   
   
       3 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the step of conducting is followed by a step of permitting the passage of a preselected period of time before the step of withdrawal is carried out so that the liquid solution is permitted to interact with the material of the surface for the duration of the preselected period of time before the material is withdrawn from the surface. 
   
   
       4 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the step of withdrawing is carried out with the instrument with which the liquid solution has been conducted onto the surface. 
   
   
       5 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the step of withdrawing effects the withdrawal an amount of the material of the surface through the port of the instrument through which the liquid solution has been conducted onto the surface. 
   
   
       6 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the step of positioning the instrument positions the port of the instrument adjacent a first site across the surface to be analyzed and the step of conducting is followed by the steps of:
 moving the instrument to a second site across the surface to be analyzed;   conducting an amount of the liquid solution onto the second site across the surface through the port of the collection instrument; and   re-positioning the port of the instrument adjacent the first site across the surface before an amount of material is withdrawn from the surface at the first site.   
   
   
       7 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the surface is disposed substantially within an X-Y plane and includes a plurality of X-Y coordinate sites across the surface from which samples are desired to be collected, the method further includes the step of:
 moving the surface relative to the collection instrument within the X-Y plane to position the port of the collection instrument adjacent a selected one of the X-Y coordinate sites across the surface for sample-collecting purposes; and   the steps of controlling and moving are coordinated with one another to control the characteristics of a sample collecting operation.   
   
   
       8 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the step of conducting forms a junction between the port of the instrument and the surface so that the subsequent step of withdrawing withdraws the formed junction from the surface. 
   
   
       9 . The method as defined in  claim 8  wherein the step of withdrawing is effected by manipulation of the pressure at the port of the instrument. 
   
   
       10 . A method for formation of a sample on and withdrawal of the formed sample from a surface to be analyzed, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a collection instrument having a port through which a liquid solution is conducted onto the surface to be analyzed and through which an amount of the sample is withdrawn from the surface;   positioning the port of the collection instrument adjacent the surface in sample-collecting registry therewith;   conducting the liquid solution onto the surface through the port of the collection instrument so that the liquid solution conducted onto the surface interacts with material comprising the surface; and   withdrawing an amount of material from the surface with the collection instrument.   
   
   
       11 . The method as defined in  claim 10  wherein the step of conducting includes a step of maintaining the port of the collection instrument in a stationary relationship with respect to the surface so that as the liquid solution is conducted onto the surface, the instrument port is maintained in a stationary relationship with respect to the surface. 
   
   
       12 . The method as defined in  claim 10  wherein the step of conducting is followed by a step of permitting the passage of a preselected period of time before the step of withdrawing is carried out so that the liquid solution is permitted to interact with the material of the surface for the duration of the preselected period of time before the material is withdrawn from the surface. 
   
   
       13 . The method as defined in  claim 10  wherein the step of positioning the instrument positions the port of the instrument adjacent a first site across the surface to be analyzed and the step of conducting is followed by the steps of:
 moving the instrument to a second site across the surface to be analyzed;   conducting an amount of the liquid solution onto the second site across the surface through the port of the collection instrument; and   re-positioning the port of the instrument adjacent the first site across the surface before an amount of material is withdrawn from the surface at the first site.   
   
   
       14 . The method as defined in  claim 10  wherein the surface is disposed substantially within an X-Y plane and includes a plurality of X-Y coordinate sites across the surface from which samples are desired to be collected, the method further includes the step of:
 moving the surface relative to the collection instrument within the X-Y plane to position the port of the collection instrument adjacent a selected one of the X-Y coordinate sites across the surface for sample-collecting purposes; and   the steps of controlling and moving are coordinated with one another to control the characteristics of the sample-collecting operation.   
   
   
       15 . The method as defined in  claim 10  wherein the step of conducting forms a junction between the port of the instrument and the surface so that the subsequent step of withdrawing withdraws the formed junction from the surface. 
   
