Patent Publication Number: US-2002013556-A1

Title: Swabbable luer-activated valve

Description:
PRIORITY  
     [0001] This patent application claims priority from pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/479,327, filed Jan. 6, 2000 (attorney docket number 1600/121). As a consequence of this priority claim, this application also claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/117,359, filed Jan. 27, 1999.  
     [0002] This application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/394,169, filed Sep. 13, 1999 (attorney docket number 1600/114A). As a consequence of this priority claim, this patent application also claims priority from the following U.S. patent applications:  
     [0003] U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/031,175, filed Nov. 18, 1996;  
     [0004] U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/034,708, filed Jan. 3, 1997;  
     [0005] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/970,125, filed Nov. 13, 1997 (attorney docket number 1600/114).  
     [0006] All of these patent applications are incorporated herein, in their entireties, by reference. 
    
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0007] The present invention relates to valves that may be actuated by nozzles and in particular by male Luer fittings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] The present invention is directed to a normally closed valve that may be opened upon insertion of a nozzle, which in a preferred embodiment is a male Luer fitting. The valve permits two-way flow when opened by a luer-taper nozzle and is able to resist large back pressures. The valve includes a substantially rigid housing that defines a passageway having an inlet section and an outlet section. The housing has an exterior inlet face to which the inlet section opens. The inlet section preferably has tapered and expanding zones, with the tapered zone being adjacent the exterior inlet face and being shaped to receive the nozzle, and with the expanding zone being adjacent to the tapered zone and having a larger inner diameter than the tapered zone&#39;s inner diameter. Preferably, the exterior of the inlet section of the housing has threads to accept luer-lock threads that may surround the nozzle.  
       [0009] The valve also includes a substantially rigid cannula disposed within the passageway and extending into the inlet section. The cannula is movable between first and second positions corresponding to closed and open modes of the valve. The valve further includes a substantially flexible, resilient gland member having (i) a seal section disposed over the inlet end of the cannula, (ii) a tubular section connected to the seal section and disposed around the cannula between cannula and the housing, and in a preferred embodiment, (iii) an attachment section connected to the tubular section and attached to the housing. The seal section has a normally closed aperture therethrough, and preferably has an outer diameter that is larger than the inner diameter of the tapered zone of the housing&#39;s inlet section and smaller than the inner diameter of the expanding zone.  
       [0010] The inlet end of the cannula and the gland are preferably shaped so as to permit the gland&#39;s seal section to move with respect to the cannula. Preferably, the valve includes means for limiting this movement of the seal section, for example by including a step on either the cannula&#39;s inlet end or the inner diameter of the gland. The inlet end of the cannula may be shaped to urge the seal section open when nozzle presses the seal section against the inlet end of the cannula while the seal section is in the expanding zone of the housing inlet section. In a preferred embodiment, a space is provided between the seal section and the cannula when the valve is in the closed position.  
       [0011] When the valve is in its closed mode, the seal section is substantially aligned with the exterior inlet face of the housing so as to provide a swabbable surface; preferably the seal section extends a small amount beyond the exterior inlet face so as to ensure that the seal section surface is fully swabbable. Preferably, the outlet end of the cannula is shaped so as to provide a back-pressure seal with the attachment section of the gland member.  
       [0012] In a preferred embodiment, the attachment section of the gland member is stretched as the valve is urged by the nozzle from the valve&#39;s closed mode to the valve&#39;s opened mode. In addition, the tubular section of the gland member is preferably compressed as the valve is urged by the nozzle from the valve&#39;s closed mode to the valve&#39;s opened mode. In an alternative embodiment, the outlet end of the cannula is shaped (e.g., as a leaf spring) to provide a flexible member that urges the cannula into the first position.  
       [0013] The housing preferably includes gland-stopping structure for stopping movement of the gland towards the outlet section of the valve independently of movement of the cannula. Cannula-stopping structure may also be provided, on the housing or on the cannula&#39;s outlet end, for stopping movement of the cannula towards the outlet section of the valve while permitting flow to the outlet section of the valve. 
     
    
    
     [0014] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.  
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0015]FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a valve according to one embodiment of the invention.  
     [0016] FIGS.  2 - 6  show longitudinal sectional views of the valve shown in FIG. 1, as the valve is urged by a luer-taper nozzle from a fully closed position to a fully open position.  
     [0017] FIGS.  7 - 9  show longitudinal section views of three alternative embodiments of the gland that may be used in the valve shown in FIG. 1.  
