Patent ID: 8105311

Claim:
A catheter comprising: a catheter shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end including a bending section extending distally from the proximal end toward but not to the distal end of the catheter shaft, the bending section distal end terminating proximal the distal end of the catheter shaft and comprising one or more spiral cuts in the catheter shaft, the bending section having a flexibility greater than the flexibility of the portion of the catheter shaft adjacent the bending section; a balloon secured to the distal end of the catheter shaft, a proximal end of the balloon being spaced apart distally from the distal end of the bending section, the flexibility of the catheter shaft adjacent the balloon being lesser than the flexibility of the catheter shaft at the bending section; a fitting secured to the proximal end of the catheter shaft, the fitting including a passageway in fluid communication with the catheter shaft and receiving at least a portion of the bending section of the catheter shaft, including at least a portion of the one or more spiral cuts; and a fluid impermeable covering extending from the bending section toward but not to the distal end of the catheter shaft to seal the bending section.