Patent ID: 8123727

Claim:
A method of opening a hemostasis valve comprising: providing a hemostasis valve housing having a first port, a second port, and a fluid path running between the first and second ports; positioning an occlusion assembly within the hemostasis valve housing, the occlusion assembly having a pin, first structural occlusion arm, second structural occlusion arm and an occluder distal ring, the first and second structural occlusion arms each having proximal and distal end portions wherein the distal end portions are attached to the occluder distal ring which slide between the first and second ports within the housing, and the proximal end portions of the first and second structural occlusion arms collectively form a seal to prevent flow of fluid through the first port when the occlusion assembly is in a closed position, the first and second occlusion arms being sufficiently structural such that the occluder distal ring is displaced when the first and second proximal end portions of the first and second structure occlusion arms are displaced, the pin being disposed between the first and second structural occlusion arms and between the proximal end portions of the first and second structural occlusion arms and the occluder distal ring so that the pin contacts the first and second structural occlusion arms to push apart the first and second occlusion arms and facilitate unobstructed fluid flow through the hemostasis valve housing first port when the occlusion assembly is moved from the closed position to an open position, wherein the occlusion assembly is movable between the closed position wherein the first and second proximal end portions of the first and second structural occlusion arms contact each other, causing the hemostasis valve housing first port to be occluded, and the open position wherein the pin pivots the first and second structural occlusion arms apart and spreads the first and second proximal end portions of the first and second structural occlusion arms apart so that the first and second proximal end portions do not contact each other, allowing unobstructed fluid flow through the hemostasis valve housing first port; and pivoting the first and second structural occlusion arms about the occluder distal ring to push first and second proximal end portions of the first and second structural occlusion arms apart to allow unobstructed fluid flow through the hemostasis valve housing first port.