Segment sampler

A method of removing a fluid sample from an elongate sealed tube segment having first and second ends, comprising:

• creating a first opening in the tube segment by piercing the first end with a first tube piercing member having a first internal passageway, the first tube piercing member extending longitudinally through the first end and longitudinally within the tube segment;
• creating a second opening in the tube segment by piercing the second end with a second tube piercing member, the second tube piercing member extending longitudinally through the second end and longitudinally within the tube segment, the second opening communicating the environment with the interior of the tube segment;
• connecting a sample receiver having a sample receiver interior to be in fluid communication with the first passageway to provide a transfer passageway into the interior that is not exposed to the outside environment;
• transferring fluid from the tube segment through the first opening member and into the sample receiver interior via the transfer passageway due to a pressure difference between the sealed interior and the sample receiver interior, the sample receiver interior being at a lower pressure than the environment, whilst simultaneously allowing environmental fluid to pass into the tube segment via the second opening.

A method of removing a fluid sample from a sealed tube segment comprising providing an integrated tube segment sampler having:

• a longitudinally extending first tube piercing member having a first piercing part for piercing and creating a first opening in the at least one wall and
• a longitudinally extending second tube piercing member having a second piercing part for piercing and creating a second opening in the at least one wall;
• at least one shield body that defines at least one shielded space, at least one of the first and second tube piercing parts located within the at least one shielded space;
• said at least one shield body including:
• a first tube segment receiving opening sized and located to allow a first end of the tube segment to pass into the shielded space and for the first end to be impaled on the first tube piercing part, with the first tube piercing member extending longitudinally through the first end and longitudinally within the tube segment;
• the first tube piercing member defines at least part of a first passageway internal of the first tube piercing member that, in use, communicates with the interior of the tube segment;
• the first passageway being in fluid communication with a first connection portion adapted for connection to a sample receiver or an adaptor for a sample receiver;
• a second tube segment receiving opening sized and located to allow a second end of the tube segment to pass into the shielded space and for the second end to be impaled on the second tube piercing part whilst the tube segment is impaled on the first tube piercing part;
• with the second tube piercing member extending longitudinally through the second end and longitudinally within the tube segment and creating a second passageway that, in use, communicates the environment with the interior of the tube segment;
• and
• creating a first opening in the tube segment by piercing the first end with the first tube piercing member, the first tube piercing member extending longitudinally through the first end and longitudinally within the tube segment;
• creating a second opening in the tube segment by piercing the second end with a second tube piercing member, the second tube piercing member extending longitudinally through the second end and longitudinally within the tube segment, the second opening communicating the environment with the interior of the tube segment;
• connecting a sample receiver having a sample receiver interior to be in fluid communication with the first passageway to provide a transfer passageway into the interior that is not exposed to the outside environment;
• applying a pressure difference between the sealed interior and the sample receiver interior, the sample receiver interior being at a lower pressure than the environment so as to transfer fluid from the tube segment through the first opening and into the sample receiver interior via the transfer passageway due to, whilst simultaneously allowing environmental fluid to pass into the tube segment via the second opening.