Multistage expandable loading dilator

1 . A system for providing a passageway into a body opening, comprising:

a tubular member including an inner lumen extending through the tubular member; and

a loading dilator including a first portion, a second portion, and a main lumen extending through the first portion and the second portion,

wherein the first portion of the loading dilator is configured to transition between a relaxed state with a smaller diameter and a plurality of expanded states with a plurality of varying larger diameters,

wherein the inner lumen of the tubular member is configured to slidably receive the loading dilator when the first portion of the loading dilator is the relaxed state,

wherein at least a portion of the tubular member and the loading dilator form a snug engagement therebetween when the first portion of the loading dilator is in one of the plurality of expanded states, and

wherein the first portion of the loading dilator has a first length, the tubular member has a second length, and the first length is greater than the second length.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the loading dilator is not expandable.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a support member configured to extend through at least a portion of the main lumen of the loading dilator to transition the first portion of the loading dilator from the relaxed state to the plurality of expanded states.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the tubular member, the loading dilator, and the support member are configured to extend co-axially with the tubular member extending over at least a portion of the loading dilator and the loading dilator extending over at least a portion of the support member.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the loading dilator is configured to transition back towards the relaxed state when the support member is removed from the main lumen of the loading dilator.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the loading dilator includes a plurality of slits extending along a length of the first portion, wherein a distal end of the tubular member is positioned proximally of distal ends of the plurality of slits and a proximal end of the tubular member is positioned distally of a first proximal end of the first portion of the loading dilator.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the loading dilator includes a first proximal end, a first distal end, and a first outer surface extending between the first proximal end and the first distal end,

wherein the first outer surface includes a plurality of slits extending along a length of the first portion from the first proximal end to a distal end of the plurality of slits, and

wherein the distal end of the plurality of slits is proximal of the first distal end of the first portion.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the first outer surface includes a plurality of leaves that are at least partially spaced apart by the plurality of slits, and wherein the plurality of leaves are configured to expand radially outwardly when the plurality of slits are stretched apart.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the tubular member includes a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and

wherein when a portion of the tubular member and the loading dilator form a snug engagement therebetween, the distal end of the tubular member is positioned proximally of the distal end of the plurality of slits and the proximal end of the tubular member is positioned distally of the first proximal end of the first portion of the loading dilator.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein when a portion of the tubular member and the loading dilator form a snug engagement therebetween, the distal end of the tubular member contacts the first outer surface of the first portion of the loading dilator and forms a smooth transition therebetween.

11 . A method of positioning a tubular member across a body opening, comprising:

inserting a loading dilator through an inner lumen of the tubular member, the loading dilator including a first portion, a second portion, and a main lumen extending through the first portion and the second portion, wherein the first portion of the loading dilator includes a plurality of slits extending along at least a portion of a length of the first portion;

inserting a support member into the main lumen of the loading dilator until at least a part of the first portion of the loading dilator is expanded into a snug engagement with an inner surface of the tubular member, such that a distal end of the tubular member is positioned proximally of distal ends of the plurality of slits and a proximal end of the tubular member is positioned distally of a first proximal end of the first portion of the loading dilator;

introducing a distal end of the second portion of the loading dilator into the opening;

advancing the tubular member, the loading dilator, and the support member as a unit into the opening until the tubular member is properly positioned; and

removing the loading dilator and the support member from the tubular member.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein removing the loading dilator and the support member from the tubular member further comprises:

retracting proximally the support member away from the loading dilator to collapse the loading dilator such that the tubular member is disengaged from the loading dilator; and

retracting proximally the loading dilator away from the tubular member.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the loading dilator includes a plurality of leaves that are at least partially spaced apart by the plurality of slits, and wherein inserting the support member into the main lumen of the loading dilator further comprises at least partially stretching apart the plurality of slits and expanding the plurality of leaves into a snug engagement with the inner surface of the tubular member.