Patent ID: 7717887

Claim:
A medial valve, comprising: a housing comprising a first portion, a second portion, and an internal cavity, the first portion having a proximal end including an opening, the first portion configured to receive a delivery end of a first medical implement, the second portion of the housing having a distal end including internal threads and a downwardly extending tube, a first region of the internal cavity positioned near the proximal end of the first portion of the housing and having at least a first cross-sectional width, a second region of the internal cavity in a distal direction from the first region having at least a second cross-sectional width being larger than the first cross-sectional width; a seal element comprising a proximal end, a distal end, an internal cavity, an external surface, and a radially outwardly extending portion, the seal element adapted to move from a first position in which the proximal end of the seal element is positioned adjacent the opening of the housing and a second position in which the proximal end of the seal element is positioned in a distal direction from its location in the first position, the proximal end of the seal element fills essentially completely the opening of the housing and further comprises an orifice extending between an external surface of the proximal end of the seal element and the internal cavity of the seal element, the orifice configured to facilitate fluid flow through the valve when the seal element is in the second position, wherein an outward portion of the radially outwardly extending portion is positioned between the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing; and a rigid element positioned within the internal cavity of the seal element, the rigid element configured to assist in maintaining the position of the seal element when the seal element moves from the first position to the second position.