     [0018]FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in the closed position.  
     [0019]FIG. 11 shows a variation of the FIG. 10 embodiment in the open position.  
     [0020]FIG. 12 shows a another alternative embodiment of the invention.  
     [0021]FIG. 13 shows a variation of the FIG. I embodiment.  
     [0022]FIG. 13A shows a cross section of the FIG. 13 embodiment.  
     [0023] FIGS.  14 A- 14 C shows how the gland&#39;s seal section opens in response to a nozzle being inserted into the valve.  
     [0024]FIG. 15 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a valve according to another embodiment of the invention.  
     [0025] FIGS.  16 A- 16 D show longitudinal sectional views of the valve shown in FIG. 15, as the valve is urged by a luer-taper nozzle from a fully closed position to a fully open position.  
     [0026] FIGS.  16 E- 16 G show end views of the seal section of FIGS.  16 D- 16 D respectively.  
     [0027]FIG. 17 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a valve according to another embodiment of the invention.  
     [0028] FIGS.  18 A- 18 D show longitudinal sectional views of the valve shown in FIG. 17, as the valve is urged by a luer-taper nozzle from a substantially fully closed position to a substantially fully open position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS  
     [0029] As shown in FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve is made from four components: an inlet housing portion  34 , an outlet housing portion  48 , a gland  12  and a movable, rigid interior cannula  14 . The two housing portions preferably are ultrasonically shear welded together at area  30 , so as to form an integral housing and so as to hold one end of the gland  12  in a gland-retention area  32 . Fluid passing through the valve passes through the cannula  14 , which is located within the gland  12 , which in turn is located within the housing.  
     [0030] The gland  12  has three sections: a swabbable seal section  10 , a tubular section  18  and an attachment section  20 . Preferably, the valve is made from silicone. The seal section  10  has an aperture  42  passing through it; the aperture  42  may be, for example, a pierced hole or a slit. When the valve is in the closed mode, as shown in FIG. 1, the aperture  42  is held closed by the inner surface of the housing; the inner diameter of the housing at the inlet is smaller than the outer diameter of the seal section  10  of the gland  12 , so that the housing squeezes the seal section  12 , thereby forcing the aperture  42  closed. This compression zone  40  of the passageway through the housing is tapered to accept and hold a luer-tapered nozzle (item  60  in FIG. 2). Further down the housing&#39;s passageway a second zone  44  has an inner diameter that is greater than that of the tapered, compression zone  40  and greater than the outer diameter of the seal section  10 , so that the seal section may expand when it is forced into this zone, thereby permitting the aperture  42  to open. The inlet housing portion  34  preferably includes a vent  16  to ease the movement of the seal section  10  between the expanding zone and the tapered zone. When the valve is in the fully closed position, the gland&#39;s seal section  10  is flush with or extends slightly above the exterior inlet face  52  of the housing. The seal section  10  and the exterior inlet face  52  thus present a swabbable surface, i.e., they may be easily wiped clean with an alcohol swab, for instance.  
     [0031] The tubular section  18  of the gland  12  is preferably designed to be compressible. Another section  54  of the gland  12 , located between the seal section and the compressible, tubular section may be shaped to match a corresponding ledge  56  on the cannula  14 , so as to hold the top section of the gland  12  in place on the cannula.  
     [0032] In addition to the seal section  10  of the gland  12 , the valve has a second seal area  22  at the outlet end of the cannula  14 . The outlet end  58  of the cannula  14  is shaped so as to provide a seal against the gland  12 . The cannula&#39;s outlet end  58  has a wider outer diameter than the inner diameter of the compressible, tubular section  18  of the gland, and the fluid passageway  36  through the cannula has a channel  28  that redirects the passageway sideways into the gland  12 . This arrangement forms a seal when the valve is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, and is able to resist a large amount of back pressure from the outlet end  50  of the valve. The inlet housing portion  34  preferably includes a rigid annular extension  33  that separates the gland&#39;s tubular section  18  from the gland&#39;s attachment section  20 . This annular extension  33  ensures that the tubular and attachment sections of the gland  12  do not fold incorrectly when the valve is opened and closed. In addition, the annular extension  33 , in connection with the gland, ensures that the cannula&#39;s outlet section  58  does not get forced too far up into the inlet section by a large amount of back pressure. The annular extension  33  also prevents the lower portion of the gland  12  from being forced too far up into the inlet section. Since the valve has a second seal area  22 , formed by the cannula&#39;s outlet end  58 , that is able to resist large back pressures, the first seal—the aperture  42  through the gland&#39;s seal section  10 —does not have to resist large back pressures.  
