Patent ID: 7837646

Claim:
A quick connector assembly for connection to a hydrocephalus shunt system, the hydrocephalus shunt system including a valve in a valve housing, a barb element having an external barb, and a catheter, the quick connector assembly comprising: a connector body comprising a main body portion, a fluid passage extending through the main body portion in a linear direction from an entrance opening to an exit opening, the catheter affixable to the main body portion of the connector body at the exit opening; the main body portion comprising an interior defined by an interior wall separated by shoulders into a first section, a second section, and a third section; a resilient holding element comprising a radially inwardly projecting member disposed to resile after passage of the external barb to retain the external barb of the barb element with at least a portion of the barb element in a connected position within the connector body, the holding element further comprising an annular ring, having a split therein, disposed within the second section between the first and third sections of the main body portion of the connector body to substantially circumferentially surround the barb element adjacent the external barb when the barb element is in the connected position; a sealing element disposed within the third section of the main body portion to provide a fluid seal against the barb element in the connected position; and a retaining insert disposed within the first section of the main body portion of the connector body, the retaining insert including a surface transverse to the direction of the fluid passage and facing the annular ring, the annular ring retained within the main body portion by abutment against the facing transverse surface of the retaining insert.