Patent ID: 8827950

Claim:
A medical device comprising: a catheter shaft having a proximal-most end, a distal end, and a section of the catheter shaft located distal to the proximal-most end of the catheter shaft; a balloon secured to the distal end; a luer fitting capable of being connected to a pressure device and arranged at the proximal-most end of the catheter shaft; the proximal-most end of the catheter shaft including a plurality of balls spaced to provide kink-free bending of the proximal-most end so as to avoid kinking the proximal-most end of the catheter shaft when removing the catheter shaft from packaging or when connecting the pressure device; the section of the catheter shaft located distal to the proximal-most end of the catheter shaft is less flexible than the proximal-most end of the catheter shaft; and a heat shrinkable tube disposed over the plurality of balls; wherein the heat shrinkable tube is connected at a first end to the catheter shaft and at a second end to the luer fitting.