Self-sealing check valve

Claim 1

A self-sealing valve comprising: (a) a hollow valve housing formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material, having an open end and a closed end, and further having an inner wall providing a longitudinal passage between said open end and said closed end; (b) said valve housing including a fitting extending transversely from one wall thereof and communicating with the said passage, said fitting capable of accepting a Luer tip device; (c) a valve element formed of resilient material and received within said passage, said element including a circumferential rim at each end thereof which sealingly engages the inner wall of said housing; (d) said valve element further including a channel extending circumferentially thereof and aligned with said fitting; (e) said element being engageable by a Luer tip device in the region of said channel and being moveable thereby inwardly to displace said circumferential rims of said valve element from said inner wall permitting passage of fluid between said valve element and said inner wall; (f) said channel having a depth and width sufficient to allow relatively unimpeded flow of fluid to and from the Luer tip device; and (g) said valve element resuming its normal position by the resiliency thereof when the Luer tip device is removed to cause said valve element to resume sealing engagement with said inner wall.