Patent ID: 8637285

Claim:
A method for lysing biological cells in a liquid comprising: (a) placing biological cells in a liquid, (b) generating an ultrasonic pulsating pressure wave (PPW) in the liquid, the method comprising the steps of: (i) heating a localized part of the liquid with a laser beam of electromagnetic radiation having a diameter of at most 500 μm such that the part of the liquid is brought to a vapour state and thereby creating a vapour bubble displacing a volume of the remaining liquid upon expansion; (ii) removing/switching off the source of heat, allowing the generated vapour bubble to cool and condense and contract; and (iii) repeating steps (i) and (ii) with a frequency of at least 12 kHz; wherein the size of the vapour bubble and the rates for its formation and condensation is sufficient for creating cavitation in the liquid, so as to lyse the biological cells.