     [0033] Preferably, the gland&#39;s tubular section  18  is preloaded, by making the gland&#39;s tubular section sufficiently long with respect to the distance between the cannula&#39;s ledge  56  and the cannula&#39;s outlet end  58 , so that the gland&#39;s tubular section is under compression even when the valve is in the closed position. This arrangement improves the effectiveness of the second seal area  22 . By preloading the gland&#39;s tubular section  18 , the valve is made more resistant to opening in response to either a positive pressure or a negative pressure applied to the outlet  50 . By having a sufficient amount of surface area of the gland  12  exposed to the outlet  50  with respect to the surface area of the cannula  14  exposed to the outlet, the effect on a closed valve of a negative pressure at the outlet will be to pull the gland toward the outlet along with the cannula  14 . By having a negative pressure pull both the gland  12  and the cannula  14  toward the outlet, the second seal area  22  remains sealed.  
     [0034] The cannula&#39;s outlet end  58  may be made thin, so that in an emergency a needle—instead of a luer-taper nozzle—may be used with the valve. The needle may be inserted through the seal section&#39;s aperture  42  through the cannula&#39;s passageway, and then, if the outlet end  58  is made thin enough, the needle may pierce the outlet so that medication may be injected through the valve. The outlet end does need to be strong enough to resist whatever level of back pressure may be expected from the valve&#39;s outlet  50 .  
     [0035] The outlet housing portion  48  includes a ledge  24  to prevent the gland  12 —in particular, the gland&#39;s attachment section  20 —from extending too far towards the valve&#39;s outlet  50 . This ledge  24  does not stop the movement of the cannula  14  towards the outlet  50 ; thus, the cannula&#39;s outlet end  58  may continue to move toward the valve&#39;s outlet  50  and separate from the gland  12 , thereby opening the second seal area  22 , if it has not yet opened. The outlet housing portion  48  also includes ribs  26  for stopping the movement of the cannula  14  toward the valve&#39;s outlet  50 , while permitting flow from the cannula  14  between the ribs  26  to the valve&#39;s outlet.  
     [0036] To facilitate the centering of the nozzle as it is being inserted into the valve, the interior surface of the gland&#39;s seal section  10  has a small hollow area  46  shaped to receive the inlet end  38  of the cannula  14 . The inlet end of the cannula  14  is shaped to cause the opening of the seal section&#39;s aperture  42  when the seal section  10  is squeezed between the cannula  14  and the nozzle with sufficient force. When the nozzle  60  is first pressed against the gland&#39;s seal section  10 , the seal section  10  is pressed toward the cannula  14 , causing the hollow area  46  of the seal section  10  down over the inlet end  38  of the cannula  14 , as shown in FIG. 2. This motion causes the top of the inlet section  10  to fall below the exterior inlet face  52  of the housing, thereby facilitating the centering of the nozzle  60 .  
     [0037] As can be seen in FIG. 3, as the nozzle  60  is continued to be pushed into the valve, the vent  16  allows the gland  12  to separate from the expanding zone  44  of the inlet housing portion  34 , thereby easing the movement of the gland  12  through the inlet housing portion  34 . At some point as the cannula  14  is forced down into the valve, the cannula&#39;s outlet end  58  separates from the gland  12 , thereby opening up the second seal area  22 . This opening of the second seal area occurs as the compressible, tubular section  18  of the gland  12  is compressed by the nozzle  60  pushing the cannula  14  downward. As shown in FIG. 4, further insertion of the nozzle  60  into the valve results in the attachment section  20  of the gland stretching until it reaches the ledge  24 , which prevents further stretching of the attachment section  20 .  
     [0038]FIG. 5 shows the nozzle  60  and the cannula&#39;s inlet end  38  having forced open the aperture  42  in the gland&#39;s seal section  10 . Because the seal section  10  is in the widened zone  44  of the housing&#39;s passageway, the seal section  10  has room to spread. After the seal section&#39;s aperture  42  is opened, the luer-taper nozzle  60  should become fully seated in the tapered zone  40  of the inlet. If the nozzle  60  forces the cannula  14  too far down, movement of the cannula  14  will be stopped by ribs  26 . The ribs  26  permit flow between the cannula&#39;s outlet end and the outlet housing portion  48 , even when the cannula  14  is pushed down all the way. After the nozzle is removed from the valve, the stretched attachment section  20  of the gland and the compressed tubular section of the gland  18  tend to return to their original shapes, causing the seal section  10  to be forced back into the tapered zone  40 . Since, as noted above, the tapered zone  40  has a smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the seal section  10 , the aperture  42  is squeezed closed, thereby returning the valve to its closed mode.  
