Patent ID: 7331949

Claim:
A catheter including an integrally formed check valve for the transfer of body fluids comprising: a tubular catheter having a first end, a second end and at least one hollow passageway within said tubular catheter extending from said first end to said second end, and having at least one inlet disposed proximate said first end and at least one outlet disposed proximate said second end, wherein the interior diameter of said hollow passageway has a tapered transition from a first diameter to a second diameter larger than said first diameter proximate said second end; a valve seat ridge that is integrally formed as part of a side wall of said tubular catheter downstream from said smaller first lumen at said tapered transition; a valve flap integrally formed entirely within said hollow passageway in said catheter proximate said tapered transition and said valve seat ridge, said valve seat allowing said valve flap to open in a first direction away from said valve seat and preventing said valve flap from inverting through said valve seat, said valve flap substantially limiting the fluid flow therethrough to a single direction from said first end to said second end while freely and automatically allowing fluid flow in said single direction; and an interlocking means at said second end of said catheter for selectively connecting a collection apparatus thereto.