An integral seal system includes a body that defines a central opening, and an asymmetric seal extending into the central opening and including a diaphragm and an annular flange that extends between the body and the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm has a cross-sectional thickness larger than a cross-sectional thickness of the annular flange. A duckbill seal extends distally from a bottom of the body and defines one or more parting lines that separate opposing seal flaps. The diaphragm complements insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the duckbill seal against a surgical tool shaft extended therethrough such that total insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the integral seal system are equalized.

A catheter assembly includes: an inner needle having a blade surface at a distal end; a catheter through which the inner needle is inserted; a catheter hub through which the inner needle is inserted and that is fixed to a proximal end of the catheter; a valve that comprises a pair of inclined portions that are inclined so as to become closer to each other in a distal direction, an end surface located at distal ends of the pair of inclined portions, and a slit formed along a longitudinal direction of the end surface, wherein the valve is located in an internal space of the catheter hub; and an opening member that is located in the internal space, is formed in a tubular shape, has a space inside, is located proximal of the valve in an initial state, and is configured to move in a distal direction to open the valve.

Catheter assemblies and related methods. Each catheter assembly includes a catheter hub enclosing a valve and valve opener in an interior cavity. A side port of the catheter hub has a lumen opening into the interior cavity. The valve has a septum valve body and a tube valve body. When valve opener is pushed into septum valve body flaps deflect to open the valve. Fluid injected into the side port deforms the tube valve body and flows into the interior cavity. An extension can be attached to a catheter assembly and includes an extension hub having a valve and valve opener. A stopper in the extension hub vents air and blocks blood.

A novel hemostasis valve-equipped indwelling needle that is capable of discharging air in an internal flow path includes a cannula to be inserted percutaneously into a blood vessel on a distal end side thereof, a link connector on a proximal end side thereof, an internal flow path extending from the cannula to the link connector, and a hemostatic valve disposed inside the link connector. An air vent passage that allows the internal flow path to communicate with an external space is formed in the link connector further on the cannula side than the hemostatic valve, and a filter that allows gas to pass through but does not allow liquid to pass through is mounted in a compressed state on the air vent passage.

An activator attachment that can be attached to the proximal end of a catheter adapter and can activate a blood control valve within the catheter adapter.

A clip used in a catheter assembly, the clip comprising a first leg and a second leg angularly connected to the first leg, wherein the second leg includes a substantially U-shaped spade configured to engage a needle housing of the catheter assembly to secure the clip to the needle housing.

Blood sample optimization systems and methods are described that reduce or eliminate contaminates in collected blood samples, which in turn reduces or eliminates false positive readings in blood cultures or other testing of collected blood samples. A blood sample optimization system can include a blood sequestration device located between a patient needle and a sample needle. The blood sequestration device can include a sequestration chamber for sequestering an initial, potentially contaminated aliquot of blood, and may further include a sampling channel that bypasses the sequestration chamber to convey likely uncontaminated blood between the patient needle and the sample needle after the initial aliquot of blood is sequestered in the sequestration chamber.

Blood sample optimization systems and methods are described that reduce or eliminate contaminates in collected blood samples, which in turn reduces or eliminates false positive readings in blood cultures or other testing of collected blood samples. A blood sample optimization system can include a blood sequestration device located between a patient needle and a sample needle. The blood sequestration device can include a sequestration chamber for sequestering an initial, potentially contaminated aliquot of blood, and may further include a sampling channel that bypasses the sequestration chamber to convey likely uncontaminated blood between the patient needle and the sample needle after the initial aliquot of blood is sequestered in the sequestration chamber.

A catheter assembly is provided with a catheter, a catheter hub, and a valve body (medical valve) provided in the catheter hub. The valve body includes a hollow main body provided with a distal end surface and a fixing portion for fixing the valve body to the catheter hub. At least a part of an outer peripheral surface and at least a part of an inner peripheral surface of the main body are inclined with respect to a central axis of the valve body. The main body of the valve body includes a distal end slit provided on the distal end surface and a side slit provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body and continuously extending from the distal end slit.

A catheter assembly is provided with a catheter, a catheter hub, and a valve body (medical valve) provided in the catheter hub. The valve body includes a hollow main body provided with a distal end surface and a fixing portion for fixing the valve body to the catheter hub. At least a part of an outer peripheral surface and at least a part of an inner peripheral surface of the main body are inclined with respect to a central axis of the valve body. The main body of the valve body includes a distal end slit provided on the distal end surface and a side slit provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body and continuously extending from the distal end slit.