     [0039]FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment for the gland  20  shown in FIG. 1. The FIG. 7 gland is molded in two shots, so that the attachment section  20  is made of a type of silicone or other material that has good stretching properties, while the rest of the gland is made of material that has good compression properties. FIG. 8 shows a gland  12  made according to a method that simplifies molding considerations. The gland  12  is molded in the shape shown in FIG. 8, which shape is simpler to mold than the gland shape shown in FIGS. 1 and 7; the attachment section  20  is folded upward prior to it being attached to the gland retention area (item  32  in FIG. 1) between the inlet housing portion  34  and the outlet housing portion  48  during ultrasonic welding.  
     [0040]FIG. 9 shows a preferred embodiment of the gland that may be used in the FIG. 1 valve. The tubular section  18   a  of the gland, instead of being accordion-shaped like the gland shown in FIG. 1, has a simple annular design. When the valve is assembled, this tubular section  18   a  is preferably preloaded in a compressed state when the valve is closed in order to maintain sufficient sealing force at the seal area against the outlet end of the cannula  14 . As noted above, such preloading may be accomplished by making the tubular section  18   a  between the seal area  22  and the section  54  of the gland that corresponds to the ledge on the cannula longer than the corresponding section on the cannula  14 .  
     [0041] In order to reduce friction between the housing and the attachment section  20   b  of the gland, the contact between the attachment section and the housing may be limited to a wiper member  74 . The wiper member  74  helps ensure that liquid does not make its way up into the section between the attachment section  20   b  and the housing, while reducing the contact area between the attachment section  20   b  and the housing. In such an embodiment, the attachment section  20   b  may include a vent port therethrough in order to prevent a vacuum forming between the attachment section and the housing.  
     [0042]FIG. 10 shows an alternative valve design, wherein the cannula&#39;s outlet end  58   a  includes a leaf spring  62  to urge the cannula  14   a  up into its closed position. Like the valve shown in FIG. 1, a widened area of the cannula&#39;s outlet end  58   a  in the FIG. 10 valve forms a second seal area  22   a,  and a diverter channel  28   a  redirects flow from the cannula&#39;s main passageway  36   a.  Unlike the FIG. 1 valve, the attachment section  20   a  of the gland  12   a  in the FIG. 10 valve is not stretched, but rather it folds upon itself. FIG. 11 shows a variation of the FIG. 10 valve. The FIG. 11 valve is shown in the open position. As shown in FIG. 11, the gland&#39;s attachment section  20   a  is folded as the valve is opened. In the FIG. 11 embodiment, the cannula&#39;s outlet end  22   b  is shaped so as to prevent further movement of the cannula towards the valve&#39;s outlet  50  while still permitting flow to the outlet.  
     [0043]FIG. 12 shows a variation of the FIG. 11 valve with a different variation of the leaf spring  62   a.  In the FIG. 12 valve, a portion of the tapered zone  40   b  of the valve&#39;s inlet has ribs  64 , while another portion  65  of the tapered zone  40   b  has a frusto-conical shape that is able to maintain contact around the entire circumference of the nozzle. The frusto-conical portion  65  maintains a seal between the nozzle and the valve housing when the nozzle is inserted all the way into the valve. The ribs  64  reduce the friction between the gland&#39;s seal section  10   b  and the tapered zone, so as to make it easier for the seal section  10   b  to return to its closed position when the nozzle is removed from the valve. The ribs  64  also provide a stronger hold on an inserted nozzle than if the entire tapered zone  40   b  had frusto-conical shape. The ribs provide a further benefit if a vent is not provided in the inlet housing portion: the ribs reduce the length that the gland has to travel without the space between the gland and the inlet housing portion being vented to atmosphere.  
