US Patent 7824393 Medical connector having high flow rate characteristics

A soft grip medical connector can include a housing and a flexible member. The housing has a lumen extending through it from an upstream end to the downstream end. The flexible member includes a valve portion integrally formed with a sleeve portion. The valve portion is positioned within a section of the housing and can control a flow of fluid through the housing lumen. The sleeve can be inverted to envelop some or all of the outer surface of the housing. The sleeve can include a gripping portion integrally formed with the valve portion. The connector can also create a positive pressure in the lumen upon removal of a syringe or other medical device from the upstream end of the connector.