Valve body, process for producing the valve body, and medical instrument including the valve body

A process for producing a valve body comprising an opening/closing part which opens upon inserting a member into the opening/closing part and which closes upon withdrawing the member from the opening/closing part, the process comprising:

• forming a surface layer comprised of silicon oxide at least in a region that includes the opening/closing part;
• wherein the surface layer is comprised of silicon oxide formed on a surface of a base material, the base material comprising a silicone rubber;
• wherein the surface layer is formed by forming a layer of silicon oxide at least in a region of a surface of the opening/closing part;
• and
• wherein the forming of the surface layer of silicon oxide comprises irradiating at least a region of a surface of the opening/closing part with a laser beam.

A process for producing a valve body comprising an opening/closing part which opens upon inserting a member into the opening/closing part and which closes upon withdrawing the member from the opening/closing part, the process comprising:

• forming a surface layer comprised of silicon oxide at least in a region that includes the opening/closing part;
• wherein the surface layer is comprised of silicon oxide formed on a surface of a base material, the base material comprising a silicone rubber;
• and
• wherein the surface layer is formed by forming a silicon layer at least in a region on a surface of the opening/closing part, and thereafter subjecting the silicon layer to an oxidizing treatment so as to modify silicon into silicon oxide.