CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefits of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/129,844 filed Jul. 23, 2008; which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a portable plasma based diagnostic apparatus and diagnostic method. The present invention further relates to a portable plasma, atomic, ionic and photonic based diagnostic apparatus and diagnostic method. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The quality of health care is founded on complete and accurate information about the patient. 
         [0004]    Presently, four main diagnostic modalities are used in hospitals: X-ray, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, radiopharmaceutical imaging and ultrasound. 
         [0005]    Computed tomography (CT) is a medical imaging method employing tomography. Digital geometry processing is used to generate a three-dimensional image of the inside of an object from a large series of two-dimensional X-ray images taken around a single axis of rotation. CT produces a volume of data which can be manipulated, through a process known as windowing, in order to demonstrate various structures based on their ability to block the X-ray beam. 
         [0006]    Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique primarily used in Radiology to visualize the structure and function of the body. It provides detailed images of the body in any plane. MRI provides much greater contrast between the different soft tissues of the body than does computed tomography (CT), making it especially useful in neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and oncological imaging. Unlike CT it uses no ionizing radiation, but uses a (powerful) magnetic field to align the nuclear magnetization of (usually) hydrogen atoms in water in the body. 
         [0007]    Radiopharmacology is the study and preparation of radiopharmaceuticals, which are radioactive pharmaceuticals. Radiopharmaceuticals are used in the field of nuclear medicine as tracers in the diagnosis and treatment. 
         [0008]    Medical sonography (ultrasonography) is an ultrasound-based diagnostic medical imaging technique used to visualize muscles, tendons, and many internal organs, their size, structure and any pathological lesions with real time tomographic images. It is also used to visualize a fetus during routine and emergency prenatal care. Ultrasound is one of the most widely used diagnostic tools in modern medicine. 
         [0009]    Increasing demand for medical diagnostics is being driven by the aging population and the rise in prevalence of age-related diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer&#39;s disease, stroke, heart failure, etc. These diseases represent the highest cost burden to healthcare systems in industrialized nations, and there is tremendous pressure to develop tests that can assist in earlier diagnosis and aid selection of the most appropriate treatments in order to reduce costs. Hospitals are looking to purchase cost-efficient and more specialized medical equipment that will require fewer medical staff and reduce patients&#39; length of hospital stay. 
         [0010]    Despite recent spectacular advances in medicine, mortality rates for the most prevalent cancers have not been significantly reduced. In terms of primary prevention, we do not as yet have at hand robust strategies for these metabolic disorders or diseases. 
         [0011]    Thus, there is a need for a simple, portable, noninvasive, rapid, accurate, easy to use, inexpensive and safe diagnostic apparatus to help health care providers to diagnose automatically and in real-time risk or presence of health issues such as, for example, infection, cancer, malignancy diseases or metabolic disorder in order to allow health care providers to take decisions at faster rate and react quickly and appropriately to prognosis or disease risk. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    The present invention relates to a spectrometry plasma, atomic, ionic and photonic-based apparatus that provides in real time and automatically clinicians and healthcare providers with early patient diagnostic of infection, presence of cancer or malignancy diseases by recording the signature of his or her biological tissue (skin), saliva, blood or urine. It enables earlier diagnosis, infection, pre-symptomatic disease detection and disease prevention. It improves operational capabilities for prevention and helps health care providers to take decisions at faster rate and to react quickly and appropriately to symptomatic, pre-symptomatic malignancy diseases, infection or metabolic disorder. 
         [0013]    The apparatus is based on a miniaturized atmospheric soft ionization source coupled to miniaturized mass spectrometer. The quantum transfer energy source is coupled to a fast mass spectrometer, for example time of flight, quadrupole or ion-trap, to produce fingerprinting and quantitative measurements of the patient&#39;s chemical and biological compounds. The apparatus provides both a quantitative and a qualitative analysis, generating identification of the substances of interest and diagnostic information regarding metabolic disorder, cancer or infectious (malignancy) disease risk possibilities. 
