A bidirectional introducer includes a dilator having a distal end portion that includes at first section having a distal first section end, a second softer section having a proximal second section end and a distal second section end and a third reinforced section having a proximal third section end, wherein a) the distal first section end is coupled to the proximal second section end and the distal second section end is coupled to the proximal third section end and b) i) at least a portion of the first section is characterized by a first rigidity and at least a portion of the second softer section is characterized by a second rigidity that is lower than the first rigidity, and ii) at least a portion of the third reinforced section is characterized by a third rigidity that is higher than both the first rigidity and the second rigidity.
