Valved canalicular plug for lacrimal duct occlusion

• US 6,306,114 B1
• Filed: 06/16/1998
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EagleVision, Inc
• Original Assignee: EagleVision, Inc
• Inventors: Freeman, C. Curtis, Webb, Nicholas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bianco, Patricia
• Application Number:
  US09/098,234
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 604/8-10, 604/289, 604/290, 604/294, 604/298, 604/516, 604/523, 604/537, 128/887, 623/11, 623/12, 623/14, 606/192, 606/194
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00772 Apparatus for restoration of tear ducts

Abstract

A canalicular plug includes a throughbore provided with a valve. Preferably, the plug has a proximal occluding head, a central shaft and a distal body portion. The throughbore is preferably stepped and includes a large proximal portion for receiving an insertion tool and a smaller distal portion. The valve is preferably integrally molded with the canalicular plug, and the plug is preferably made from a resilient biocompatible material. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the distal body portion includes at least one slot dividing the distal portion into a plurality of resilient portions which are biased apart and coupled by a foldable curtain portion extending between the resilient portions. The resilient portions are inwardly compressible about the slot. When compressed together, the distal ends of the resilient portions together form a generally conical or frustoconical shape which facilitates insertion through the punctal opening.

Claims

1. A canalicular plug for insertion into or through a punctal opening of a nasal lacrimal duct to prevent the flow of tear fluid through the nasal lacrimal duct, said canalicular plug comprising:

a) a proximal head portion;

b) a distal body portion sized to be received within the punctal opening;

c) a shaft portion provided between said head portion and said body portion,

said head portion, said body portion, and said shaft portion defining an axial throughbore which extends completely through said head portion; and

d) a valve which substantially prevents passage of the tear fluid through said throughbore in a first direction defined by said head portion to said body portion and which permits the passage of pressurized fluid through said axial throughbore in a second direction substantially opposite said first direction,

said head portion, said body portion, said shaft portion, and said valve being made of a flexible material.

2. A canalicular plug according to claim 1, wherein:

said valve is one of a flapper valve, a duckbill valve, and a slit valve.

3. A canalicular plug according to claim 1, wherein:

said valve is located at a central portion of said throughbore.

4. A canalicular plug according to claim 1, wherein:

said valve is located at an end of said throughbore.

5. A canalicular plug according to claim 1, wherein:

said body portion defines at least one slot which divides said body portion into at least two resilient portions which are compressible about said at least one slot.

6. A canalicular plug according to claim 5, wherein:

said body portion includes a proximal surface which is substantially uninterrupted.

7. A canalicular plug according to claim 5, wherein:

said body portion includes at least one of an upper pleat and a peripheral pleat between said at least two resilient portions.

8. A canalicular plug according to claim 1, wherein:

said throughbore is a stepped throughbore having a proximal portion and a relatively smaller distal portion.

9. A canalicular plug according to claim 1, wherein:

said valve is provided adjacent an intersection of said proximal portion and said distal portion.

10. A canalicular plug according to claim 1, wherein:

said body portion is one of substantially conically shaped and substantially frustoconically shaped.

11. A canalicular plug according to claim 1, wherein:

said plug is integrally molded as a single unit.

12. A canalicular plug according to claim 1, wherein:

said valve is located distal of said head.

13. A canalicular plug for insertion into or through a punctal opening of a nasal lacrimal duct to substantially prevent the flow of tear fluid through the nasal lacrimal duct, said canalicular plug comprising:

a) a first portion having a first outer diameter;

b) a second portion having a second outer diameter smaller than said first outer diameter and sized to be received within the punctal opening, said plug defining an axial throughbore through said first and second portions; and

c) a valve which substantially prevents the tear fluid from passing through said throughbore in a first direction defined by said first portion to said second portion and which permits the passage of fluid through said axial throughbore in a second direction opposite said first direction,

said first and second portions being made of a flexible material.

14. A canalicular plug according to claim 13, wherein:

said first portion has a substantially conical shape or substantially frustoconical shape such that said first portion tapers toward said second portion.

15. A canalicular plug according to claim 13, wherein:

said first portion is compressible.

16. A canalicular plug according to claim 17, wherein:

said first portion defines at least one slot which divides said first portion into at least two resilient portions which are compressible about said at least one slot.

17. A canalicular plug according to claim 18, wherein;

said first portion includes a proximal surface which is substantially uninterrupted.

18. A canalicular plug according to claim 19, wherein:

said first portion includes at least one of at least one upper pleat in said proximal surface and at least one peripheral pleat between said at least two resilient portions.

19. A canalicular plug according to claim 13, wherein:

said throughbore is a stepped throughbore having a proximal portion sized to receive an insertion tool and a relatively smaller distal portion.

20. A canalicular plug according to claim 21, wherein:

said valve is provided adjacent an intersection of said proximal portion and said distal portion.

21. A canalicular plug according to claim 13, wherein:

said valve is one of a flapper valve, a duckbill valve, and a slit valve.

22. A canalicular plug according to claim 13, wherein:

said valve is located at a central location within said throughbore.

23. A canalicular plug according to claim 13, wherein:

said valve is located at an end of said throughbore.

24. A canalicular plug according to claim 23, wherein:

said plug is integrally molded as a single unit.

25. A canalicular plug according to claim 23, wherein:

said valve is made of a flexible material.

26. In a flexible punctum plug for insertion into or through a punctal opening of a nasal lacrimal duct to prevent the flow of tear fluid through the nasal lacrimal duct, the punctum plug having a first portion having a first outer diameter, and a second portion having a second outer diameter smaller than said first outer diameter and sized to be received within the punctal opening, the improvement comprising:

a) an axial throughbore defined by plug; and

b) a valve which substantially prevents the tear fluid from passing through said axial throughbore in a first direction defined by the first portion to the second portion and which permits the passage of fluid through said axial throughbore in a second direction opposite said first direction.