Patent ID: 8679053

Claim:
A cannula configured to be inserted into a hollow body, the cannula comprising: at least one cannula body having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the at least one lumen having a diameter, the cannula body comprising a plurality of flexible filaments that allow the diameter of the at least one lumen to be varied, wherein the distal end comprises a removable or eccentrically located tip, the plurality of flexible filaments are arranged using at least one arrangement and divide the cannula body into a plurality of segments, each segment in the plurality of segments having a distinct arrangement of flexible filaments; and at least one mechanism that, upon actuation, serves to alter the conformation of the cannula between a normal profile conformation and a low profile conformation; wherein the diameter of the at least one lumen distal to the point of insertion is expandable up to at least one of approximately an internal diameter of the hollow body, a surrounding environment and to a maximum diameter of the at least one lumen; the normal profile conformation is characterized by the cannula having a lumen diameter at the point of insertion which is smaller than the lumen diameter both proximal and distal to the point of insertion; and the low profile conformation is characterized by the cannula having a lumen diameter at the point of insertion that is greater than the lumen diameter distal to the point of insertion.