Patent ID: 7648177

Claim:
A sealing apparatus comprising: a tube; a housing having first and second ends and a channel; a first end piece and a second end piece connected by a mechanism to the first and second housing ends respectively; said tube disposed within said housing; first and second seals between said tube and said housing; a seal space defined between said seals, said housing and said tube; and means for applying pressure to said seal space via the channel to place an inward force on said seals pulling the seals towards one another and creating a leak-proof seal between said housing and said tube, wherein said seal space is capable of being maintained at a pressure different from the ambient pressure and the pressure within the tube, wherein said end pieces aid in maintaining said seals in position in said seal space, and wherein said housing is of a first material and said tube is of a different material and selected from the group consisting of quartz, glass, ceramic, and plastic.