# US 12,213,916 B2 · Nasolacrimal duct stent assembly and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,213,916 B2 - Document ID: US12213916B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/149,639 - Filed: 2021-01-14 - Published: 2021-07-22 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-17 - Assignees: Quest Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Quest Medical, Inc. - Inventors: Savan Pravin Patel; Jeffrey John Albertsen; Vasu Nishtala; Stewart Lee Love - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213916B2 ## CPC - A61F 9/00772: {Apparatus for restoration of tear ducts} - A61M 27/002: {Implant devices for drainage of body fluids from one part of the body to another (intraocular A61F9/00781; middle ear A61F11/202)} - A61F 2/88: the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils - A61M 25/0102: {Insertion or introduction using an inner stiffening member, e.g. stylet or push-rod} - A61M 25/09: Guide wires - A61B 17/12099: {characterised by the location of the occluder} - A61F 2/95: Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts - A61F 2002/9505: {having retaining means other than an outer sleeve, e.g. male-female connector between stent and instrument} - A61F 2230/0013: Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped - A61F 2230/0091: helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section - A61F 2250/0039: differing in diameter - A61M 29/00: Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies - A61M 2025/09116: {Design of handles or shafts or gripping surfaces thereof for manipulating guide wires} - A61M 2210/0612: Eyes - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A stent for use in the nasolacrimal duct of a patient's eye. The stent is used to maintain and improve the patency of the nasolacrimal duct. The stent uses a hollow shaft to create a fluid pathway from the punctum to the inferior meatus. Either the superior or inferior punctum can be selected for insertion of the stent. An inserter is used to position the flexible stent into position. A guidewire attached to the inserter is removed from the stent and it transforms from its collapsed state to its deployed state. A first anchor stabilizes the proximal end of the stent to the punctum and ampulla. A second anchor stabilizes the proximal end of the stent near the inferior meatus. The second anchor can take any of several deployed shapes, such as a pigtail or fins. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nasolacrimal duct stent, comprising: a hollow shaft; a first anchor located at a proximal end of the hollow shaft, wherein the first anchor comprises a punctal plug and a flange located forward of said punctal plug, wherein said punctal plug is sized to be lodged in a human punctum while said flange is sized to be lodged in a human ampulla internal to the punctum, the first anchor providing a fluid passage into the hollow shaft; a second anchor formed at a distal end of the hollow shaft, the second anchor terminating in a tip providing a fluid passage into the hollow shaft; and a guidewire removably positioned within the fluid passage of the first anchor, the hollow shaft, and within the fluid passage of the second anchor; wherein the second anchor having resiliency to hold a non-straight deployed state and having flexibility sufficient to be placed in a straight collapsed shape held via said guidewire positioned within the second anchor, said resiliency alone returning the second anchor to its deployed shape when said guide-wire is not positioned therein. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The nasolacrimal duct stent of claim 1, wherein the flange is further configured to stabilize the nasolacrimal duct stent to the punctum and the ampulla in the nasolacrimal duct. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The nasolacrimal duct stent of claim 1, wherein the hollow shaft has a length of 50 mm and a diameter between 0.3 and 1 mm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The nasolacrimal duct stent of claim 1, wherein the second anchor in the deployed shape has a pigtail configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The nasolacrimal duct stent of claim 1, wherein the second anchor in the deployed shape has a horizontal spiral configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The nasolacrimal duct stent of claim 1, wherein the second anchor in the deployed shape has a vertical spiral configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The nasolacrimal duct stent of claim 1, wherein the second anchor in the deployed shape has a zigzag configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The nasolacrimal duct stent of claim 1, wherein the second anchor in the deployed shape has a hook configuration.