Patent ID: 7303552

Claim:
A valve for a tubular peel-away sheath having a lumen therethrough comprising: a valve body having a lumen therethrough; means for preferentially breaking said valve body along a predetermined location in response to applied force, such that said valve body lumen splits open upon breaking; means for coupling said valve body to said peel-away sheath for coupling said peel-away sheath lumen to said valve body lumen; means for receiving a compressible valve sleeve; a compressible valve sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen adapted to receive a distal portion of a medical device; and means for compressing said valve sleeve for restricting any fluid flow from said peel-away sheath lumen through said valve and valve sleeve lumen, said proximal end of said compressible valve sleeve extending proximal of said means for compressing said valve sleeve.