Features to enhance grip of balloon within airway

A dilation assembly, wherein the dilation assembly comprises:

• (a) a shaft defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft comprises a distal end and a proximal end;
• and
• (b) a dilator coupled with the distal end of the shaft, wherein the dilator comprises:
• (i) a proximal end,
• (ii) a distal end,
• (iii) a center portion positioned between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the center portion is dilatable to have a larger diameter than the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the center portion is configured to dilate from a first configuration to a second configuration,
• (iv) a plurality of working length portions defined by the center portion, wherein the working length portions include a lower coefficient of friction than the gripping features, and
• (v) a plurality of elongate gripping features positioned on the center portion, wherein each of the elongate gripping features is folded under each respective working length portion when the dilator is in the first configuration, wherein a majority of each of the gripping features is configured to be in atraumatic direct contact with a bodily lumen to provide friction between the center portion of the dilator and the bodily lumen when the center portion is in the second configuration, wherein the gripping features are configured to pivot to an exposed position in response to the center portion dilating from the first configuration to the second configuration.

A dilation assembly, wherein the dilation assembly comprises:

• (a) a shaft defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft comprises a distal end and a proximal end;
• and
• (b) a dilator coupled with the distal end of the shaft, wherein the dilator comprises:
• (i) a proximal end,
• (ii) a distal end,
• (iii) a center portion positioned between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the center portion is dilatable to have a larger diameter than the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the center portion is configured to dilate from a first configuration to a second configuration,
• (iv) a plurality of working length portions defined by the center portion, wherein the working length portions include a lubricious coating, and
• (v) a plurality of elongate gripping features positioned on the center portion, wherein each of the gripping features is folded under each respective working length portion when the dilator is in the first configuration, wherein a majority of each of the gripping features is configured to be in atraumatic direct contact with a bodily lumen to provide friction between the center portion of the dilator and the bodily lumen when the center portion is in the second configuration.