# US 10,765,852 B2 · Valve body, process for producing the valve body, and medical instrument including the valve body > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,852 B2 - Document ID: US10765852B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/216,245 - Filed: 2016-07-21 - Published: 2016-12-15 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2008-01-18 - Assignees: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hiraku Murayama; Yuuki Yoshifusa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765852B2 ## CPC - A61M 39/06: Haemostasis valves, i.e. gaskets sealing around a needle, catheter or the like, closing on removal thereof - B05D 5/08: to obtain an anti-friction or anti-adhesive surface (rendering particulate materials free-flowing in general, e.g. making them hydrophobic B01J2/30) - A61M 2039/068: {having a seal being made of or coated with a special material} - A61M 2207/10: Device therefor - B05D 2203/30: Other inorganic substrates, e.g. ceramics, silicon - B05D 2601/00: Inorganic fillers - Y10T 29/49405: Valve or choke making - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A valve body, e.g. a valve body adapted to be disposed in a connector to be connected to a catheter, has 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 valve body includes a main body part made of a silicone rubber and a surface layer disposed on a surface of the main body part. This surface layer serves as a sliding surface which, when a guide wire has been inserted into the opening/closing part, slides on the guide wire. The surface layer is constituted mainly of silicon oxide and hence improves the sliding properties of the guide wire. Thus, the valve body is reduced in the resistance of sliding on the guide wire. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 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 so that the silicone rubber in the region is modified into silicon oxide and raised. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process for producing the valve body according to claim 1, wherein the laser beam has a wavelength of not more than 200 nm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process for producing the valve body according to claim 1, wherein the irradiating with the laser beam comprises directing the laser beam through a photomask having a window part of a predetermined shape, the irradiation of the surface layer of silicone rubber with the laser beam modifying the silicone rubber into silicon oxide in the region having a shape corresponding to the predetermined shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The process for producing the valve body according to claim 3, wherein the photomask is comprised of a mesh-shaped member or a punching metal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process for producing the valve body according to claim 1, 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. ### Claim 6 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The process for producing the valve body according to claim 6, wherein the laser beam has a wavelength of not more than 200 nm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The process for producing the valve body according to claim 6, wherein the irradiating with the laser beam comprises directing the laser beam through a photomask having a window part of a predetermined shape, the irradiation of the surface layer of silicone rubber with the laser beam modifying the silicone rubber into silicon oxide in the region having a shape corresponding to the predetermined shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The process for producing the valve body according to claim 8, wherein the photomask is comprised of a mesh-shaped member or a punching metal. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The process for producing the valve body according to claim 10, 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The process for producing the valve body according to claim 11, wherein the laser beam has a wavelength of not more than 200 nm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The process for producing the valve body according to claim 11, wherein the irradiating with the laser beam comprises directing the laser beam through a photomask having a window part of a predetermined shape, the irradiation of the surface layer of silicone rubber with the laser beam modifying the silicone rubber into silicon oxide in the region having a shape corresponding to the predetermined shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The process for producing the valve body according to claim 13, wherein the photomask is comprised of a mesh-shaped member or a punching metal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The process for producing the valve body according to claim 10, 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.