         [0014]    The ion source combines selective ionization with selective fragmentation, which provides exceptional detection limits. Increased sensitivity and decreased background allow for low detection limits and false positives diminution. Using different quantum energy beam (plasma, atoms, photons, electrons or ions) as well as direct introduction of divers patient specimens (skin, blood, urine or saliva) strongly enhance structural elucidation, mass spectral chemical and biological information, and specificity. Spectra are highly reproducible and do not require sample pre-treatment, leading to speed of analysis. There is no matrix to complicate matters. Thus eliminating potential losses and excessive handling, which also limits contaminations that can invalidate results. Contaminations are also minimized by direct sample introduction. Eliminating sample preparation gives an added advantage, especially to medical healthcare providers. It also offers for simplicity, along with limited exposure. 
         [0015]    An operating process provides secure control of the overall apparatus and simplifies its use by non expert personnel. Reference libraries and automated interpretation of the raw data provide quantification and identification of the chemical and biological compounds as well as diagnostic information regarding malignancy diseases or risk thereof from the patient&#39;s sample(s). 
         [0016]    More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a portable plasma based diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
       a miniature atmospheric plasma source for producing energetic projectiles;   a miniature high pressure environment mass analyzer;   an atmospheric direct sample introduction interface for receiving a sample to be analyzed, the atmospheric direct sample introduction interface being positioned between the plasma source and the mass analyzer;   a database containing a reference library of indicators with their associated mass spectra;   a processor operatively connected to the plasma source, the mass analyzer and the database, the processor being so configured so as to:
           obtain from the mass analyzer a sample mass spectrum of parent and fragment ions resulting form the collision between the energetic projectiles and the sample;   compare the sample mass spectrum with mass spectra in the reference library in order to identify at least one indicator; and   provide a report based on the at least one identified indicator.   
               
 
         [0025]    In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a plasma based diagnostic method, comprising:
       projecting a beam of energetic projectiles at a sample to be analyzed;   recording a sample mass spectrum of parent and fragment ions resulting form the collision between the energetic projectiles and the sample;   comparing the sample mass spectrum with mass spectra of a reference library in order to identify at least one indicator; and   providing a report based on the at least one identified indicator.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0030]    Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a portable ion based diagnostic apparatus according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  is a flow diagram of an example of an operating process that can be used by the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of an example of a background and surrounding environment analysis sub-process that may be used with the operating process of  FIGS. 2A and 2B ; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 4 , is a graph of an example of an analyte profile of a patient using high energy projectiles such as energetic helium atoms (˜20 eV), the analyte profile of the same patient using low energy projectiles such as energetic nitrogen atoms (˜8 eV) and a reference analyte profile of a healthy individual using high energy projectiles such as energetic helium atoms (˜20 eV). 
       
    
    
     DEFINITIONS 
       [0035]    The detailed description and figures refer to the following terms which are herein defined:
   Analyte: A sample being analyzed, the sample being solid, liquid or gaseous. Examples of analytes include biological tissue (skin), saliva, blood or urine. Other examples may include air or soil samples, etc.   Analyte ion: Ions resulting from the collision between an energetic projectile and an analyte. These ions may be parent ion or various ions resulting from fragmentation.   Analyte profile: The mass spectrum resulting from the collision between an energetic projectile and an analyte.   Sample spectrum: The mass spectrum resulting from the collision between an energetic projectile and an analyte including the background spectrum.   Parent ion pattern: The mass spectrum resulting from the collision between low energy projectiles and an analyte. This spectrum results from the loss of an electron in the analyte molecule.   Fragmentation ion pattern: The mass spectrum resulting from the collision between high energy projectiles and an analyte. This spectrum results from the decomposition of the parent ion or its instability.   Biomarkers: Specific molecules observed in infectious or carcinogenic diseases.   
