Patent ID: 8398607

Claim:
A method of transferring fluid from a first medical implement to a second medical implement, the method comprising: providing a medical connector having a housing with a proximal end and a proximal opening and a distal end and a distal opening, an inner rigid element positioned within said housing and including an inner surface defining a substantially hollow interior, a first inner opening on said inner surface, an outer surface, a first outer opening on said outer surface, a first passage extending between said first inner opening and said first outer opening, and a substantially hollow flexible element positioned within said housing, said flexible element comprising an orifice on a proximal surface, said orifice generally closed with said flexible element in a first position and generally open with said flexible element in a second position, and at least one inward projection on an inner wall thereof, at least a portion of said at least one inward projection projecting through said first outer opening, said first passage, and said first inner opening when said flexible element is in said first position, thereby occupying at least a portion of said substantially hollow interior of said inner rigid element; coupling said distal end of said housing to a second medical implement; coupling said proximal end of said housing to a first medical implement wherein a distal end of said first medical implement enters said proximal opening of said housing; displacing said flexible element by distally delivering said first medical implement within said housing and pushing said flexible element into said second position, wherein said proximal surface of said flexible element is displaced from said proximal opening and said at least one inward projection of said flexible element is displaced from said substantially hollow interior of said inner rigid element; and establishing fluid communication between said first medical implement and said second medical implement.