Patent ID: 7717883

Claim:
A method of establishing a fluid flow path through a medical connector having a housing with a hollow interior and a proximal end and a distal end, comprising: providing a medical connector comprising a rigid element positioned within the interior and a seal element at least partially within the interior, the seal element having a proximal end and a distal end and a wall with inner and outer surfaces defining an internal cavity of the seal element, the seal element having a first position in which the proximal end of the seal element is substantially closed, obstructing fluid flow through the connector, at least a portion of the seal element near the seal element proximal end contacting a surface of the interior of the housing near the housing proximal end in the first position, and at least one of the surfaces in a cross-section along the longitudinal axis of the medical connector having alternating radially inwardly and radially outwardly extending surfaces, the seal element having a second position configured to permit fluid flow through the connector, the seal element further having a first axial height H1 when in the first position and a second axial height H2 when in the second position; moving the seal element distally within the housing interior by inserting a medical implement having an end through the proximal end of the housing into the interior of the housing, the end of the medical implement contacting the seal element solely at the proximal end of the seal element upon insertion of the implement in the interior of the housing; changing the height of the seal element from H1 to H2, where H1 is greater than H2; and establishing fluid flow through the housing.