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0043]    Generally stated, the non-limitative illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides a portable plasma, atomic, ionic, electronic and photonic based diagnostic apparatus that provides to clinicians and healthcare providers, in real time and automatically, early patient diagnostic of infection, metabolic disorder, presence of cancer or malignancy diseases by scanning, recording the chemical and/or biological signature(s) of his or her biological tissue (skin), saliva, blood or urine and automatically analyzing obtained spectra for various medical conditions. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a portable plasma, atomic, ionic, electronic and photonic based diagnostic apparatus  100  according to an illustrative example of the present invention. The diagnostic apparatus  100  generally comprises a continued or pulsed miniature atmospheric plasma source  102 , a direct sample introduction interface  104 , an analyzer chamber  106 , a processor  116  with an associated memory  118 , a database  120 , logs  122 , a user interface  124 , an input/output interface  126  and a power supply  128 . The analyzer chamber  106  includes a miniature vacuum pump  108 , a pressure gauge  109 , a high pressure ions detector  110 , ion extraction and transport lenses  112 , and a miniature high pressure environment mass analyzer  114   
         [0045]    The plasma source  102  can have, for example, ca. 0.175 cm 3  as volume or less, with gas density of ca. 10 13 -10 15  particles/mm 3  and a downstream flow of ca. 10 16 -10 19  particles/sec. Depending on the selected application, the processor  116  adjusts the settings of the plasma source  102 , which produces the energetic projectile beam that transfers quantum energy to the analyte to form the free (radical) ions. The plasma source  102  may be based on technologies such as, for example, arc-discharge, chemical, Penning or Niers-Bernas ionization processes. As well, fast atom bombardment, lasers and ultraviolet lamps may also be used. 
         [0046]    The direct sample introduction interface  104  consists in a free atmospheric interface between the plasma source  102  and the analyzer chamber  106 . The patient specimens, i.e. biological tissue (skin), blood drop, saliva or urine (wet cotton), which do not require pre-treatment, are directly introduced into the direct sample introduction interface  104 , perpendicularly to the energetic beam emitted by the plasma source  102 . The absence of pre-treatment has the benefit of minimizing sample waste and excessive handling, which causes losses. It also limits the risk of contamination that can invalidate results. In an alternative embodiment, the direct sample introduction interface  104  may be provided with a needle mechanism in order to automatically take a blood sample. It may be also provided with water or alcohol beams and a heat interface for contamination cleaning and sterilization. 
         [0047]    Ions formed from the collisions of the energetic beam with the analyte directly introduced into the direct sample introduction interface  104  generate fingerprinting of the complex chemical and biological system of the patient, and are extracted and transferred through the ion extraction and transport lenses  112  to the mass analyzer  114  with associated high pressure ions detector  110  using a high differential electric field. The mass analyzer  114 , which is located within the analyzer chamber  106 , analyzes and records the parent and/or fragmentation ion patterns, which are reproducible for a given energy level and a given sample. The mass analyzer  114  may be based on technologies such as, for example, miniature high performance ion-traps, quadrupoles or time-of-flight (TOF), which may be operated in a high pressure environment, for example 10 −4  to 10 −1  mbar. 
         [0048]    During a collision, an electron is ejected into continuum leading to ionization. The ejected electron can take a range of kinetic energies that is defined by the species, i.e. the nature of the analyte and the quantum transfer energy beam involved in the collision. The presence of fragment ions is governed by the excitation energy and the nature of the sample (i.e. analyte or patient specimens). The plasma source  102  allows precise control over fragmentation and yields very reproducible mass spectra. Parent and fragment ions are used for the identification of constituents in complex mixtures. 
         [0049]    The analyzer chamber  106  consists in a small differential pumping chamber, for example ca. 1.6 I, which keeps the mass analyzer  114  at pressures of, for example 10 −4  to 10 −1  mbar, using the miniature vacuum pump  108 . The analyzer chamber  106  also includes the high pressure ions detector  110  and the ions extraction and transport lenses  112 , which are electrostatic lenses. The ion extraction and transport lenses  112  consist in two plate electrodes biased at high differential voltage used downstream of the direct sample introduction interface  104  to extract the analyte ions. Thin coaxial cylinders, on axis, downstream of the extraction electrodes are used to transport and focus the extracted analyte ions at the entrance of the mass analyzer  114  in order to determine the composition of the ion beam. 
         [0050]    The peaks in the spectra recorded by the mass analyzer  114  correspond to different mass-dependent velocities (i.e. different mass-to-charge ratios (m/z)) of the ionized sample and are analyzed using a diagnostic process which will be further detailed below. The diagnostic process uses the mass spectrum of the parent and fragment ions, and their relative abundances, provided by the mass analyzer  114  for both the quantization and identification of the analyte composition of the sample in order to establish the patient&#39;s analyte profile. 
