Occlusive biomedical devices, punctum plugs, and methods of use thereof
First Claim
1. A punctum plug for blocking flow of lacrimal fluid in an eye comprising:
- an introducible portion of the plug sized for introduction into a punctal opening of the eye, the portion comprising a dehydrated material hydratable by physiological saline to swell from a first diameter to a second diameter that is at least 50% greater than the first diameter, wherein the portion is swellable by the lacrimal fluid to occlude the punctal opening to block the flow of the lacrimal fluid through the punctal opening, wherein the dehydratable material degrades in less than about seven days in the punctal opening of the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Certain embodiments include a punctum plug for blocking flow of lacrimal fluid in an eye, the plug having an introducible portion comprising a dehydrated material hydratable by physiological saline to swell from a first diameter to a second diameter that is at least 50% greater than the first diameter, wherein the portion is swellable by the lacrimal fluid to occlude the punctal opening to block the flow of the lacrimal fluid through the punctal opening, wherein the dehydratable material degrades in less than about seven days in the punctal opening of the patient. Certain embodiments include a device for occluding a nasolacrimal passage, the device comprising an introducible portion made with an anisotropically swellable material. Some embodiments are punctum plugs made with a polysaccharide in the group consisting of gellan, welan, S-88, S-198 and rhamsan gum.
131 Citations
79 Claims
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1. A punctum plug for blocking flow of lacrimal fluid in an eye comprising:
- an introducible portion of the plug sized for introduction into a punctal opening of the eye, the portion comprising a dehydrated material hydratable by physiological saline to swell from a first diameter to a second diameter that is at least 50% greater than the first diameter, wherein the portion is swellable by the lacrimal fluid to occlude the punctal opening to block the flow of the lacrimal fluid through the punctal opening, wherein the dehydratable material degrades in less than about seven days in the punctal opening of the patient.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of occluding a punctal opening of an eye comprising:
- introducing an introducible portion of a punctum plug into the punctal opening of the eye, the introducible portion comprising a dehydrated material hydratable by physiological saline to swell from a first diameter to a second diameter that is at least 50% greater than the first diameter, wherein the portion is swellable by the lacrimal fluid to occlude the punctal opening to block the flow of the lacrimal fluid.
- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- 25. A device for occluding a nasolacrimal passage, the device comprising an introducible portion that is introducible into the nasolacrimal passage to at least partially block movement of a fluid through the passage, wherein the introducible portion comprises an anisotropically swellable material that anisotropically swells in vitro in a physiological saline solution when not subjected to constraining forces.
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27. The device of clam 26, wherein the first percentage increase is at least 100%.
- 43. A method of occluding a nasolacrimal passage, the method comprising introducing an occlusive device into the passage, wherein the device comprises an introducible portion that is introducible into the passage to at least partially block movement of a fluid through the passage, wherein the introducible portion comprises an anisotropically swellable material that anisotropically swells in vitro in a physiological saline solution when not subjected to constraining forces.
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45. A method of making a nasolacrimal occlusive device that includes a polymeric material made of polymers, the method comprising:
- aligning the polymers of the polymeric material in a predominantly parallel orientation relative to each other.
- View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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48. The method of 47, further comprising soaking the polymeric material in a fluid comprising mineral acids, organic acids or salts of monovalent cations before stretching the polymeric material.
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53. A device for occluding a nasolacrimal passage, the device comprising:
- an introducible portion that is introducible into the nasolacrimal passage having a structure to at least partially block movement of a fluid through the passage, wherein at least a part of the introducible portion comprises at least one polysaccharide in the group consisting of gellan, welan, S-88, S-198 and rhamsan gum.
- View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A method of occluding a punctal opening of an eye comprising:
- introducing an introducible portion of a punctum plug into the punctal opening of the eye, the introducible portion comprising wherein at least a part of the introducible portion comprises at least one polysaccharide in the group consisting of gellan, welan, S-88, S-198 and rhamsan gum.
- View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
Specification