Dilator for performing a percutaneous medical procedure

1. A dilator for performing a percutaneous medical procedure, said dilator comprising a proximal shaft portion near a proximal end thereof, a curved tapered distal portion with a wall having a preset curved shape and a tapered outer surface extending toward a distal end thereof, and an interior passageway extending completely therethrough, a guidewire thereby being extendable through said interior passageway, said interior passageway defined by said wall having a wall thickness, said wall thickness extending between said interior passageway and said tapered outer surface of said wall, said curved tapered distal portion being adapted to enlarge a stoma by urging the curved tapered distal portion into said stoma, and said preset curved shape being molded from a polymer to retain said preset curved shape, wherein a region of said tapered outer surface of said curved tapered distal portion is provided with a pattern of depressions extending radially into said wall from said region of said tapered outer surface partially toward said interior passageway to a depth of 0.1 to 3 mm, said pattern of depressions reducing a force required to urge said curved tapered distal portion into said stoma.

2. A dilator according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between adjacent depressions is in an interval of 0.1 to 5 mm.

3. A dilator according to claim 1 , wherein the depressions constitute 1-98% of a surface area in said region of said tapered outer surface.

4. A dilator according to claim 1 , wherein said depressions are distributed around the curved tapered distal portion along a substantial portion thereof.

5. A dilator according to claim 4 , wherein said depressions are distributed along about 80% of a length of said curved tapered distal portion.

6. A dilator according to claim 4 , wherein said depressions are distributed along at least about 50% of a length of said curved tapered distal portion.

7. A dilator according to claim 1 , wherein the depressions are distributed in a random pattern.

8. A dilator according to claim 1 , wherein the depressions are distributed in a regular pattern.

9. A dilator according to claim 1 , wherein depressions are formed in the tapered outer surface as indentations, grooves, furrows, dimples, texture or grinding marks.

10. A dilator according to claim 9 , wherein said grooves or furrows are oriented in a direction along the dilator from the proximal end to the distal end.

11. A dilator according to claim 9 , wherein said grooves or furrows are oriented in a circumferential direction of the dilator.

12. A dilator according to claim 9 , wherein said grooves or furrows are oriented along helical paths.

13. A dilator according to claim 1 , wherein said dilator is manufactured from a polymer.

14. A dilator according to claim 1 , wherein said curved tapered distal portion is provided with a hydrophilic coating.

15. A dilator according to claim 1 , said dilator being adapted to be advanced along the guidewire.

16. A dilator for performing a percutaneous medical procedure, comprising:

a member extending from a proximal end to a distal end with a passageway extending completely therethrough defined by a wall, a guidewire thereby being extendable through said passageway and said wall extending between said passageway and a tapered outer surface thereof, the member having a proximal shaft portion and a curved distal portion with said wall having a preset curved shape, said tapered outer surface having a gradual taper in a direction of said distal end, said tapered outer surface being adapted to enlarge a stoma by urging the tapered outer surface into said stoma, and said preset curved shape being molded from a polymer to retain said preset curved shape, wherein a region of said tapered outer surface of said curved distal portion is provided with a pattern of depressions extending radially partially into said wall from said region of said tapered outer surface, said pattern of depressions reducing a force required to urge said tapered outer surface into said stoma.

17. A dilator according to claim 16 , wherein the depressions constitute 1-98% of a surface area in said region of said tapered outer surface.

18. A dilator according to claim 16 , wherein said depressions are formed in the surface as indentations, grooves, furrows, dimples, texture or grinding marks.

19. A dilator according to claim 16 , wherein said depressions extend radially into said wall to a depth of 0.1 to 3 mm.

20. A dilator according to claim 16 , wherein said depressions are distributed along at least about 50% of a length of the curved distal portion.