Externally positioned medical dilator

摘要

An expandable medical dilator used for dilating a body opening during or in preparation for the performance of a medical procedure. The dilator comprises an outer wall for positioning against an inner surface of the body opening as the opening is dilated and an inner wall defining an internal lumen for receiving a medical instrument used to perform the medical procedure. The dilator also includes at least one expansion region. In one embodiment, the expansion region extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the dilator. In another embodiment, the expansion region extends from a position along the length of the dilator to the distal end. In either embodiment, the expansion region can include at least one opening or a plurality of spaced perforations.