A gas exchange head for contacting and piercing a container to allow gas communication and exchange between the gas exchange head and the container. The gas exchange head comprises a flow probe for piercing the container, the probe being hollow so as to allow the gas communication and exchange therethrough. The gas exchange head further includes an intermediate sleeve and an outer cylinder coaxially received on the intermediate sleeve. The outer cylinder includes a lower cup portion at its distal end and is reciprocatingly mounted on the intermediate sleeve. The gas exchange head further includes a spring mounted on the outer cylinder for applying a biasing to the outer cylinder, and an inner cylinder adapted at its distal end to receive and retain the flow probe. The inner cylinder is coaxially received within the intermediate sleeve, and is axially movable relative the intermediate sleeve, whereby the flow probe may be reciprocated from a retracted position within the intermediate sleeve to an exposed position in which the probe extends from the intermediate sleeve. The inner cylinder has a passageway therethrough for conducting a gas to and from the flow probe.
