Surgery – Instruments – Tweezers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-11
2001-01-16
Buiz, Michael (Department: 3731)
Surgery
Instruments
Tweezers
C606S205000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174321
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates broadly to ophthalmological instruments. More particularly, this invention relates to instruments used to insert collagen rods into the punctal opening.
2. State of the Art
A variety of eye problems are related to an insufficient volume of tears on the surface of the eyes. The most common is keratoconjunctivitis sicca, also known as dry eyes. Contact lens problems are also often provoked by a lack of tear volume. A common cause for the insufficient tear volume is the drainage of tear fluid through the punctal opening of the nasal lacrimal duct and into the nasal passage, thereby removing the fluid from where it is needed at the eye surface. Furthermore, drainage of tear fluid through the nasal lacrimal duct into the nasal passage is believed to be the cause or associated with several additional problems such as post nasal drip, sinusitis, allergies, headaches, and snoring.
A number of methods for closing the punctal opening have been used to prevent drainage of tears through the nasal lacrimal duct, including suturing, laser sealing, and plugging. However, before any of the above methods are used on a patient, small collagen rods are often implanted into the punctal openings in the eyes of the patient to occlude the nasal lacrimal ducts. The physician treating the patient can then better diagnose the patient. The collagen rod implants slowly dissolve in about a week, giving the physician ample time to verify the potential clinical benefits of more permanent occlusion for a particular patient, and also to evaluate receptivity of the patient to duct occlusion.
The collagen rods intended for occluding the nasal lacrimal ducts are extremely small (approximately 2 mm in length and having a diameter of approximately 0.2 mm). Because of the small size of the collagen rods, a tool is required to insert the rods into the punctal opening. Referring now to prior art
FIG. 1
, the tool of the prior art used to insert collagen rods is typically a straight collagen forceps
10
, the shape and size of a conventional tweezers. The collagen forceps has two arms
12
,
14
resiliently hinged at a proximal portion
16
and terminating distally in two elongate tips
18
,
20
. Each tip has an inner flat surface
22
,
24
which grips the collagen rod. The arms
12
,
14
, which are held by the physician, are relatively narrow and do not provide comfortable and stable finger and thumb grips. Comfortable and stable finger and thumb grips are desirable when working with very small implants close to the eye, as fine manipulation of the elongate tips is required to implant the rods into the punctal openings of the eyes. Additionally, the inner gripping surfaces
22
,
24
are inadequate for gripping cylindrical collagen rods as the rods tend to slip against and rotate on the flat surface. Furthermore, prior art forceps instruments are unable to provide pre-insertion dilation of the punctal opening, nor do they have the ability to push the collagen rod into the punctal opening such that the collagen rod is pushed below the punctal opening. A second instrument is required for those purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a collagen forceps designed to easily insert a collagen rod into the punctal opening.
It is another object of the invention to provide a collagen forceps which is comfortable to hold and which thereby permits easy and fine manipulation of the collagen rods.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a collagen forceps which can securely grip the collagen rod.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a collagen forceps which can grip the collagen rod in two substantially orthogonally orientations.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a collagen forceps having the ability to predilate the punctal opening.
It is another object of the invention to provide a collagen forceps having which can be used to fully insert collagen rods beneath the punctal opening.
In accord with these objects which will be discussed in detail below, a collagen forceps is provided. According to the invention, the collagen forceps generally includes two elongate members coupled at a proximal live hinge. The elongate members are each provided with a knurled finger pad ergonomically contoured to stably receive a finger or thumb of a physician, and a manipulation tip having an interior collagen rod gripping surface.
According to a first embodiment of the invention, the gripping surfaces of each elongate member includes an angulated or curved concave surface shaped to engage the collagen rod axially and is preferably provided with rod engagement ridges. Preferably each manipulation tip is also provided with a silicon boot. In addition, the proximal end of the instrument is provided with a projection having a dilation/insertion tip.
The contoured finger pads provide a physician with a comfortable and controllable instrument. The gripping surfaces of the manipulation tips, especially when provided with silicon boots, permit easy grasping of the collagen rods and stably engage the rods such that the collagen rod cannot rotate about or slide away from the gripping surfaces. As such, the collagen forceps permits relatively easy manipulation of the rods into the ducts. In addition, the dilation/insertion tip of the projection can be used to dilate the punctal opening prior to collagen rod insertion therein, and may also be used after the insertion of the collagen rod to push the collagen rod deeper into the punctal opening.
According to second, third, and fourth embodiments, dilation/insertion means are provided at the distal end of the instrument on one or both of the elongate members.
According to a fifth embodiment of the invention, the manipulation tip of the collagen forceps includes two gripping channels preferably oriented substantially orthogonally relative to each other. In addition, the manipulation tip is preferably angled relative to an axis of the collagen forceps. The proximal end of the forceps includes a shaft which is also preferably angled relative to the axis, preferably in a direction opposite the manipulation tips, and facilitates the grip and balance of the collagen forceps in the hand of the physician.
Each embodiment of the collagen forceps of the invention enables a controlled implantation of collagen rods through the punctal opening and into the naso-lacrimal duct.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the provided figures.
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patent: 5015252 (1991-05-01), Jones
patent: 5019091 (1991-05-01), Porat et al.
patent: 5156431 (1992-10-01), Lowe
patent: 5176696 (1993-01-01), Saunders
patent: 5178622 (1993-01-01), Lehner, II
patent: 5217464 (1993-06-01), McDonald
patent: 5292324 (1994-03-01), McDonald
patent: 5556403 (1996-09-01), Michalos
patent: 5630821 (1997-05-01), Klaas
patent: 5792137 (1998-08-01), Carr et al.
patent: 0177252 (1986-04-01), None
Buiz Michael
Eagle Vision, Inc.
Gallagher Thomas A
Gordon David P.
Jacobson David S.
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