Apparatus for distributing a sample of blood to a plurality of cultures

Claim 1

Apparatus for distributing a sample of blood to a plurality of cultures comprising: a hollow distribution housing means having a plurality of apertures extending into the interior thereof; a needle puncturable sealing means in one wall of said housing means; conduit means respectively connected at one end to each of said apertures and terminating at their opposite ends in a needle for conducting a sample of blood from the housing means to the cultures; holder means comprising a two-part cooperating holder, the first part being a cylindrical member secured to said distribution housing means at a wall opposite said needle puncturable sealing means, while the second part of said holder means comprises a hollow cylindrical member having an open end and an opposite closed end, said hollow cylindrical member having a slot opening in said open end and extending longitudinally toward said closed end, the closed end of said second part having a double-ended needle cannula extending therethrough such that one end of said needle cannula extends into said hollow cylindrical member and the other end of said needle cannula is exposed outwardly of said hollow cylindrical member; said distribution housing means and the first part of said holder being received within the second part of said holder with the needle puncturable sealing means in a position to be punctured by said one end of the needle cannula; and said conduit means extending outwardly of said holder means through said slot.