Punctum dilating and plug inserting instrument with push-button plug release

• US 5,741,292 A
• Filed: 04/28/1997
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Katena Products, Inc. (Corza Medical Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eagle Vision
• Inventors: Mendius, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US08/843,127
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 606/107, 606/108, 606/109, 606/140, 606/141, 606/170, 606/205, 606/174, 606/191, 606/1, 128/831
• US Class Current: 606/191
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12099 characterised by the location of the occluder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12159 Solid plugs; being solid before insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00772 Apparatus for restoration of tear ducts

Abstract

A punctum dilating and plug inserting instrument includes a cylindrical body with a first end being a plug inserting tip, and a second end being a punctum dilating tip. An elongated button is arranged longitudinally along the body. The button includes a fixed end and a slidable end; the fixed end being positioned between the slidable end and the plug inserting tip. The button also includes an outwardly bowing inner surface spaced from the body. A wire is slidably positioned longitudinally within the body. The wire includes an outer end protruding from the plug inserting tip, and an inner end attached to the slidable end of the button. A conventional punctum plug is attached to the outer end of the wire, and can be inserted into a punctum after the punctum is dilated by the dilating tip. The plug is released by depressing the button, which causes the outwardly bowing inner surface to be moved inwardly against the body, and the slidable end to be moved along the body away from the fixed end and the plug inserting tip. The wire is thus pulled by the slidable end of the button away from the punctum plug to release it.

Claims

1. A combination of a punctum plug and an instrument for retaining and releasing said punctum plug, comprising:

an elongated body having a forward end and a rear end, said elongated body having a recess extending longitudinally thereon;

a punctum plug positioned against said forward end of said body;

an elongated button positioned within said recess and flush with an outer surface of said elongated body, said button having a fixed end fixedly attached to said elongated body at one end of said recess and a slidable end slidable along said recess, said fixed end being positioned between said slidable end and said forward end of said body, said button having an outwardly bowing inner surface spaced from a bottom surface of said recess, so that when said button is depressed, said outwardly bowing inner surface is moved inwardly against said bottom surface of said recess, and said slidable end is moved longitudinally along said body away from said fixed end; and

a wire slidably positioned longitudinally along said body, said wire having an outer end extending from said forward end of said body and frictionally fitted in a mounting hole in said punctum plug, said wire having an inner end fixedly attached to said slidable end of said button, so that before said button is depressed, said punctum plug is retained against said forward end of said body by said wire, and when said button is depressed, said wire is pulled by said slidable end of said button away from said mounting hole of said punctum plug to release said punctum plug from said instrument.

2. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said elongated body is cylindrical.

3. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said outwardly bowing inner surface of said button comprises two straight surfaces defining an obtuse angle, each of said straight surfaces defining an acute angle with said recess.

4. The instrument of claim 1, further including a breakable bridge arranged at an apex of said outwardly bowing inner surface.

5. The instrument of claim 1, further including a tapered dilating tip attached to said second end of said body for dilating a punctum.