Patent ID: 7785869

Claim:
An apparatus to selectively lyse a specific type of cell, the apparatus comprising: a. a sonication chamber to receive a sample and to provide a first sonication energy, the sample having at least two different cell types, wherein a first cell type is lysed at the first sonication energy, further wherein the sonication chamber is configured to selectively lyse the first cell type, thereby forming a first lysate, while leaving one or more non-lysed cell types within a remaining sample; b. separating means to separate the first lysate from the sample; c. a collection vessel to collect the first lysate; and d. microfluidic circuitry to couple the sonication chamber, the separating means, and the collection vessel, wherein the microfluidic circuitry is configured to enable back-flow capability for moving the remaining sample including the one or more non-lysed cell types from the separating means to the sonication chamber, further wherein the sonication chamber is configured to lyse a second cell type within the remaining sample.