Patent ID: 6702255
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: A61M,Y10T

Abstract:
A duckbill-type hemostasis valve for use in catheter introducer, comprising:a valve body having a proximal end and a distal end, the valve body being sized to be received within a catheter introducer and being made of an elastomeric material, and a slit opening that remains closed in the absence of a medical instrument passed through the introducer; the valve body including an annular flange on the proximal end thereof defining on its exterior at least one sealing surface adapted to engage a complementary surface on the catheter introducer and prevent fluid flow therebetween, the annular flange circumscribing a proximal opening formed in the valve body and defining a central axis for the valve body; the valve body including a pair of distally extending side walls connected to the annular flange and diametrically opposed across the central axis; the valve body including a pair of distally extending duckbill walls connected to the annular flange and being diametrically opposed across the central axis, the duckbill walls each extending between the two side walls and converging toward each other in the distal direction, wherein the distal end of the valve body is defined by the distal ends of the side walls and the duckbill walls; and the slit opening being formed in the distal end of the valve body and including a middle segment that forms a separating line between the pair of duckbill walls, the slit opening further including a pair of side segments disposed on either end of and generally perpendicular to the middle segment, the slit opening thus defining an H-shape and the distal ends of the side walls and the duckbill walls being joined together in a continuous manner surrounding the H-shaped slit opening.