Patent ID: 8621944

Claim:
A system for sealing a vessel containing a fluid and for providing contamination-free sampling of the fluid from the vessel, the vessel having an opening into the vessel interior, the system comprising: a fluid transfer device for adding to or removing the fluid from the vessel; an actuatable septum for sealing the vessel, the septum comprising: an outer ring portion to provide a tight, interference seal between the actuatable septum and an outer surface of the opening of the vessel, and at least three septum fingers that are cantilevered from the outer ring portion, the septum fingers in a natural state producing a passive seal, each of the septum fingers having a corresponding upwardly projecting rib portion, the septum fingers and corresponding upwardly projecting rib portions being disposed internal or substantially internal to the vessel; a substantially ring-shaped actuation device disposed external to the vessel and adapted for selective engagement with the upwardly projecting rib portions of the septum fingers, wherein engagement between the actuation device and the upwardly projecting rib portions of the septum fingers results in a deflection of the septum fingers; and a flexible, skirt-like neck portion encircling and connecting the actuation device with the outer ring portion.