A CONNECTOR

A connector, for transferring material into or out of a receptacle, comprises a hollow needle mounted at least partially within a housing, one end of the needle connecting to a receptacle and the other end facing a pierceable seal. The needle is movable relative to the seal in order to pierce it, and a locking mechanism selectively prevents this relative movement to selectively enable perforating the septum. The puncture actuation mechanism may comprise a telescoping assembly, e.g. forming a collapsible needle enclosure and/or having an axially movable needle holder. The needle 240 may be double-ended and may pierce seals 282, 292 at both ends of the collapsible sleeve. A movable segment of the telescoping structure, e.g. the needle holder 260, may carry biased clips or detents 220 slidably disposed in lateral channels 202, 204, 262, 264 thereof for selectively engaging a stationary segment of the telescoping structure to lock relative movement of the needle and seal(s). Unlocking and piercing may involve pushing the detents first along their lateral channels and then along the needle axis, e.g. using an actuating handle that engages the clips.