Scored catheter device

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;
• 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 heat-shrink polymer sleeve.