Fluid sampling device

Claim 1

IN A SAMPLING DEVICE FOR OBTAINING A SUBSTANTIALLY UNCONTAMINATED SAMPLE FROM A FLEXIBLE, PUNCTURABLE CONTAINER OF FLUID, THE COMBINATION OF ; (A) A HOUSING PROVIDING A SURFACE ENGAGEABLE WITH A WALL OF THE CONTAINER; (B) A SAMPLE CHAMBER IN SAID HOUSING AND HAVING AN OPEN SIDE IN SAID SURFACE AND CLOSABLE BY SAID WALL; (C) MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID WALL AGAINST SAID SURFACE IN SEALING RALATIONSHIP; (D) MEANS FOR EVACATING SAID SAMPLE CHAMBER; (E) MEANS CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING FOR PUNCTURING SAID WALL OF THE CONTAINER THROUGH SAID OPEN SIDE OF SAID SAMPLE CHAMBER SO AS TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER AND SAID SAMPLE CHAMBER THROUGH SAID WALL, WHEREBY TO ENABLE A SAMPLE OF THE FLUID IN THE CONTAINER TO FLOW INTO SAID SAMPLE CHAMBER; AND (F) SAID MEANS FOR EVACUATING SAID SAMPLE CHAMBER BEING OPERABLE AFTER THE HOLDING OF SAID WALL AGAINST SAID SURFACE BY SAID HOLDING MEANS BUT PRIOR TO THE PUNCTURING OF SAID WALL OF THE CONTAINER BY SAID PUNCTURING MEANS WHEREBY SAID SAMPLE, AFTER ENTERING SAID SAMPLE CHAMBER, IS NOT CONTAMINATED BY RESIDUAL GASES IN SAID SAMPLE CHAMBER.