Importance

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Abstract

A needle suitable for piercing a septum of a vacuum sealed container and through which a measured fluid sample from the container may be withdrawn. The needle is capable of withdrawing fluid from small sample volumes, such that the dead volume remaining in the sealed container is reduced. The needle has an elongated body having a longitudinal axis, an unobstructed bore therethrough along the longitudinal axis, a free end, and an end region adjacent said free end which has a slight conical taper toward said free end at a predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The free end includes an oblique cut through the conically tapered end region at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis being substantially larger than the predetermined angle of the taper so as to produce an elliptical opening at the free end. The elliptical opening lies along a plane diagonal to the longitudinal axis. This produces a toe or tip that is reduced in height allowing for a decrease in dead volume.

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First Claim