Medical valve with fluid escape space

Abstract

A medical valve has a body and a flexible element. The body includes a wall structure defining an internal cavity having an inside and an outside. The body also has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end has an opening sufficiently large to receive a tip of a delivery end of a medical implement which transfers fluid through the delivery end. The body has a fluid escape space in its wall structure. The flexible element is adapted to be moved into a compressed state upon insertion of the tip of the medical implement into the opening. The flexible element is sufficiently resilient to return to a decompressed state upon removal of the tip of the medical implement from the opening. The fluid escape space is in fluid communication with the outside of the cavity when the seal is in its compressed state.

The following is claimed:  
     
         1 . A medical valve for controlling the flow of fluid between a first medical implement and a second medical implement, said valve comprising: 
 a body comprising an opening adapted to receive the first medical implement, and a wall structure defining an internal cavity adapted for fluid communication with the second medical implement, said cavity comprising a neck portion in fluid communication with said opening and a main portion with a larger internal diameter than the neck portion;    a flexible element positioned in said cavity movable between an uncompressed position in which a portion of the flexible element bears against the wall structure near said opening and obstructs fluid flow through said valve and a compressed position in which fluid flow is permitted through said valve, said flexible element comprising a wall with an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall flexing to accommodate axial compression of said flexible element, said flexible element comprising an end fitting against a ring-shaped support to assist in securing said flexible element in said cavity, said flexible element in said uncompressed position comprising a first external diameter near said opening, a second external diameter in said neck portion and a third external diameter in said main portion, said second diameter being smaller than said first diameter and said third diameter, and at least a portion of the outer surface of the wall of the flexible element between the second diameter and the third diameter being tapered; and    a fluid escape space in the wall structure of the body for relieving fluid from a space between the flexible element and the body in the cavity.    
     
     
         2 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid escape space comprises at least one groove.  
     
     
         3 . The valve of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid escape space terminates at an end of the body adapted to receive the first medical implement.  
     
     
         4 . The valve of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid escape space terminates at a location on the outer surface of the body between an end adapted to receive the first medical implement and an opposite end adapted to receive the second medical implement.  
     
     
         5 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein an end of the flexible element near the opening of the body in its uncompressed position is substantially flat.  
     
     
         6 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible element in the uncompressed position has an end substantially flush with the opening of said cavity of said body.  
     
     
         7 . The valve of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a rigid member positioned within the flexible element to assist in supporting the flexible element and to assist in maintaining the flexible element along an axial centerline of the cavity when the flexible element moves between the uncompressed position and the compressed position.    
     
     
         8 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible element substantially completely fills the opening in its uncompressed position.  
     
     
         9 . A medical valve for controlling the flow of fluid between a first medical implement and a second medical implement, the valve comprising: 
 a body comprising an opening adapted to receive the first medical implement, and a wall structure defining an internal cavity adapted for fluid communication with the second medical implement, the cavity comprising a neck portion in fluid communication with the opening and a main portion with a larger internal diameter than the neck portion;    a flexible element positioned in the cavity movable between an uncompressed position in which a portion of the flexible element bears against the wall structure near the opening and obstructs fluid flow through the valve and a compressed position in which fluid flow is permitted through the valve, the flexible element comprising a wall with an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall flexing to accommodate axial compression of the flexible element, the flexible element in the uncompressed position comprising a first external diameter near the opening, a second external diameter in the neck portion and a third external diameter in the main portion, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter and the third diameter, and at least a portion of the outer surface of the wall of the flexible element between the second diameter and the third diameter being tapered; and    a fluid escape space in the wall structure of the body for relieving fluid from a space between the flexible element and the body in the cavity.    
     
     
         10 . The valve of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid escape space comprises at least one groove.  
     
     
         11 . The valve of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid escape space terminates at an end of the body adapted to receive the first medical implement.  
     
     
         12 . The valve of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid escape space terminates at a location on the outer surface of the body between an end adapted to receive the first medical implement and an opposite end adapted to receive the second medical implement.  
     
     
         13 . The valve of  claim 9 , wherein an end of the flexible element near the opening of the body in its uncompressed position is substantially flat.  
     
     
         14 . The valve of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible element in the uncompressed position has an end substantially flush with the opening of the cavity of the body.  
     
     
         15 . The valve of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a rigid member positioned within the flexible element to assist in supporting the flexible element and to assist in maintaining the flexible element along an axial centerline of the cavity when the flexible element moves between the uncompressed position and the compressed position.    
     
     
         16 . The valve of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible element substantially completely fills the opening in its uncompressed position.  
     
     
         17 . A medical valve for controlling the flow of fluid between a first medical implement and a second medical implement, the valve comprising: 
 a body comprising an opening adapted to receive the first medical implement, and a wall structure defining an internal cavity adapted for fluid communication with the second medical implement, the cavity comprising a neck portion in fluid communication with the opening and a main portion with a larger internal diameter than the neck portion;    a flexible element positioned in the cavity movable between an uncompressed position in which a portion of the flexible element bears against the wall structure near the opening and obstructs fluid flow through the valve and a compressed position in which fluid flow is permitted through the valve, the flexible element comprising a wall with an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall flexing to accommodate axial compression of the flexible element, the flexible element in the uncompressed position comprising a first cross-section near the opening having a first internal diameter and a first external diameter, a second cross-section in the neck portion having a second internal diameter and a second external diameter and a third cross-section in the main portion having a third internal diameter and a third external diameter, the second external diameter being smaller than the first external diameter and the third external diameter, and the third internal diameter being greater than the second internal diameter and the second internal diameter being greater than the first internal diameter; and    a fluid escape space in the wall structure of the body for relieving fluid from a space between the flexible element and the body in the cavity.    
     
     
         18 . The valve of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid escape space comprises at least one groove.  
     
     
         19 . The valve of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid escape space terminates at an end of the body adapted to receive the first medical implement. 
 The valve of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid escape space terminates at a location on the outer surface of the body between an end adapted to receive the first medical implement and an opposite end adapted to receive the second medical implement.    
     
     
         20 . The valve of  claim 17 , wherein the inner surface in the uncompressed position has a taper between the first cross-section and the second cross-section that is different than a taper between the second cross-section and the third cross-section.  
     
     
         21 . The valve of  claim 17 , wherein an end of the flexible element near the opening of the body in its uncompressed position is substantially flat.  
     
     
         22 . The valve of  claim 17 , wherein the flexible element in the uncompressed position has an end substantially flush with the opening of the cavity of the body.  
     
     
         23 . The valve of  claim 17 , wherein the flexible element substantially completely fills the opening in its uncompressed position.