Patent ID: 8491541

Claim:
A valve assembly for use with a catheter assembly, which comprises: a valve housing adapted for fluid engagement with a catheter assembly, the valve housing defining a longitudinal axis and having an internal passageway for flow of fluids relative to the catheter assembly; a valve member at least partially disposed within the valve housing and defining a valve passage, the valve member adapted for rotational movement within the valve housing between an open position wherein the valve passage is in general alignment with the internal passageway of the valve housing to permit flow of fluids through the valve housing, and a closed position wherein the valve passage of the valve member is generally misaligned relative to the internal passageway of the valve housing to substantially occlude the internal passageway of the valve housing; an actuation mechanism having a first end and a second end mounted to the valve housing and operatively connected to the valve member, the actuation mechanism being slidably supported on the valve housing in a general linear direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve housing to cause corresponding movement of the valve member between the open position and the closed position; wherein the actuation mechanism is movable relative to the valve housing between a first position corresponding to the open position of the valve member and a second position corresponding to the closed position of the valve member and the actuation mechanism is adapted to be releasably locked relative to the valve housing when in at least one of the first and second positions thereof; wherein the valve housing includes a cantilever member, the cantilever member operatively engageable with the actuation mechanism to selectively releasably secure the actuation mechanism in the one of the first and second positions thereof; and a release member mounted with respect to the actuation mechanism and selectively movable relative to the actuation mechanism to cause corresponding movement of the cantilever member and release thereof from operative engagement with the actuation mechanism, to thereby permit movement of the actuation mechanism.