Disclosed herein are elongate flexible medical devices which are capable
of axial elongation through the mechanism of eversion or toposcopic
expansion. In general, this may be accomplished by providing a flexible
tubular device having a proximal end and a distal end. Retraction of the
distal end in a proximal direction through the tubular body inverts the
tube upon itself, causing an axial shortening of the overall length of
the device. The original length of the device can be restored by coupling
a pressurized media to the proximal end of the sleeve. If the distal end
of the sleeve is temporarily restricted or closed, the pressurized media
causes the distal end of the sleeve to travel distally until the full
length of the sleeve has been restored.