Patent ID: 7938805

Claim:
An apparatus to control blood flow through an intravenous catheter, the apparatus comprising: an intravenous catheter adapter having a hollow interior region therein, the hollow interior having a first portion and a second portion; a blood control valve positioned within the first portion of the hollow interior region, the blood control valve having a hollow resilient outer shell and an inner valve forming a proximal end of the hollow resilient outer shell, the inner valve further comprising a slit configured to open upon translating the blood control valve into the second portion of the hollow interior region, wherein a portion of the resilient outer shell is compressed within the second portion of the hollow interior; a groove formed into the outer surface of the blood control valve and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the intravenous catheter adapter to orient the blood control valve within the hollow interior region; and a retention feature disposed within the groove to retain the blood control valve within the hollow interior region.