Abrasive polished canalicular implant

• US 5,766,243 A
• Filed: 07/31/1996
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oasis Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Oasis Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Christensen, James Marlow, Bruns, Willis Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US08/690,052
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 623/901, 623/4, 623/11, 604/8, 604/9, 604/11, 604/15, 604/285, 604/294, 604/295, 264/293, 264/162, 451/32, 451/326
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00772 Apparatus for restoration of tear ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 31/00 Machines or devices designed for polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus or other apparatus in which the work and/or the abrasive material is loose; Accessories therefor abrasive blasting machines B24C3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 37/02 Deburring or deflashing thermal deburring in general B23D79/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/90 Stent for heart valve

Abstract

A canalicular implant for insertion through the punctum of the eye and the method of manufacture. The implant is fabricated by cutting suture-like material, such as catgut, of the appropriate diameter to the desired length. The ends of the implant are rounded and polished after cutting by abrasive polishing to remove any sharp edges and burrs formed by the cutting process. This produces an implant with various degrees of rounding at the ends depending on the duration and type of abrasive polishing used. The method of abrasive polishing may comprise tumble polishing, vibratory polishing, or other methods of agitation utilizing dry or wet media comprised of beads, forms, abrasive powders, or other similar substances or combinations of these media.

Claims

1. A method of forming rounded end sections on an implant used for blocking the flow of tear fluid from the surface of the eye through the canaliculus comprising severing a continuous length of a material absorbable in the human body into predetermined lengths to form cylindrical implants;

placing the cylindrical implants in a container partially filled with a particulate abrasive media;

causing the cylindrical implants to be continuously impacted with the particulate media so as to abrade all surfaces of the implant and eliminate any sharp edges on the implant, the continuous impaction creating polished surfaces and

separating the cylindrical implants from the abrasive media.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the implant is cut from a suture-like material.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the suture-like material is catgut suture.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the continuous impacting is accomplished by tumbling the implants and media together.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the continuous impacting is accomplished by placing the implants and media in intimate contact on a vibrating surface.