Importance

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Abstract

Valve construction for use with an introducer assembly having a tubular member with a valve housing at one end thereof for receiving the valve construction to permit a medical instrument to be introduced therethrough. The valve construction is comprised of a body formed of an elastic material. The body has a cylindrical wall with an axially-extending bore. The body is provided with a first planar wall formed integral with the cylindrical wall and extending across the first end of the bore. The first wall has a centrally-disposed opening therein aligned with the bore. The body is also provided with a second wall formed integral with the cylindrical wall and extending across the second end of the bore. The second wall has a slit therein extending diametrically of the bore to provide first and second leaflets. The bore, the hole in the first planar wall and the slit in the second wall permitting a medical instrument to be introduced therethrough and through the tubular member with at least one seal being formed between the valve construction and the medical instrument. The second wall has inner and outer surfaces which are inclined outwardly from a plane extending perpendicular to the axis of the bore to avoid prolapse of the leaflets during removal of the instrument from the valve construction.

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First Claim