Patent ID: 8016791

Claim:
A medical tool comprising: an elongated hollow sheath possessing a proximal end fixed to a hub, the hub possessing a recessed portion; and a valve body configured to be positioned in the recessed portion of the hub, the valve body being made of an elastic material and possessing a thickness, the valve body comprising an opening and closing section which opens in response to insertion of an elongated medical member and automatically closes upon pulling out the elongated medical member, the valve body possessing an upper surface which faces away from the recessed portion of the hub when the valve body is positioned in the recessed portion of the hub, the valve body also possessing a lower surface facing in a direction opposite the upper surface, the lower surface facing towards the recessed portion of the hub when the valve body is positioned in the recessed portion of the hub, the upper surface of the valve body including a first concave portion exhibiting a concave surface, the opening and closing section comprising: a first slit formed in the valve body and opening to the concave surface, the first slit extending through less than an entirety of the thickness of the valve body; a second slit formed in the valve body and opening to the lower surface, the second slit extending through less than the entirety of the thickness of the valve body; the first slit intersecting the second slit at an intersecting portion so that the first slit and the second slit communicate with one another; the first slit lying in a first plane and the second slit lying in a second plane, the first and second planes being non-parallel to one another; and a second concave portion formed in the valve body at a location corresponding to the intersecting portion, the second concave portion opening to the concave surface, and not intersecting the second slit.