Intravenous injection site having wipeable septum and valve structure

A medical intravenous injection site comprising a rigid housing having, an elastomeric septum and an elastomeric valve element mounted therein, said medical intravenous injection site being adapted to receive a blunt cannula inserted through said septum;

• wherein said rigid housing has a first, injection end and a second, patient end, and is configured so as to have an internally disposed annular valve seat formed therein;
• said rigid housing having a first opening at said injection end thereof, a second opening at said patient end thereof, a first passageway extending between said first opening and said annular valve seat, and a second passageway extending between said annular valve seat and said second end, said first and second passageways connecting said first and second ends of said rigid housing in fluid communication one with the other;
• wherein said elastomeric septum and said elastomeric valve element comprise a single, one-piece elastomeric septum and valve combination element having a septum portion, a valve portion, and at least one strap portion extending therebetween;
• wherein said septum portion is positioned at said injection end of said rigid housing so as to cover said first opening, and so as to present a wipeable septum surface at the exterior of said injection end;
• wherein said patient end of said rigid housing is configured as a socket so as to connect to an end of an intravenous tube;
• wherein said septum portion has at least one elongate slit formed therein through its thickness, and said elastomeric septum portion is deformable so as to permit a blunt cannula to pass through said slit and into said first passageway;
• wherein said valve portion has an upper face which faces towards said septum portion, a valve seating face which co-operates with said annular valve seat so as to form a closeable valve when said valve seating face and said annular valve seat are in contact with each other, and a lower surface opposed to said upper face and said valve seating face;
• wherein the length of said at least one elastomeric strap portion is such as to urge said valve seating face into contact with said annular valve seat when said strap portion is at rest and is not distended beyond its rest position;
• and
• wherein said at least one strap portion is distendable so that said valve portion may be moved away from said annular valve seat towards said second end when a blunt cannula contacts said upper face of said valve portion and is advanced thereagainst so as to distend said at least one strap portion, whereby said closeable valve is opened so as to permit fluid flow therepast in either direction between said first passageway and said second passageway.