Patent ID: 8408078

Claim:
Apparatus for removing samples from a system ( 1 ) having at least one flexible wall ( 2 ) and for introducing fluids into the system ( 1 ), the apparatus comprising: at least one sampler/fluid dispenser ( 3 ) that includes a hard part ( 14 ) having opposite front and rear ends; a severing element ( 8 ) having an intermediate region mounted in the hard part ( 14 ) and a severing end projecting from the front end of the hard part ( 14 ), the intermediate region of the severing element ( 8 ) being bent angularly relative to the severing end, a sampling tube ( 10 ) being connected to an end of the severing element ( 8 ) opposite the severing end and extending angularly from the hard part ( 14 ) at a position between the front and rear ends of the hard part ( 14 ); and a substantially tubular base ( 5 ) with an open end mounted to the hard part ( 14 ) at locations spaced outward from the severing element ( 8 ) so that the open end of the substantially tubular base ( 5 ) is spaced from the severing element ( 8 ), the substantially tubular base ( 5 ) further having a closed connecting area ( 4 ) remote from the hard part ( 14 ) and configured to fix the sampler/fluid dispenser ( 3 ) in a fluid tight manner on a sample removal region/fluid dispensing region ( 6 ) defined on an outer side of the wall ( 2 ) of the system ( 1 ), portions of the tubular base ( 5 ) between the open end and the closed connecting area ( 4 ) being spaced outward from the severing element ( 8 ) and being elastic and radially unconfined, the base ( 5 ) of the sampler/fluid dispenser ( 3 ) being formed as a septum ( 13 ), the septum ( 13 ) being flexible so that the shape of the septum ( 13 ) matches an outer contour of the flexible wall ( 2 ) in the sample removal region/fluid dispensing region ( 6 ) and so that a pushing of the hard part ( 14 ) toward the sample removal region/fluid dispensing region ( 6 ) causes the severing element ( 8 ) to move through the flexible septum ( 13 ) and into an interior of the system ( 1 ).