Patent ID: 7666178

Claim:
A receiving member provided in a flexible tube having a lumen therethrough, the lumen defining an inner surface of the flexible tube, the receiving member comprising: a base comprising a first end formed to include an opening therethrough defined by a perimeter, the first end including a plurality of flexible fingers which extend a distance therefrom, the perimeter of the opening positioned radially inward relative to the plurality of flexible fingers, the base including an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface of the base positioned against the inner surface of the lumen of the flexible tube such that the flexible fingers are positioned adjacent an end of the flexible tube, the receiving member configured to couple a distal end of a connector between the plurality of flexible fingers and at least adjacent the opening in the base such that the plurality of flexible fingers move radially outward against the inner surface of the flexible tube while the inner surface of the plurality of flexible fingers flexibly holds and releaseably couples such a connector to the receiving member wherein none of the plurality of flexible fingers includes a convexity or a concavity on a surface thereof which, if present, could be positioned against a portion of a connector having a corresponding concavity or convexity to hold such a portion of a connector within the flexible fingers, and wherein the receiving member includes a skeleton, and wherein a shell covers at least a portion of the skeleton.