         [0051]    To provide a diagnosis, the established analyte profile of the patient is compared to those of healthy people of the reference library, which is stored in the database  120 , in order to identify abnormal peaks. The peaks may be identified by first calculating the mass-to-charge ratios (m/z) and normalizing the spectrum with regard to the total ion currents. The background is then filtered out from the spectrum and peaks detected with an automatic peak detection process. The peak detection process allows for the evaluation of each peak for its contribution into the spectrum, i.e. the relative abundance of each peak in the spectrum. This process may also incorporates a spectral de-convolution sub-process which takes into account discrimination or interference between elements and isotope ratios. 
         [0052]    The identified peaks are then used to search the reference library in order to determine a related biomarker. The reference library contains chemical and biological reference materials over a variety of concentrations, well below the limits of detection required. It also contains a chemical and biological database of diseases, along with an ability to create novel chemical and biological sub-libraries. The reference materials may be provided, for example, by federal, provincial and healthcare provider partners. 
         [0053]    Optionally, the various test results, error conditions, alarm conditions, etc., may be recorded in logs  122 . 
         [0054]    The user interface  124  may be used to automatically operate the diagnostic apparatus  100 , provide instructions to the user as to how to operate the diagnostic apparatus  100  and display various information such as, for example, user menus, alarms and diagnostic results. 
         [0055]    The input/output interface  126  may be used to, for example, update the library, export logs or provide diagnostic results to a further system or storage medium. 
         [0056]    The power supply  128  may be, for example, a battery (such as a 9, 12 or 24 Volts battery) to allow the diagnostic apparatus  100  to be portable. The power supply  128  may also be provided with the capability to be directly powered by a 110 or 220 Volts AC power source. 
         [0057]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , there is shown a flow diagram of an example of an operating process  200  that may be executed by the processor  116  of the diagnostic apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1 . The steps of the process  200  are indicated by blocks  202  to  240 . 
         [0058]    The process  200  starts at block  202  where the start-up sequence is initiated, namely the plasma source  102  is powered up and stabilized, the vacuum pump is activated  108  and once the pressure gauge  130  reads a pressure around 10 −2  mbar within the analyzer chamber  106 , the ions extraction and transport lenses  112  and mass analyzer  114  are powered up. It is to be understood that complimentary sub-processes may be executed at this point in order to verify the proper functioning of the various components of the diagnostic apparatus  100 . 
         [0059]    At block  204 , the process  200  executes a background (i.e. the environment in which the diagnostic apparatus  100  is used) test in order to determine if there are any contaminants present. This allows the diagnostic apparatus  100  to be also used as an indoor air quality or environment monitor. The background test will be further detailed below. 
         [0060]    Then, at block  206 , the process  200  verifies if the background test has passed. If it has failed, the diagnostic apparatus  100  analyses and identifies the chemical and biological contaminants of the environment and alerts the end users, then shutdowns at block  208 . If it has passed, the process proceeds to block  210 . 
         [0061]    At block  210 , the masses of the various components present in the background are determined and, at block  212 , the process verifies if the peaks of the background spectrum are shifted in mass. If so, at block  214 , the shifts are computed and the mass analyzer  114  is calibrated, after which the process  200  returns to block  210 . If there is no shift in mass of the peaks, the process  200  proceeds to block  216   
         [0062]    At block  216 , the user interface  124  indicates that the diagnostic apparatus  100  is ready. 
         [0063]    Then, at block  218 , the process  200  asks for the patient&#39;s identification, either by reference to some identification number or by entering the patient&#39;s information using the user interface  124 . Once the patient has been identified, the process  200  then asks, at block  220 , for the type of analysis to be performed, i.e. skin, blood, urine or saliva. 
         [0064]    At block  222 , the process  200  detects the presence of a sample in the direct sample introduction interface  104  and then starts to record the sample spectrum. Alternatively, the recording may be activated manually. The recorded spectrum may then be stored in the database  120  with the patient&#39;s identification and the logs  122  updated. 
         [0065]    Then, at block  224 , the background spectrum recorded at start-up is subtracted from the recorded sample spectrum. The peaks of the resulting spectrum, the analyte profile, are analyzed and identified at block  226 . Following this, at block  228 , the identified peaks are compared to those of the analyte profiles of healthy patients stored in the database  120  in order to identify, at block  230 , abnormal peaks in the patient&#39;s biological and chemical fingerprint (i.e. analyte profile). 
