Patent ID: 6887263

Claim:
A closed loop catheter device comprising: an elongate, flexible catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a closed loop fluid flow circuit comprising a first lumen through which a fluid may flow into the catheter body and a second lumen through which fluid that has entered the catheter body through the first lumen may subsequently flow out of the catheter body; a connector on the proximal end of the catheter body, said connector having an inflow lumen which is connectable to and disconnectable from an inflow fluid source and an outflow lumen which is connectable and disconnectable from an outflow fluid receiver into which fluid may flow out of the first lumen; and, a valving apparatus which prevents fluid from entering one of the first and second lumens when the connector is disconnected from at least the inflow source, such that fluid may then be evacuated from the closed loop circuit through the other of the first and second lumens without concurrent entry of make-up air or other fluid into the closed loop circuit.