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US 2012/0055490 A1Published application
Implantable Punctal Plug
AssigneeAlcon Research, Ltd.
InventorsRobert Joseph Sanchez, JR., Casey Jean Lind
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Abstract
A punctal plug is disclosed, wherein the punctal plug includes a body portion and a retaining portion. The body portion is defined by an open distal end, an open proximal end and a wall portion. The wall portion further includes at least one window extending therethrough. The retaining flange is configured to have an outer periphery that is larger than the outer periphery of the body portion. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a patient using a punctal plug is also disclosed.
Claims20
A punctal plug, comprising:
- a body portion;
- and
- a retaining flange;
- wherein the body portion is defined by an open distal end, an open proximal end and a wall portion, wherein the wall portion further includes at least one window extending therethrough;
- and
- wherein the retaining flange is configured to have an outer periphery that is larger than the outer periphery of the body portion.
3 more elements
A method of delivery of a therapeutic agent to a patient, comprising:
- providing a punctal plug that is defined by a body portion, a retaining flange portion and first and second open ends, wherein the body portion includes at least one window formed through the body portion;
- releasably attaching the punctal plug to a distal end of a delivery cannula such that the retaining flange is oriented to face the delivery cannula;
- implanting at least a portion of the punctal plug into a passageway of the patient with the delivery cannula attached thereto;
- injecting a phase transition drug formulation through the delivery cannula and into the punctal plug to form a drug bolus such that a portion of the drug formulation exits the punctal plug through the window and out the first end of the punctal plug such that the drug bolus conforms to the passageway of the patient, thereby locking the punctal plug within the passageway for a predetermined time period;
- and
- releasing the punctal plug from the delivery cannula and leaving the punctal plug at least partially disposed within the passageway.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.