Punctum plug

Details Punctum plug Punctum plug

1993-10-27

1995-06-13

Jackson, Gary

Surgery

Means for introducing or removing material from body for...

Treating material applied to or removed from external...

6048911, 606107, 606191, 606213, 623 11, A61M 500

Patent

active

054237777

ABSTRACT:
A punctum plug used to temporarily close the punctal openings of the eye. The plug has a cap, a shaft, and a hollow bulb portion. The cap and shaft have an internal bore therein. A tool may be inserted into the bore so that the bulb portion is elongated and stretched, allowing the plug to be inserted into a punctal opening and into its lacrimal duct. The tool is then withdrawn from the plug, allowing the bulb portion to return to its original configuration, which effectively anchors the plug in the duct. An elongated shaft is used for another embodiment of the plug, which allows the plug to be inserted deeper into a duct. In yet another embodiment, a coiled body portion is used in place of the bulb portion. The insertion tool is used to stretch or uncoil the coiled body portion so that the plug may be inserted into a lacrimal duct. Withdrawal of the insertion tool allows the body portion to return to its original coiled configuration, anchoring the plug in the duct.

REFERENCES:
patent: D295445 (1988-04-01), Freeman
patent: 3463141 (1969-08-01), Mozolf
patent: 3703898 (1972-11-01), Zackheim
patent: 3721229 (1973-03-01), Panzer
patent: 3726284 (1973-04-01), Parker
patent: 3858571 (1975-01-01), Rudolph
patent: 3949750 (1976-04-01), Freeman
patent: 4281658 (1981-08-01), Child
patent: 4660546 (1987-04-01), Herrick et al.
patent: 4915684 (1990-04-01), Mackeen et al.
patent: 4959048 (1990-09-01), Seder et al.
patent: 5049142 (1991-09-01), Herrick et al.
patent: 5131906 (1992-07-01), Chen
patent: 5163959 (1992-11-01), Herrick
patent: 5171270 (1992-12-01), Herrick
Brochure of Lacrimedics, Inc., Rialto, California, "Patient-Proven Herrick Lacrimal Plugs," Dated 1992.
Brochure of Eagle Vision, Inc., Memphis, Tennessee, "Punctum Plugs," Dated 1990.

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