Importance

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Abstract

A medical device which presents the backflow of fluid therethrough is particularly useful as a bloodless catheter assembly, that is, prevents the backflow of blood through the catheter by utilization of a self-closing valve carried in a hollow catheter housing to one end of which a catheter is fixed so as to provide a fluid passage through the catheter and catheter housing. The fluid passage in the catheter housing is sealed by a self-sealing valve element extending transversely across the passage upstream from the catheter. A hollow needle is held in the catheter housing downstream of and pointed at the valve element. Attachment of a fluid dispensing medical appliance to the other catheter housing end forces the valve element downstream onto the needle so as to pierce the valve element and open a fluid passage from the catheter housing upstream of the valve element through the hollow needle to the catheter. Removal of the medical appliance permits the resiliently biased valve element to move upstream away from the needle, thereby resealing and thus reclosing the fluid passage which extends through the hollow needle.

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First Claim