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Abstract

An aspiration needle apparatus for collecting cell samples from tissue comprising a vacuum container having an enclosed evacuated space evacuated to a subambient pressure and sealed by a penetrable diaphragm. An adapter is provided having a recess which is adapted to receive the vacuum container. A needle assembly is carried by the adapter and has a distal extremity serving as an aspiration needle to collect the cell sample. The proximal extremity of the needle assembly is disposed in said recess and is capable of penetrating the diaphragm of the vacuum container to couple the evacuated space to the flow passage of the needle assembly to supply a subambient pressure to the distal extremity of the needle assembly. An on-off mechanism is carried by the adapter and includes a member engaged by the vacuum container and mounted in the recess for axial movement in the recess. A coil spring is disposed within the recess and engages the member and yieldably urges the member and the vacuum container in a direction out of the recess. A detent assembly is secured to the member for sequentially retaining the member in a first forwardmost position and a second rearwardmost position. In the first position the needle assembly penetrates the diaphragm of the vacuum container to supply a subambient pressure to the needle assembly and in the second position the needle assembly is free of the diaphragm so that subambient pressure is no longer supplied to the needle assembly.

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First Claim