ROTATABLY ACTUATED CONSTRICTING CATHETER VALVE

摘要

An apparatus for a catheter valve which can be used to effect selective closure of a catheter lumen in order to control fluid flow through the catheter lumen once the catheter is inserted into a patient's body. The apparatus has a valve body with a hub which is joined to the catheter, and a rotatable cap which is joined to the hub. An elastomeric sleeve is positioned in an opening through the interior of the valve body. One end of the elastomeric sleeve is joined to the rotatable cap while the other end of the elastomeric sleeve is joined to the hub. When the cap is rotated in one direction to a first position, the circular opening of the sleeve is fully opened. When the cap is rotated in the opposite direction to a second position, the elastomeric sleeve is twisted intermediate the two ends so as to ultimately effect closure of the circular opening. Due to the elastomeric properties of the sleeve, the circular opening through the sleeve tends to be uniformly constricted as the cap is rotated to effect closure.