Valved Catheters Including High Flow Rate Catheters

Abstract

A pressure activated two-way slit valve assembly is designed to be used in combination with, but not limited to, a high flow rate catheter to prevent accidental ingestion of air or loss of blood if the closure cap comes off during non-use of the catheter. In addition, the potential for occlusion of the catheter due to blood clots in the catheter and catheter related infection is substantially reduced. The pressure activated two-way slit valve assembly includes a first end, a second end, a wall defining a dumbbell shaped channel, and a flexible, thin disk having a slit and positioned within the pressure activated two-way slit valve assembly to reside within the dumbbell shaped channel. The slit and the dumbbell shaped channel are sized to enable the slit to deform in response to a predetermined pressure differential across the slit to allow fluid to pass therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A catheter for fluid access to a site within a human body, the catheter comprising:
 a conduit in fluid communication with a valve, the valve comprising:
 a valve housing forming a valve lumen, a flexible membrane disposed across the valve lumen, and a slit extending through the flexible membrane; 
 wherein the slit comprises a first end portion, an intermediate portion, and a second end portion, the intermediate portion configured between the first end portion and the second end portion to form a continuous slit, 
 wherein the intermediate portion is substantially linear and lies along an intermediate axis, the first end portion lies along a first axis, and the second end portion lies along a second axis, and 
 wherein the first and second axis are nonparallel to the intermediate axis. 
   
     
     
         32 . The catheter of  claim 31 , wherein the first and second axis are substantially linear. 
     
     
         33 . The catheter of  claim 32 , wherein the first and second axis are substantially perpendicular to the intermediate axis. 
     
     
         34 . The catheter of  claim 33 , wherein the slit forms a substantially H-shaped slit.