Manual vacuum abortion equipment. Nurse holding a double-valve manual vacuum aspirator, with a cannula (flexible tube) attached, used in the abortion of unwanted pregnancies. This is used between 3 and 12 weeks after the last menstrual period (first trimester). The cannula is inserted into the uterus (womb) through the cervix, which is numbed with local anaesthetic. The plunger on the aspirator is pulled back to create a vacuum and it is inserted into the cannula. The valves on the side of the aspirator, the pinch valves, are released to transfer the vacuum to the uterus. This sucks the contents of the uterus into the aspirator. This is a safe and effective form of abortion.