   
       16 . The method as defined in  claim 15  wherein the step of withdrawing is effected by manipulation of the pressure at the port of the instrument. 
   
   
       17 . A method for formation and withdrawal of a sample-rich liquid junction from a surface to be analyzed, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a collection instrument having a port and one passageway through which a liquid solution is conducted onto the surface to be analyzed and another passageway through which an amount of a sample is withdrawn from the surface;   positioning the port of the collection instrument in a desired positional relationship with respect to the surface for sample-collecting purposes;   conducting a liquid solution onto the surface through the port of the collection instrument by way of the one passageway of the collection instrument so that the liquid solution conducted onto the surface is permitted to interact with the material comprising the surface and form a sample-rich liquid junction thereat; and   withdrawing the sample-rich liquid junction from the surface by way of the another passageway of the collection instrument.   
   
   
       18 . The method as defined in  claim 17  wherein the step of withdrawing is effected by manipulation of the pressure at the port of the instrument. 
   
   
       19 . The method as defined in  claim 18  wherein the step of withdrawing is effected with a flow of nebulizing gas so that by controlling the flow of nebulizing gas, the withdrawal of the sample from the surface is controlled. 
   
   
       20 . The method as defined in  claim 19  wherein the step of controlling alters the flow rate of the nebulizing gas between a reduced condition during which a liquid junction is permitted to form between the port of the collection instrument and the surface and an elevated condition during which the formed junction is withdrawn from the surface with the collection instrument. 
   
   
       21 . The method as defined in  claim 20  wherein the surface is disposed substantially within an X-Y plane and includes a plurality of X-Y coordinate sites across the surface from which samples are desired to be taken, the method further includes the step of:
 moving the surface of the sample relative to the collection instrument to position the port of the collection instrument adjacent a selected one of the X-Y coordinate sites across the surface for sample-collecting purposes; and   the steps of controlling and moving are coordinated with one another to control the characteristics of the sample-collecting operation.   
   
   
       22 . A surface sampling system for formation and withdrawal of a sample from a surface to be analyzed for analysis, the system comprising:
 an instrument having a port through which a liquid solution is conducted onto the surface to be analyzed and through which an amount of sample is withdrawn from the surface;   means for positioning the port of the instrument adjacent the surface to be analyzed;   means for conducting the liquid solution onto the surface through the port of the instrument so that the liquid solution conducted onto the surface interacts with material comprising the surface; and   means for withdrawing an amount of material from the surface through the port of the instrument.   
   
   
       23 . The system as defined in  claim 22  wherein the step of withdrawing is effected by manipulation of the pressure at the port of the instrument. 
   
   
       24 . The system as defined in  claim 22  wherein the means for withdrawing is effected with a flow of nebulizing gas, and the system further includes means for controlling the flow of nebulizing gas so that by controlling the flow of nebulizing gas, the withdrawal of the sample from the surface is controlled. 
   
   
       25 . The system as defined in  claim 24  wherein the means for controlling is adapted to alter the flow rate of the nebulizing gas between a reduced condition during which no sample is collected from the surface with the collection instrument and an elevated condition during which an amount of sample is collected from the surface with the collection instrument. 
   
   
       26 . The system as defined in  claim 22  wherein the surface to be sampled with the collection instrument is disposed substantially within an X-Y plane and is spaced from the collection instrument along a Z-coordinate axis, and wherein the system further includes means for moving the surface and the port of the collection instrument relative to one another within the X-Y plane so that any of a number of X-Y coordinate locations along the surface can be positioned adjacent the port for sample-collecting purposes. 
   
   
       27 . The system as defined in  claim 22  wherein the surface includes a plurality of X-Y coordinate sites from which samples are desired to be collected, and the system further includes means for coordinating the withdrawal of the amount of material with the positioning of the port of the instrument relative to the surface in the X-Y coordinate plane to thereby control the characteristics of a sample-collecting operation performed with the system.