AUTOMATED SAMPLE EXTRACTOR OR FEEDER/INOCULATOR FOR BIOREACTORS AND SIMILAR EQUIPMENT.

摘要

An apparatus for inoculating a sample to or withdrawing a sample from a vessel or conduit includes a body with an internal sample cavity, a valve operating rod movable to open and close an orifice to the sample cavity a coupler to attach the body to a port of the vessel or conduit. A manual and/or automatic device can be provided for moving the valve operating rod to open and close the orifice. The manual device includes a trigger actuator. A portion of the sample cavity is formed by an endcap which includes the orifice. The sample cavity has an inner wall and outer wall with a space therebetween. The space can thermally insulate the sample cavity from the ambient environment as well as the interior of the vessel or conduit. The valve operating rod has a diaphragm attached to one end. A blunt sealing tip of the diaphragm seals the orifice when the valve operating rod moves to close the orifice. The valve operating rod has a portion which extends into the diaphragm to support the diaphragm and to form a seal at an opening to the sample cavity through which the diaphragm extends.