Patent ID: 7947016

Claim:
A catheter device comprising: an elongate tubular shaft having a consistent metallic material composition for substantially all of its length, said elongate tubular shaft comprising a first lumen extending through at least a portion of the tubular shaft; a proximal shaft portion having a first flexibility; and a distal shaft portion having a second flexibility; wherein the second flexibility is greater than the first flexibility and wherein at least the distal shaft portion comprises at least one score in a surface thereof, and a distal end region; an inflation balloon disposed upon the distal end region of the scored shaft wherein a portion of the distal end region extends into and terminates within a lumen of the inflation balloon, thereby providing fluid communication between the first lumen and the balloon lumen; and a wire guide tube wholly external to the shaft and disposed substantially parallel to the first lumen along the shaft distal end region, where the wire guide tube extends beyond a distal shaft end lengthwise through the balloon lumen, providing a patent path of mechanical communication therethrough, and a lumen of the wire guide tube is open through a distal balloon end; and wherein an attachment of the wire guide tube to the shaft comprises a figure-eight-shaped sleeve.