Patent ID: 8328769

Claim:
A method of bi-directional fluid flow control in opposite infusion and aspiration directions through an intravascular device including a catheter, the method comprising the steps of: providing a pressure-actuated valve component for use in IV therapy, said valve component comprising: a housing including spaced apart intravenous fluid ports operable to be fluidly coupled to the catheter, with a fluid passageway extending between the ports to present a passageway axis, and a valve body being disposed within the fluid passageway and including a flexible arcuate-shaped wall that presents a convex surface and an opposite concave surface, with the convex surface facing the infusion direction and the concave surface facing the aspiration direction, said arcuate-shaped wall including a slit extending between the surfaces, said arcuate-shaped wall flexing to open the slit in response to an infusion fluid pressure differential across the wall, wherein the pressure against the concave surface is greater than the pressure against the convex surface, said arcuate-shaped wall flexing to open the slit in response to an aspiration fluid pressure differential across the wall, wherein the pressure against the convex surface is greater than the pressure against the concave surface, said valve body including a rib projecting from the concave surface, wherein when the valve is in a rest position, the slit is in a normally-closed, fluid flow blocking position; fluidly coupling the valve component with the catheter; introducing a forward fluid flow through the valve component to create said infusion fluid pressure differential across the arcuate-shaped wall, such that upon a pressure against the concave surface of the valve wall being approximately greater than a predetermined fluid cracking pressure of the valve wall, said slit flexing distally to open; terminating the forward fluid flow through the valve component, such that upon the pressure against the concave surface dropping below the predetermined fluid cracking pressure, the rib serves to bias the slit proximally into said normally-closed, flow-blocking position; and introducing a rearward fluid flow through the valve component to create said aspiration fluid pressure differential across the arcuate-shaped wall, such that upon a pressure against the convex surface of the valve wall being approximately greater than a predetermined fluid collapsing pressure of the valve wall, said slit flexing proximally to open, wherein upon the slit flexing proximally to open, a limited portion of the arcuate-shaped wall flexes proximally.