Patent ID: 8221363

Claim:
A medical valve for the bi-directional transfer of fluid comprising: a valve housing having an inlet adapted for receiving a male luer, an outlet and a passageway therethrough; and a fluid flow controller received within the valve housing, said fluid flow controller having a valve element fixedly attached to said inlet, said valve element having a resealable aperture for receiving the male luer and sealing the inlet, and an extending portion extending away from the valve element and fixedly attached to said outlet, said extending portion defining (i) a fluid flow path in communication with said aperture and said outlet (ii) a generally tubular wall, and (iii) a bulge, wherein (a) said fluid flow controller is maintained in a tensioned state within the valve housing, (b) the bulge has a radius larger than a radius of the tubular wall in an untensioned state, and substantially the same radius as the radius of the tubular wall in the tensioned state, and (c) insertion of the male luer into the inlet (1) decreases the tension in at least a portion of the fluid flow controller, (2) changes a volume of said fluid flow controller, and (3) causes the bulge to radially expand to define a fluid reservoir.