Patent ID: 8507258

Claim:
A cell membrane perforating apparatus comprising: an ultraviolet light source; a photosensitizer or photocatalyst as a membrane-denaturing substance that induces a temporarily membrane-denaturing reaction when irradiated with ultraviolet light wherein said temporarily membrane-denaturing reaction is obtained by chain peroxidation of the membrane with generation of reactive oxygen species by combination with said photosensitizer or photocatalyst and ultraviolet light; and a membrane-perforating member that has a tip having a size sufficiently small to penetrate the membrane of a singular cell, supports said photosensitizer or photocatalyst so as to bring said photosensitizer or photocatalyst in contact with or close proximity to a portion of said membrane of the singular cell and carries the light supplied by said ultraviolet light source therethrough to irradiate said photosensitizer or photocatalyst supported by said membrane-perforating member to induce said temporarily membrane-denaturing reaction at said portion of the membrane of the singular cell; wherein said membrane-perforating member is configured to be moveable at a speed sufficiently low to contact and penetrate a denatured portion of said membrane of the singular cell without causing cell death.