Patent ID: 7531138

Claim:
A cell lysis device for lysing cells or viruses, comprising: a cell lysis tube having a sample inlet at one end of the cell lysis tube; a pump connected to a second end of the cell lysis tube for transferring a sample into the tube; a sealing unit for reversibly sealing a specific region of the tube, wherein the sealing unit comprises two rods positioned perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the cell lysis tube such that the centers of the rods are separated by a distance along the longitudinal axis of the cell lysis tube, such that when the two rods press against the cell lysis tube each end of the specific region is sealed by one of the two rods and removal of the rods from the cell lysis tube reverses the seal; and a laser source connected to the cell lysis tube for irradiating a sample in the specific region.