Canalicular implant having a collapsible flared section and method
First Claim
1. A canalicular implant comprisingan elongated central member having a central axis and a pair of ends wherein one of said pair of ends includes means defining a collapsible flared section having a substantially uniform shape therearound and includes means for enabling said collapsible flared section to be uniformly collapsed relative to said central axis in response to the application of force on the collapsible flared section in a direction to collapse the same and urge the collapsible flared section into a collapsed position, said elongated central member and said collapsible flared section being formed of a dimension to pass through a canaliculus of an eye.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A canalicular implant adapted to be inserted into the punctum of an eye and which is adapted to be transported into the horizontal portion of the canaliculus to occlude the same is shown. The implant comprises an elongated member having a medial end, an opposed lateral end and a central member having a predetermined dimensional cross-section extending therebetween. The medial end has a tapered section which slopes and decreases in cross-section as it extends towards the medial end. The tapered section terminates in a medial tip having a dimension which enables the medial tip to enter and pass through the punctum. The lateral end has a collapsible flared section which increases in cross section as it approaches the lateral end and which terminates in an outer edge having dimension which is greater than the predetermined dimensional cross section of the central member. The collapsible flared section has a fully extended position and a collapsed position. The dimension of the collapsible flared section is approximately equal to the geometrical dimension of the horizontal section of a canaliculus of an eye adapted to receive the same. A radial force applied in a direction to collapse the outer edge of the collapsible flared section urges the same from its fully extended position into the collapsed position.
A method for treating external eye condition due to a deficiency of tears utilizing the canalicular implant is also shown.
147 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A canalicular implant comprising
an elongated central member having a central axis and a pair of ends wherein one of said pair of ends includes means defining a collapsible flared section having a substantially uniform shape therearound and includes means for enabling said collapsible flared section to be uniformly collapsed relative to said central axis in response to the application of force on the collapsible flared section in a direction to collapse the same and urge the collapsible flared section into a collapsed position, said elongated central member and said collapsible flared section being formed of a dimension to pass through a canaliculus of an eye.
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2. An implant comprising
an elongated central member having a central axis, a first end and a second end wherein said first end has tapered section which slopes in a direction towards said first end and wherein said second end has a collapsible flared section having a substantially uniform shape therearound and including means for enabling said collapsible flared section to be uniformly collapsed relative to said central axis in response to the application of force on the collapsible flared section in a direction to collapse the same and urge the collapsible flared section into a collapsed position, said elongated central member and said collapsible flared section being formed of a dimension to pass through a canaliculus of an eye.
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14. An implant comprising
an elongated member having a central axis, a first end, a second end and a central section extending between said first end and said second end; -
said first end having a tapered section which slopes and reduces in cross-section as the tapered section extends in a direction towards said first end and terminates in a tip; and said second end having a collapsible flared section which increases in cross-section as the collapsible flared section approaches the second end, said second end having a substantially uniform shape therearound;
said collapsible flared section having a fully extended position, a collapsed position, and including means for enabling said collapsible flared section to be uniformly collapsed relative to said central axis in response to the application of a force on the collapsible flared section in a direction to collapse the same and urge the collapsible flared section into its collapsed position;said elongated member and said collapsible flared section being formed of a dimension to pass through a canaliculus of an eye. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An implant adapted to be inserted into the punctum of an eye and be transported into the horizontal portion of the canaliculus to occlude the same, said implant comprising
an elongated member having a medial end and a spaced, opposed lateral end, a central member having a predetermined cross-sectional dimension extending from said medial end to said lateral end, and a central axis; -
said medial end having a tapered section which slopes in cross-section as the tapered section extends toward said medial end and which terminates in a medial tip having a dimension which enables the medial tip to penetrate and pass through the punctum opening; said lateral end having a collapsible flared section which increases in cross-section as the collapsible flared section approaches the lateral end and which terminates in an outer edge having a substantially uniform dimension which is greater than the predetermined cross-sectional dimension of the central member, said collapsible flared section having a fully extended position and a collapsed position wherein the dimension of the collapsed position is approximately equal to a geometrical dimension of the horizontal section of a canaliculus of an eye adapted to receive the same and including means for enabling said collapsible flared section to be uniformly collapsed relative to said central axis in response to the application of a radial force in a direction to collapse the collapsible flared section to urge the same from its fully extended position into its collapsed position; and said elongated member and said collapsible flared section being formed of a dimension to pass through a punctum and canaliculus of an eye.
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Specification