Patent ID: 7470254

Claim:
A needle assembly comprising: a hollow needle having a pointed distal end and a proximal end; a needle hub having a distal hub end fixedly connected to the needle, a proximal hub end having an opening, and a passageway extending therethrough between the distal hub end and the proximal hub end; a valve disposed within the passageway, wherein the valve comprises a sealing member having at least one through-opening disposed therein, and the sealing member including a proximal portion defining a recess thereinto from a proximal valve end; a non-resilient support member disposed in the passageway proximally of, adjacent to and in supportive engagement with the sealing member such that the proximal portion of the sealing member surrounds a distal end of the support member and the support member is secured in the passageway against proximal movement with respect to the passageway; and a plunger disposed in and secured within the passageway proximate the sealing member and the support member and slidable between a first position wherein the at least one through-opening is closed such that the hollow needle and the proximal hub end are not in fluid communication with each other and a second position wherein the plunger biases the at least one through-opening to an open position, such that the hollow needle and the proximal hub end are in fluid communication with each other.