         [0066]    At block  232 , the process  200  searches through the reference library in order to identify one or more spectra for the given sample type, identified at block  220 , having similar peak and mass patterns, each pattern corresponding to a given condition. Each element of the peak and mass pattern, alone or in combination, corresponding to one or more biomarkers, which are associated with a probability of a condition being present. 
         [0067]    At block  234 , the process  200  establishes a diagnostic using the one or more conditions identified at block  232 . This is accomplished taking into consideration each pattern&#39;s fit with the identified abnormal peaks as well as probabilities associated with each condition. Furthermore, if multiple types of samples have been analyzed, i.e. skin, blood, urine or saliva, then the results of each analysis can be combined to provide a more accurate diagnosis by enhancing structural elucidation, mass spectral or chemical information and increase sensitivity and specificity, and confirm or complete the pre-diagnosis. The diagnosis can take the form of, for example, a table with the detected masses or molecules, abnormal peaks, their abundance, their identified patterns with corresponding conditions and probabilities. The diagnosis may then be stored in the database  120  along with the patient&#39;s information and the logs  122  updated. 
         [0068]    Basically, the mass spectrum for parent and fragment ions, and their relative abundance, is used for both the quantization and identification of the chemical and biological composition of a patient&#39;s sample. The obtained mass spectrum is first compared to those of healthy profiles in order to isolate abnormalities. The identified abnormalities are then compared to a library of known biomarkers. Each contribution into the spectrum is evaluated taking into account discrimination or interference between elements and isotope ratios. The abundance of resulting biomarkers then allows the generation of an appropriate diagnosis. The biomarkers may also be compared to those present in individuals having a similar profile. 
         [0069]    The use of different beams (i.e. plasma, atoms, photons, electrons or ions), with different quantum energies, as well as different patient specimens (i.e. skin, blood, urine or saliva) strongly enhances structural elucidation, mass spectral, chemical or biological information, resulting in highly increased sensitivity, specificity and strongly confirms or completes a pre-diagnosis. 
         [0070]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown an example of a graph  400  of an analyte profile of a patient using high energy projectiles such as energetic helium atoms (˜20 eV)  403 , the analyte profile of the same patient using low energy projectiles such as energetic nitrogen atoms (˜8 eV)  402  and a reference analyte profile of a healthy individual using high energy projectiles such as energetic helium atoms (˜20 eV)  401 . It may be observed from the graph  400  that both the analyte profiles  402  and  403  of the patient show the presence of an abnormal peak  410  representing an unknown biomarker. The mass-to-charge ratio, intensity, and isotopic ratios of the peak  410  are then used to search in the reference library in order to identify the biomarker corresponding to the identified abnormal peak  410 , and to determine the contamination level or the disease stage. 
         [0071]    Then, at block  236 , the process  200  asks if a new analysis is to be performed. If so, the process  200  proceeds to block  238 , if not, the process  200  ends. 
         [0072]    At block  238 , the process  200  asks the user to clean the direct sample introduction interface  104 . In an alternative embodiment, the direct sample introduction interface  104  may be provided with a cleaning mechanism using, for example, alcohol, water or heat, which may be activated by the process  200  and automatically clean up any contamination due to the last analysis performed. The needle may also be changed automatically. The process  200  then proceeds to block  240 . 
         [0073]    Finally, at block  240 , the process  200  asks if the new analysis is for the same patient. If so, the process  200  proceeds to block  220  where the sample type is selected, if not, it proceeds to block  218  where the information about the new patient is entered. 
         [0074]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a flow diagram of an example of a background analysis sub-process  300  that may be executed by process  200  at block  204  of  FIG. 2A . The steps of the sub-process  300  are indicated by blocks  302  to  326 . 
         [0075]    The sub-process  300  starts at block  302  where the background spectrum is recorded. Following which, at block  304 , the sub-process  300  verifies if the background is normal by comparing the recorded background spectrum with that of reference background spectra stored in the database  120 . If the background spectrum is normal, then the sub-process  300  proceeds to block  306  where the background test is set to “PASS”. The sub-process  300  then hands over control back to process  200  of  FIG. 2A , which then proceeds to block  206 . If the background spectrum is not normal, then sub-process  300  proceeds to block  308 . 
