Patent ID: 7938809

Claim:
A valve apparatus comprising: a body having a lumen therethrough and which is configured to access the cardiovascular or other intravenous system of a patient; a compressible seal having a longitudinal passageway therethrough which communicates with the lumen and provides access thereto, wherein the seal is adapted to be selectively actuatable to seal or unseal the lumen, a quick release actuator mechanism, for selectively allowing the user to actuate the seal to seal or unseal the lumen of the body, wherein the quick release actuator comprises a compression spring which provides a compressive force to a plunger which exerts a compressive force on the seal to close the longitudinal passageway, and wherein the quick release actuator mechanism allows the user to access the lumen of the valve apparatus when the quick release actuator mechanism is in a sealed position and an unsealed position, a relief member removably disposed between the quick release actuator mechanism and the seal, the relief member configured to prevent complete compression of the seal when the relief member is disposed between the quick release actuator mechanism and the seal.