Abstract: The invention includes a dilator comprising a tube and an elastic, unitary sleeve that is slidable both longitudinally and transversely to the cylindrical barrel when disposed on the tube.

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to telescoping stents. The embodiments described herein allow for adequate securement to, accommodation for movement by, and prevention of injury of tubular organs or hollow areas of the body. Certain embodiments relate to telescoping steins with loop interlocking mechanisms. Further embodiments relate to telescoping stents with ball-in-groove interlocking mechanisms.

Abstract: A catheter having a selectively inflatable external balloon and an internal balloon, where the internal balloon is operable as a valve to control fluid flow through a channel.

Abstract: A stent with a one-way sock valve comprises a stent portion and a one-way valve portion. The one-way valve portion comprises a heel portion. The heel portion prevents solids and liquids from entering an opening in the one-way valve portion. Solids and liquids enter the one-way sock valve in a first direction through the stent portion and exit an opening transversely to the longitudinal axis of the stent portion. The sock valve folds, closing the sock valve to any reverse flow in a second direction opposite of the first direction.

Abstract: The invention includes a dilator comprising a tube and an elastic, unitary sleeve that is slidable both longitudinally and transversely to the cylindrical barrel when disposed on the tube.

Abstract: A dilator comprises a guide extending through a tube, and a slidable sleeve exterior to the tube, such that a slit in the tube extending from a first end of the tube to a second end of the tube, opposite of the first end, is closed by a force applied via the slidable sleeve. When closed, the slit does not interfere with the tube being used as a dilator to dilate tissues of a patient through which the guide extends. When opened, the slit allows the tube to be placed onto the guide or removed from the guide.

Abstract: A variably expanding balloon catheter comprises a sequentially stepped outer shell when fully inflated, such as three sequentially increasing steps followed by three sequentially decreasing steps. For example, a balloon catheter comprises a sequentially stepped outer shell, when fully inflated, such that a first section of the outer shell is constrained to a first diameter by the sequentially stepped outer shell, and a second section, adjacent to the first section and attached to the first section by a step transition. The step transition provides a discontinuous change in diameter from the first diameter to the second diameter along a length of the balloon catheter, which may be abrupt.