     [0044]FIG. 13 shows the valve of FIG. 1 adapted to include ribs  64   a  in the tapered zone  40  of the inlet section. These ribs  64   a  may also be seen in FIG. 13A, which shows a cross section through the inlet section  40  of the FIG. 13 valve. FIG. 13 also shows the tapered sections of the housing passageway that enable the cannula to properly return from the fully open position to the closed position. Specifically, the passageway may be considered to include three tapered sections (among other sections). The first section begins at the aperture compression zone  40  and converges toward a point “X.” In preferred embodiments, the aperture compression zone  40  has an inner diameter of about 0.169 inches and converges toward point X, which has an inner diameter of about 0.162 inches. The second section begins at point X and diverges toward a point “Y” which, in preferred embodiments, may have an inner diameter of about 0.167 inches. The third section begins at point Y and diverges to a point “Z” which, in preferred embodiments, may having an inner diameter of about 0.200 inches.  
     [0045] FIGS.  14 A- 14 C show how the seal section  10  of the gland may respond to the insertion of a nozzle  60  into the valve. When the valve is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 14A, the aperture  42  is closed with both the bottom, point A, and the top, point B, of the aperture being pressed together by the tapered zone of the housing  40 . (The exterior of the housing&#39;s inlet section preferably includes threads  82  to accept luer-lock threads surrounding a nozzle.) The nozzle  60  pushes the gland&#39;s seal section away from the exterior inlet face  52  and the tapered section  40  of the inlet. When the seal section reaches the widened portion  44  of the inlet section, the aperture  42  opens, with the point B of the aperture spreading more than point A, as shown in FIG. 14B. The shaping of the cannula&#39;s inlet end allows the aperture  42  to be opened quickly and closed quickly. As the nozzle  60  is inserted further into the valve, as shown in FIG. 14C, the seal section  10  of the gland is prevented from being forced too far down the cannula by step  80  on the cannula. Preferably, a portion of the gland remains between the cannula&#39;s inlet end  38  and the nozzle  60 . The tip of the cannula&#39;s inlet end is preferably rounded (bullet-nosed) to minimize cutting of the gland material between the cannula and the nozzle and to promote the centering of the cannula&#39;s inlet end  38  with respect to the nozzle.  
     [0046]FIG. 15 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is similar to the FIG. 1 embodiment, as the FIG. 15 embodiment includes a movable center cannula  14   b , located inside a gland  12   b,  which in turn is located within the passageway formed by the inlet housing portion  34  and the outlet housing portion  48 . When the valve is in the closed position, the gland&#39;s seal section  10   b  is spaced away from the top end  80   b  of the cannula  14   b.  When the valve is being opened, as shown in FIGS.  16 A- 16 D, the gland&#39;s seal section  10   b  moves towards the cannula&#39;s top surface  80   b.  This movement is limited by a step  91  on the inner surface of the gland  14   b,  which prevents the seal section  10   b  from moving past cannula&#39;s top surface  80   b.    
     [0047] As shown in FIG. 16A, the seal section  10   b  is substantially aligned with the exterior inlet face  52  and extends slightly beyond the exterior inlet face, so as to provide a swabbable surface. The outer diameter of the seal section  10   b  is a little greater than the inner diameter of the inlet&#39;s tapered section  40 , so that the resulting pressure keeps the aperture  42  closed when the valve is in the closed position. Because the valve includes a high-pressure seal area  22 , the seal section&#39;s aperture  42  does not have to resist high back pressure.  
     [0048] As the nozzle  60  is inserted into the valve&#39;s inlet, as shown in FIG. 16B, the gland&#39;s seal section  10   b  is urged towards the cannula  14   b,  which in turn is urged towards the valve&#39;s outlet  50 . As the seal section  10  moves from the inlet&#39;s tapered section  40  to the inlet&#39;s expanding section  44 , which has a greater inner diameter than the seal section&#39;s outer diameter, the aperture  42  in the gland&#39;s seal section  10  begins to open, as can be seen in FIG. 16E. Also, the cannula&#39;s outlet end  58  begins to separate from the gland  12   b,  opening the high-pressure seal and providing fluid communication between the cannula&#39;s transverse passage  28  and the valve&#39;s outlet  50 .  
     [0049] As the nozzle  60  is further inserted into the valve&#39;s inlet, as shown in FIG. 16C, the seal section  10   b  moves further in the inlet&#39;s expanding section  44 , so that the increasing inner diameter of the inlet permits the seal section&#39;s aperture  42  to open further, as shown in FIG. 16F. The step  91  on the inner surface of the gland  14   b  is pressed against the top surface  80   b  of the cannula  14   b , so that further movement of the seal section  10   b  towards the cannula  14   b  causes deformation of the sidewalls  93  of the gland  12   b  adjacent the seal section  10   b.    
