Patent ID: 7541166

Claim:
A method of selectively lysing a specific type of cell, the method compnsing: a. providing a sample to a self-contained, automated system, the sample includes at least two different cell types, wherein a first cell type is lysed at a first sonication energy; b. automatically applying the first sonication energy to the sample by lysing means within the automated system thereby lysing the first cell type to form a first lysate and leaving intact one or more non-lysed cell types; c. automatically separating the first lysate from the sample including the intact one or more non-lysed cell types by separating means within the automated system, thereby forming a separated sample including the intact one or more non-lysed cell types; d. automatically moving the separated sample to the lysing means by a back-flow capability and microfluidic circuitry within the automated system, wherein the microfluidic circuitry includes the back-flow capability for moving the separated sample from the separating means to the lysing means; and e. automatically lysing a second cell type from the separated sample by lysing means within the automated system thereby lysing the second cell type to form a second lysate.