Patent ID: 7951121

Claim:
A valve apparatus for dialysis applications, comprising a first flexible disk extending across a first lumen through which a flow of materials is to be controlled, the first flexible disk including a plurality of first movable elements formed on opposite sides of at least one first slit extending through the first flexible disk, wherein a size and configuration of the first slit is selected to provide desired opening and closing characteristics of the moveable elements, the first moveable element being biased so that, when a pressure less than a predetermined threshold value is applied to the first flexible disk, the first moveable elements are maintained in a closed position in which no flow is permitted past the first flexible disk and, when a pressure at least as great as the threshold value is applied to a planar face of the first flexible disk, the first moveable elements are moved to an open position separated from one another along the at least one first slit permitting flow through the first lumen, the first flexible disk further comprising at least one biasing member coupled thereto adjacent the first slit to increase a biasing force urging the first movable elements toward the closed position, the apparatus further comprising a second lumen with a second flexible disk extending there across, the second flexible disk including a plurality of second movable elements formed on opposite sides of at least one second slit extending through the second flexible disk, the second moveable members being biased so that, when a pressure less than a predetermined threshold value is applied to the second flexible disk, the second moveable elements are maintained in a closed position in which no flow is permitted past the second flexible disk and, when a pressure at least as great as the threshold value is applied to the second flexible disk, the second moveable elements are moved to an open position separated from one another along the at least one second slit permitting flow through the second lumen.