and priming the balloon catheter with a balloon protector in place about the balloon application_number US 32368689 A description a balloon catheter 10 is shown in fig1 the catheter has a proximal end 12 and a distal end 14 at the distal end 14 is an inflatable balloon 16 at the proximal end 12 is an inflation manifold 18 the inflatable balloon 16 is encased by a balloon protector 20 the balloon protector 20 is normally applied to distal end 14 of catheter 10 during the manufacturing process and remains in place during shipping and storage to prevent damage to the balloon 16 balloon protector 20 is also used in the method of the present invention the balloon catheter 10 must be tested prior to use in a preferred embodiment of the present invention a 20 cc syringe 22 in fig2 is filled with 2 3 cc of an inflation solution of 50 contrast medium and 50 saline the syringe 22 has a nozzle 24 and a plunger 26 the balloon protector 20 is left in place over balloon 16 the syringe 22 is attached to the inflation manifold 18 the syringe 22 is held with the nozzle 24 pointing downward a vacuum is then applied to the catheter 10 by pulling the syringe plunger 26 and holding it for at least 20 seconds this allows any air in the catheter 10 to be drawn into the syringe 22 the plunger 26 is then slowly released this allows the expelled air to be replaced with the inflation solution the syringe 22 can then be removed from the catheter 10 it is then verified that there is a meniscus of the inflation solution in the inflation manifold 18 an inflation device 28 in fig3 is then.