Guidewire with integral expandable dilator

Abstract

A dilation apparatus includes a handle assembly, a dilator, a guidewire, and a steering assembly. The dilator is connected to the handle assembly and is configured to transition between an unexpanded state and an expanded state. The guidewire is longitudinally fixed relative to the dilator. The steering assembly is configured to laterally deflect at least a portion of the guidewire relative to the handle assembly. The steering assembly includes an actuator coupled with the handle assembly and a pull wire extending between the actuator and guidewire. A portion of the pull wire is attached to the guidewire. The actuator is configured to move the pull wire relative to the handle assembly in order to laterally deflect the at least a portion of the guidewire.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A dilation apparatus, the dilation apparatus comprising:
 (a) a handle assembly;   (b) an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly;   (c) a dilator coupled with the elongated shaft, wherein the dilator is configured to transition from an unexpanded state to an expanded state; and   (d) a guidewire extending distally from the dilator, wherein the guidewire is longitudinally fixed relative to the dilator, wherein the guidewire comprises:
 (i) a proximal portion defining an axis, and 
 (ii) a distal portion comprising a bent distal end, wherein the bent distal end defines an oblique angle with the axis, 
   wherein the guidewire is directly coupled to the dilator at a fixed location that is distally spaced apart from the elongated shaft assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the bent distal end of the guidewire is resiliently biased toward the oblique angle. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A dilation apparatus, the dilation apparatus comprising:
 (a) a guidewire extending from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the guidewire comprises:
 (i) a coil comprising an exterior surface, wherein the coil defines an interior, and 
 (ii) a core wire extending within the interior of the coil; 
   (b) a connector coupled with the proximal end of the guidewire;   (c) an inflatable dilator configured to transition between an inflated state and a deflated state, wherein the inflatable dilator is longitudinally fixed to the exterior surface of the coil; and   (d) an inflation tube, wherein the inflation tube extends within the interior of the coil, wherein a portion of the inflation tube extends from the interior of the coil toward the exterior surface of the coil encompassed by the inflatable dilator, wherein the inflation tube is in fluid communication with the inflatable dilator.   
     
     
         20 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the inflation tube extends through the connector and terminates into an inflation port. 
     
     
         21 . A dilation apparatus, the dilation apparatus comprising:
 (a) a handle assembly;   (b) a dilator having a distal dilator end and being configured to transition between an unexpanded state and an expanded state, wherein the dilator is expandable along a length of the dilator to the distal dilator end, wherein the dilator is connected to the handle assembly; and   (c) a guidewire having a proximal guidewire end and extending distally from the dilator, wherein the guidewire includes a coil terminating at the proximal guidewire end, wherein the proximal guidewire end is fixed against movement relative to the distal dilator end.   
     
     
         22 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the guidewire has a distal guidewire end, wherein the coil extends from the proximal guidewire end toward the distal guidewire end. 
     
     
         23 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the dilator has a proximal dilator end, wherein the length of the dilator extends from the proximal dilator end to the distal dilator end. 
     
     
         24 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the guidewire includes a bent distal end. 
     
     
         25 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the guidewire comprises:
 a proximal portion defining an axis, and
 (ii) a distal portion presenting the bent distal end, wherein the bent distal end defines an oblique angle with the axis. 
   
     
     
         26 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the bent distal end is resiliently biased. 
     
     
         27 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the bent distal end is resiliently biased toward the oblique angle. 
     
     
         28 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a hollow-elongate shaft extending from the handle assembly to the dilator. 
     
     
         29 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the hollow-elongate shaft defines a first lumen in fluid communication with the dilator in order to transition the dilator from the unexpanded state to the expanded state. 
     
     
         30 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the hollow-elongate shaft defines a second lumen housing an elongated connecting member, wherein the elongated connecting member extends from the handle assembly to a distal end of the guidewire. 
     
     
         31 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the elongated connecting member is attached to a coupling unit. 
     
     
         32 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the elongated connecting member comprises an illumination fiber. 
     
     
         33 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the elongated connecting member comprises a coil, wherein the coil and the coupling unit are configured for use with an IGS navigation system. 
     
     
         34 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the guidewire includes a core wire. 
     
     
         35 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the coil defines an interior, wherein the core wire extends within the interior of the coil. 
     
     
         36 . The dilation apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the dilator comprises an inflatable balloon.