Dilatation devices incorporating enhanced features

An enhanced dilatation device, the enhanced dilatation device comprising:

• a forward rigid elongate member defining a longitudinal axis and having a first junction region, a insertion end, and a shaft region therebetween;
• an elongate member sheath secured to and at least partially enclosing at least a portion of an exterior of the shaft region, the sheath having a first outer surface and a first inflation lumen, the first inflation lumen being transitionable between inflated and deflated configurations, wherein transitioning of the first inflation lumen to its inflated configuration is operative to cause a first inflation portion of the first outer surface to expand away from the exterior of the shaft region, and wherein transitioning of the first inflation lumen to its deflated configuration is operative to cause the inflation portion of the first outer surface to retract towards the exterior of the shaft region;
• a rear rigid arcuate member having a second junction region, an expansion region, and an arcuate region therebetween;
• the expansion region having a second outer surface and a second inflation lumen, the second inflation lumen being transitionable between inflated and deflated configurations, wherein transitioning of the second inflation lumen to its inflated configuration is operative to cause a second inflation portion of the second outer surface to expand away from the exterior of the expansion region, and wherein transitioning of the second inflation lumen to its deflated configuration is operative to cause the second inflation portion of the second outer surface to retract towards the exterior of the expansion region;
• an actuator operative to linearly extend and retract at least the insertion end of the forward rigid elongate member along the longitudinal axis independent of the remainder of the enhanced dilatation device;
• at least one reservoir operative to contain inflation fluid;
• a first conduit and a second conduit, each of the first and second conduits defining a respective first and second inflation fluid pathway between one of the at least one reservoir and a respective one of the first and second inflation lumens;
• at least one pump associated with the first and second inflation fluid path ways, each pump being operative to regulate the flow of inflation fluid between at least one of the at least one reservoir and at least one of the first and second inflation lumens, a net flow of inflation fluid from a reservoir into an inflation lumens being associated with the transition of that inflation lumen to its inflated configuration, and a net flow of inflation fluid from an inflation lumen into a reservoir being associated with the transition of the inflation lumen to its deflated configuration;
• and
• one or more control units operative to control the operation of the at least one pump and the operation of the actuator;
• and
• wherein the rear rigid arcuate member is connected to the forward rigid elongate member at a junction interface of the first and second junction regions.