Expandable port for accessing a bodily opening

1. A medical device for forming a pathway between an external orifice to a bodily opening defined by tissue of an internal bodily lumen, the medical device comprising:

a flexible sheath having a length suitable for forming the pathway along a longitudinal axis;

an expandable member connected to a distal portion of the sheath, the expandable member operable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;

the expandable member including a plurality of longitudinally extending struts and a collapsible frame, the plurality of struts being circumferentially spaced apart in an annular configuration and connected to the frame, the plurality of struts moving radially and circumferentially relative to one another between the collapsed and expanded configurations;

an elongated accessory tube defining an accessory lumen, a distal end of the accessory tube attached to the expandable member, one of the plurality of struts including a first connection ringlet and a second connection ringlet receiving the accessory tube, the second connection ringlet longitudinally spaced from the first connection ringlet.

2. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein each strut is pivotally attached to the frame.

3. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein each strut has distal and proximal ends that flare radially outwardly.

4. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein each strut has a length equal to or greater than about 3 mm.

5. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes one or more frame members forming a serpentine shape, and wherein the plurality of struts are attached to spaced apart apexes of the serpentine shape.

6. The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of exterior wires connected to the plurality of struts and extending longitudinally along the exterior thereof for engaging the tissue of the bodily opening.

7. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the accessory tube is sized in the range of 3 French to 40 French.

8. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the accessory tube is connected to a strut.

9. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the sheath is connected to the expandable member at a radial position located outside of the accessory tube, and wherein the accessory tube passes through an opening in the sheath and extends along the exterior of the sheath.

10. The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising a suture connected to the plurality struts in a manner that proximal retraction of the suture relative to the plurality of struts causes the expandable member to take its collapsed configuration.

11. The medical device of claim 10 , wherein the struts include a transverse bore formed therein and sized to receive the suture.

12. The medical device of claim 11 , wherein the suture is fixedly connected to at least one of the plurality of struts and slidably connected to the remainder of the struts.

13. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of struts define a port in the expanded configuration, the port sized to receive an endoscope therethrough.

14. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the sheath is collapsible over a substantial portion of its length and operable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.

15. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the sheath extends longitudinally over a proximal end of the expandable member and is attached to a distal portion of the expandable member.

16. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the connection ringlets define a central axis that extends longitudinally.

17. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the accessory tube extends entirely through the sheath from a proximal end to a distal end of the sheath.

18. A method for accessing a bodily opening defined by tissue of an internal bodily lumen via an external orifice, the method comprising:

providing a medical device comprising a flexible sheath, an accessory tube, and an expandable member connected to a distal portion of the sheath, the expandable member operable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the expandable member including a plurality of longitudinally extending struts and a wire frame, the plurality of struts being circumferentially spaced apart in an annular configuration and connected to the wire frame, the plurality of struts moving radially and circumferentially relative to one another between the collapsed and expanded configurations, the accessory tube defining an accessory lumen, a distal end of the accessory tube attached to the expandable member, one of the plurality of struts including a first connection ringlet and a second connection ringlet receiving the accessory tube, the second connection ringlet longitudinally spaced from the first connection ringlet, the accessory tube extending entirely through the sheath from a proximal end to the distal end of the sheath;

delivering the distal end of the sheath and the expandable member within the bodily opening while the expandable member is in its collapsed configuration;

operating the expandable member to its expanded configuration such that the plurality of struts form a port within the interior of the bodily opening in the bodily wall; and

passing a first instrument though the port formed by the expandable member and passing a second instrument through the accessory lumen.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising the step of performing a surgical procedure using both the first and second instruments.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising retracting a suture connected to the plurality of struts in a manner that proximal retraction of the suture relative to the plurality of struts causes the expandable member to take its collapsed configuration and maintaining tension on the suture during delivery, and then releasing tension to operate the expandable member to its expanded configuration.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising the step of proximally retracting the suture to collapse the expandable member, and further comprising the step of proximally withdrawing the medical device.