Multi-Slit High Flow Valve

Abstract

A valve may include (a) a housing defining a valve lumen adapted for fluid connection with a lumen of a catheter; (b) a substantially conical valve member coupled to the housing and extending across the valve lumen to control flow therethrough; (c) a plurality of slits extending through the valve member and separated from one another circumferentially around the valve member; and (d) a ramp formed within a distal end of the valve lumen extending proximally from a distal tip of the valve member toward a ramp vertex separated from the distal tip by a predetermined distance.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A catheter system, comprising:
 a catheter;   a valve housing connected to the catheter, the valve housing including:
 a substantially conical valve member having one or more slits therethrough; and 
 a deflection surface inside of the tip of the conical valve member; and 
   a guidewire insertable through the valve housing and into the catheter, wherein the guidewire is directed by the deflection surface through a slit of the valve member.   
     
     
         24 . The catheter system of  claim 23 , wherein the deflection surface includes an apex from which the deflection surface slopes toward the one or more slits. 
     
     
         25 . The catheter system of  claim 23 , wherein the tip of the conical valve member has a rounded exterior surface. 
     
     
         26 . The catheter system of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more slits extend substantially longitudinally along the surface of the valve member. 
     
     
         27 . The catheter system of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more slits are spaced evenly along the surface of the conical valve member. 
     
     
         28 . The catheter system of  claim 23 , wherein the deflection surface includes a dome-shaped portion that curves away from the tip of the conical valve member. 
     
     
         29 . The catheter system of  claim 23 , wherein the deflection surface includes a cone-shaped portion that points away from the tip of the conical valve member. 
     
     
         30 . The catheter system of  claim 23 , wherein each slit remains closed and does not permit fluid flow unless acted upon by a fluid pressure of at least a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         31 . A catheter system, comprising:
 a catheter;   a valve housing connected to the catheter, the valve housing including a conical flow control element, the conical flow control element comprising:   a plurality of slits through the conical flow control element, the slits being oriented along a longitudinal axis of the flow control element; and   a deflection surface disposed within the tip of the conical flow control element, wherein the deflection surface is shaped to direct fluid and objects through one or more slits of the valve member.   
     
     
         32 . The catheter system of  claim 31 , wherein wherein each slit remains closed and does not permit fluid flow unless acted upon by a fluid pressure of at least a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         33 . The catheter system of  claim 31 , wherein the deflection surface includes a dome-shaped portion that curves away from the tip of the conical valve member. 
     
     
         34 . The catheter system of  claim 31 , wherein the deflection surface includes a cone-shaped portion that points away from the tip of the conical valve member. 
     
     
         35 . The catheter system of  claim 31 , wherein the slits are evenly spaced about the circumference of the conical valve member. 
     
     
         36 . The catheter system of  claim 31 , wherein the tip of the conical valve member has a rounded exterior surface. 
     
     
         37 . The catheter system of  claim 31 , further comprising a guidewire insertable through the valve housing into the catheter, wherein the guidewire is directed by the deflection surface through a slit of the flow control element. 
     
     
         38 . The catheter system of  claim 31 , wherein each of the slits has a distal end nearest the tip of the conical flow control element and a proximal end farthest from the tip of the conical flow element, and the deflection surface extends between the distal and proximal ends of the slits. 
     
     
         39 . The catheter system of  claim 31 , wherein each of the slits has a distal end nearest the tip of the conical flow control element, and the deflection surface extends between the tip of the conical flow element and the distal ends of the slits.