Patent ID: 8246605

Claim:
A flow adapter for use with a medical introducer, the adapter comprising: a housing comprising a first opening in a proximal end of the housing, a second opening in a distal end of the housing, and a passageway extending between the first and second openings and defined by a wall of the housing, the first and second openings and the passageway each being configured for the passage of an elongate medical device there through; a connector disposed on the distal end of the housing and in communication with the second opening, the connector configured for attachment to the medical introducer; a valve member disposed within the housing and configured to prevent the leakage of blood from the adapter; and a side port disposed on the wall of the housing and configured to be attached to a source of flushing fluid, wherein the side port is fluidly connected to the passageway by one or more conduits extending longitudinally within the wall of the housing, the conduits configured to direct the flushing fluid to a proximal portion of the passageway adjacent to the first opening.