     [0050] The cannula&#39;s top surface  80   b,  along with the gland&#39;s inner lip  91 , prevents the seal section  10   b  from being pushed beyond the cannula&#39;s top surface, as shown in FIG. 16D. FIG. 16D shows the nozzle  60  fully inserted into the valve. The seal section&#39;s aperture  42  is fully opened, as shown in FIG. 16G. By keeping the seal section  10   b  from being pushed beyond the cannula&#39;s top surface  80   b,  the seal section  10   b  is able to spring back to its original position quickly, when the nozzle is removed from the valve.  
     [0051]FIG. 17 shows another alternative embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 since it includes a movable center cannula  14   c , located inside a gland  12   c,  which in turn is located within the passageway formed by the inlet housing portion  34  and the outlet housing portion  48 . When the valve is in the closed position, the gland&#39;s seal section  10   c  is spaced away from the top end  80   c  of the cannula  14   c.  When the valve is being opened, as shown in FIGS.  18 A- 18 D, the gland&#39;s seal section  10   c  moves towards the cannula&#39;s top surface  80   c.  This movement is limited by a step  91   c  on the inner surface of the gland  12   c,  which prevents the seal section  10   c  from moving past cannula&#39;s top surface  80   c.    
     [0052] Improving upon the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the gland  12   c  of FIG. 17 includes a ridge  97  that normally is seated on a ledge  98  formed by the interior walls of the outlet housing portion  48 . In addition, the tapered outlet end  58   c  of the cannula  14   c  includes ribs  99  for limiting longitudinal motion of the cannula  14   c  toward the outlet end  50  of the valve. Accordingly, there is no need for ribs to protrude from the interior walls of the outlet housing portion  48 .  
     [0053] FIGS.  18 A- 18 D show of the valve of FIG. 17 as it is urged by a luer-taper nozzle  60  from a substantially fully closed position to a substantially fully open position. Specifically, in FIG. 18A, the seal section  10   c  is substantially aligned with the exterior inlet face  52  and extends slightly beyond the exterior inlet face to provide a swabbable surface. The outer diameter of the seal section  10   c  is a little greater than the inner diameter of the inlet&#39;s tapered section  40 , so that the resulting pressure keeps the aperture  42  closed when the valve is in the closed position. Because the valve includes the high-pressure seal area  22 , the seal aperture  42  does not have to resist high back pressure.  
     [0054] As the nozzle  60  is inserted into the valve&#39;s inlet, as shown in FIG. 18B, the gland&#39;s seal section  10   c  is urged towards the cannula  14   c,  which in turn is urged towards the valve&#39;s outlet  50 . As the seal section  10   c  moves from the inlet&#39;s tapered section  40  to the inlet&#39;s expanding section  44 , which has a greater inner diameter than the seal section&#39;s outer diameter, the aperture  42  in the gland&#39;s seal section  10   c  begins to open. Also, the cannula&#39;s outlet end  58   c  begins to separate from the gland  12   c,  opening the high-pressure seal and providing fluid communication between the cannula&#39;s transverse passage  28  and the valve&#39;s outlet  50 .  
     [0055] As the nozzle  60  is further inserted into the valve&#39;s inlet, as shown in FIG. 18C, the seal section  10   c  moves further in the inlet&#39;s expanding section  44 , so that the increasing inner diameter of the inlet permits the seal section&#39;s aperture  42  to open further. The step  91   c  on the inner surface of the gland  12   c  is pressed against the top surface  80   c  of the cannula  14   c,  so that further movement of the seal section  10   c  towards the cannula  14   c  causes deformation of the sidewalls  93  of the gland  12   c  adjacent the seal section  10   c.    
     [0056] The cannula&#39;s top surface  80   c,  along with the gland&#39;s step  91   c , prevents the seal section  10   c  from being pushed beyond the cannula&#39;s top surface  80   c,  as shown in FIG. 18D. FIG. 18D shows the nozzle  60  fully inserted into the valve with the seal section&#39;s aperture  42  fully opened. By keeping the seal section  10   c  from being pushed beyond the cannula&#39;s top surface  80   c,  the seal section  10   c  is able to spring back to its original position quickly, when the nozzle is removed from the valve. Moreover, the ribs  99  on the outlet end  58   c  of the cannula  14   c  limit further longitudinal movement of the cannula  14   c  toward the outlet  50 . It should be noted that the ridge  97  remains seated on the ledge  98  throughout the entire process shown in FIGS.  18 A- 18 D.  
     [0057] Although the invention has been described with reference to several preferred embodiments, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, as set forth in the claims hereinbelow.