Luer-activated valves

Abstract

Luer activated valves are disclosed herein that are capable of being integrated into different types of medical devices, such as, IV catheters, sheath introducers, tear-away sheaths, etc. for the purpose of regulating the passage of fluids and/or devices into and out of such devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly comprising:
 a hub having a proximal opening, a distal opening and an internal cavity disposed between the proximal and distal openings, the cavity defined by one or more sidewalls and a bottom wall of the hub, the distal opening extending through the bottom wall:   a catheter tube secured to a distal end of the hub and having an inner lumen in fluid communication with the distal opening of the hub;   a valve located inside the hub, the valve including a proximal flange, a distal flange and a tubular part extending between the proximal and distal flanges, the valve being configured to assume an open position and closed position, the valve being made of a resilient material and constructed such that the valve is continuously urged toward the closed position, in the open position fluid flow is permitted through an opening that extends through the proximal and distal flanges and the tubular part, in the closed position fluid flow is impeded through the opening, the valve being constructed such that when a distally applied force is applied to a proximal face of the proximal flange the valve transitions from the closed position to the open position and subsequently returns to the closed position when the distally applied force is removed.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a distal face of the distal flange abuts the bottom wall of the hub. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the distal flange includes an opening that communicates the tubular part of the valve with the catheter tube when the valve is in the open position and in the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the proximal face of the proximal flange is arranged at a first angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the hub when the valve is in the open position and is arranged at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hub when the valve is in the closed position, the first angle being greater than the second angle. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal flange has a circumferential surface that presses against the one or more sidewalls of the hub to hold the valve securely inside the cavity of the hub. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal flange has a circumferential surface that presses against the one or more sidewalls of the hub to hold the valve securely inside the cavity of the hub without the use of an adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the proximal flange has a first diameter when the valve is in the open position and a second diameter when the valve is in the closed position, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular part of the valve has walls that press against one another to impede fluid flow through the tubular part when the valve is in the closed position and the walls do not press against one another to permit fluid flow through the tubular part when the valve is in the open position. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly comprising:
 a hub having a proximal opening, a distal opening and an internal cavity disposed between the proximal and distal openings, the cavity defined by one or more sidewalls and a bottom wall of the hub, the distal opening extending through the bottom wall:   a catheter tube secured to a distal end of the hub and having an inner lumen in fluid communication with the distal opening of the hub;   an introducer needle residing in the catheter tube and having an outer wall and a distal tip, the distal tip extending distally from a distal end of the catheter tube,   a valve disposed about the introducer needle inside the hub, the valve including a proximal flange, a distal flange and a tubular part extending between the proximal and distal flanges, the valve being configured to assume an open position and a closed position, in the open position a through passage is provided that extends through the proximal and distal flanges and the tubular part, in the closed position the through passage is closed, the valve being made of a resilient material and constructed such that the valve is continuously urged toward the closed position, when the introducer needle resides inside the catheter tube the outer wall of the introducer needle causes the valve to assume the open position, when the introducer needle is removed from the catheter tube the valve assumes the closed position, when the valve is in the closed position the valve is constructed such that when a distally applied force is applied to a proximal face of the proximal flange the valve transitions from the closed position to the open position and subsequently returns to the closed position when the distally applied force is removed.