Patent ID: 9114231
Filing Date: 2015-08-25
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. An intravenous (IV) catheter assembly comprising: a catheter hub comprising an interior wall surface defining an interior cavity, an opening at a proximal end, and a catheter tube for intravenous use attached thereto and extending from a distal end; a needle having a needle shaft defining a needle axis projecting distally of an end of a needle hub, said needle projecting through the catheter tube and comprising a needle tip; a valve sized and shaped to obstruct fluid flow positioned inside the interior cavity of the catheter hub and in contact with the interior wall surface defining the interior cavity, said valve comprising a valve perimeter surrounding a wall surface comprising a thickness, at least one slit having a length and a cut through the thickness of the wall surface and substantially along the length of the at least one slit to define at least two flaps and a void having a void perimeter inwardly positioned relative to the valve perimeter and formed through only part of the thickness of the wall surface, said void comprising at least one wing; and a valve opening device slidingly disposed in the catheter hub to actuate the valve, the valve opening device comprising a nose section having a tapered end for pushing the valve to open the slit of the valve and a plunger end having a plunger element extending proximally of the nose section; the plunger element being sufficiently rigid to transfer a distally directed force to the nose section to push the valve to open the slit; wherein three tapered surfaces extend from the void perimeter inwardly toward the at least one slit and toward a bottom wall of the void.