         [0076]    At block  308 , the sub-process  300  verifies if the background has been determined to be abnormal for the third time. If not, the sub-process  300  proceeds to block  310  where it pauses, for example by waiting for a few minutes (e.g. from 1 to 5 minutes) before proceeding back to block  302  for a new recording of the background spectrum. If the background has been determined to be abnormal for the third time, the sub-process  300  proceeds to block  312  where the presence of an irregular background is reported via the user interface  124 . A listing of the detected compounds and contaminants, as well as their proportions, may also be communicated. These may be identified by comparing the abnormal peaks found in the background spectrum with spectra stored in the reference database  120 . 
         [0077]    At block  314 , the sub-process  300  asks the user to clean the direct sample introduction interface  104 . In an alternative embodiment, the direct sample introduction interface  104  may be provided with a cleaning mechanism using, for example, alcohol, water or heat, which may be activated by the sub-process  300  and automatically clean up any contamination due to the last analysis performed. The needle may also be changed automatically. 
         [0078]    At block  316 , sub-process  300  pauses for a few minutes (e.g. 1 to 3 minutes) before proceeding to block  318  where the background spectrum is recorded. 
         [0079]    Then, at block  320 , sub-process  300  verifies if the background spectrum is within an acceptable range of the reference background, for example 25%, and that no dangerous compounds or contaminants have been detected. If so, sub-process  300  proceeds to block  306 , if not, it proceeds to block  322 . 
         [0080]    At block  322 , the sub-process  300  verifies if the background has been determined not to be within an acceptable range of the reference background for the third time. If not, the sub-process  300  proceeds to block  316 . If so, the sub-process  300  proceeds to block  324  where the presence of a contaminated environment is reported via the user interface  124 . A listing of the detected compounds and contaminants, as well as their proportions, may also be communicated. Furthermore, should the detected compounds and contaminants, or their proportions, are found to be dangerous, the sub-process  300  instructs the user to evacuate the contaminated zone and, in an alternative embodiment, may sound an alarm and/or communicate the danger to a further system using the input/output interface  126 . The sub-process  300  then proceeds to block  326  where the background analysis is set to “FAIL”. The sub-process  300  then hands over control back to process  200  of  FIG. 2A , which then proceeds to block  206 . 
         [0081]    It is to be understood that the number of repetitions of the background test at blocks  308  and  322 , as well as the waiting times at blocks  310  and  316 , as well as the range at block  320  may be adjusted. 
         [0082]    It is also to be understood that the described diagnostic apparatus  100  can be used, provided that the appropriate spectra libraries are included in the database  120 , as a real-time analyzer of biological or chemical contaminated areas, for:
       indoor air quality: detection of chemical and biological contaminants in hospitals, schools, private and public buildings, plants, malls, planes, trains, etc.;   environmental assessments: soil, water or air contamination;   mining industry: exploration and analysis of soil mineral content;   food industry: analysis of the food composition and detection of contaminants in the production chain;   homeland security: monitoring of restricted areas in airports, ports, etc.; and   other fields such as forensics, pharmaceuticasl, cosmetics, etc.       
 
         [0089]    It is to be understood that although reference has been made to the peak and mass patterns being used for the identification of biomarkers, they may also be used to identify an indicator which may be a biomarker, a chemical compound, a chemical element, a mineral, etc., depending on the application. Furthermore, depending on the application, the diagnosis may be a report listing contaminants, mineral composition, oil presence, etc. 
         [0090]    Although the present invention has been described by way of a particular embodiment and examples thereof, it should be noted that it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that modifications may be applied to the present particular embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention.
A portable plasma based diagnostic apparatus comprising a plasma source for producing energy projectiles atmospheric pressure, a mass analyzer, a sampling interface for receiving direct sample to be analyzed, the sampling interface being positioned between the plasma source and the mass analyzer, a database containing a library of biomarkers with their associated mass spectra, a processor operatively connected to the plasma source, the mass analyzer and the database. The processor is so configured so as to obtain from the mass analyzer a sample mass spectrum of parent and fragment ions resulting form the collision between the energetic projectiles and the sample, compare the sample mass spectrum with mass spectra in the reference library in order to identify at least one indicator and provide a report based on the at least one identified indicator.