BIOLOGICAL NAVIGATION DEVICE

1 . A device for navigation through biological anatomy comprising:

a pressurizable tube comprising a foldable sheet comprising a substrate integrated with reinforcement fibers, wherein the tube is configured to be pressurizably advanced, and wherein the tube has a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, and wherein the tube has a cross-sectional diameter; and

a tube channel in the tube, wherein the tube channel is configured to receive an elongated element.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the tube is configured to contain a fluid pressure of at least about 6 psi.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the reinforcement fibers comprise a unidirectional fiber array.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sheet has a first coefficient of friction on the side of the sheet facing the biological lumen, and wherein the first coefficient of friction is equal to or greater than about 0.1 and equal to or less than about 0.6.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the tube has a first configuration wherein the tube has a fold, and wherein a first length of tube entering the fold and wherein a second length of tube exiting the fold are substantially parallel with the long axis of the tube.

6 . The device of claim 1 , the tube can have a radial stiffness equal to or lower than a 0.05% change in diameter per psi.

7 . A device for navigation through biological anatomy comprising:

a pressurizable tube comprising a foldable sheet, wherein the tube is configured to contain at least about 6 psi, and wherein the tube has a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end and wherein the tube has a cross-sectional diameter;

a head attached to the tube; and

a head channel within the head, wherein the head channel is configured to receive an elongated element.

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the tube is configured to contain at least about 7 psi.

9 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the sheet comprises a substrate and reinforcement fibers.

10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein at least some of the reinforcement fibers comprise a unidirectional fiber array.

11 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the device is configured for the head to be pressurizably advanced.

12 . A device for navigation through a biological anatomy comprising:

an inflatable tube having a first configuration and a second configuration; and

a head attached to a distal end of the tube, the head having a head channel therethrough;

wherein a length of the tube in the first configuration is in a compressed configuration in the head, wherein the head is removably attachable to an elongated element in the head channel.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the compressed configuration comprises the tube in a folded configuration in the head, wherein the folded configuration has at least two folds, and wherein the length between the folds are intra-fold lengths.

14 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the compressed configuration comprises the tube in a bunched configuration in the head.

15 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the head comprises an articulating section, and wherein the tube is attached to the head at an attachment location, and wherein the attachment location is distal to the articulating section.

16 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the tube is substantially entirely outside of the elongated element.

17 . A method of navigation through a biological anatomy comprising:

attaching a tube to an elongated element, wherein the tube is attached to a head at the distal end of the tube, and wherein the tube attaches to the elongated element via the head;

inserting the tube into the biological anatomy; and

inflating the tube, wherein inflating the tube causes the tube and the elongated element to move through the biological anatomy, wherein inflating comprises inflating the tube with at least about 6 psi of pressure.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising withdrawing the tube from the biological anatomy, wherein withdrawing the tube comprises applying a tensile load to the tube to withdraw the tube from the biological anatomy.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the tube circumferentially surrounds a length of the elongated element.

20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising a base attached to a proximal end of the tube.

21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the tube seals to the outer circumference of the head.

22 . A device for navigation through a biological anatomy comprising:

an inflatable tube having a first configuration and a second configuration, and wherein the tube has a proximal end and a distal end; and

a head attached to the tube, wherein a first length of the tube is stored in a compressed configuration in the head when the tube is in the first configuration;

wherein the tube has a tapered configuration.

23 . The device of claim 22 , wherein the first length of the tube is folded when the tube is in the first configuration.

24 . A device for navigation through a biological anatomy comprising:

an inflatable tube having a first configuration and a second configuration, and wherein the tube has a proximal end and a distal end;

a head attached to the tube, wherein a first length of the tube is stored in a compressed configuration in the head when the tube is in the first configuration;

wherein the tube is attached to an elongated articulating element, and wherein the elongated articulating element comprises an articulation section.

25 . The device of claim 24 , wherein the articulating section is distal to the distal end of the tube.

26 . The device of claim 24 , wherein the articulation section is proximal to the distal end of the tube.

27 . A device for navigation through biological anatomy comprising:

a pressurizable tube comprising a foldable sheet comprising a substrate integrated with reinforcement fibers and an elongated reinforcing component fixed to the substrate; and

a tube channel in the tube, wherein the tube channel is configured to receive an elongated element.