A pump assembly 12 for use as part of a pumped aspirator 10, the pump assembly 12 comprising a vacuum pump 38 and a chamber 30, the chamber 30 comprising an inlet 26 connectable to an aspirator tube 14 and an outlet 34 connectable to the pump 38. The chamber 30 further comprises a hollow interior volume containing a porous or perforated element 32 separating the inlet 26 from the outlet 34; the porous or perforated element 32, when dry, permitting the passage of gas from the inlet 26 to the outlet 34, but when wetted by a liquid, inhibiting the passage of fluids from the inlet 26 to the outlet 34. The pump 38 is further preferably driven by a motor 40 connected to a power supply 44 via a switch gear of a control circuit 42, and wherein the switch gear is adapted to switch off the motor 38 when the air pressure downstream of the outlet 34 drops below a threshold value; indicative of the porous or perforated element 32 inhibiting the passage of fluids from the inlet 25 to the outlet 34.
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