US 5,283,063 AGranted

Punctum plug method and apparatus

AssigneeEagle Vision, Inc.

InventorJerre M. Freeman

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Abstract

A punctum plug for blocking lacrimal fluid flow through a punctum and an associated canaliculus composed of a hydrogel material and a hydrophobic coating which covers the exterior surface of the hydrogel material. The hydrophobic coating averts adsorption of proteinaceous materials onto the hydrogel. The punctum plug has a configuration which includes a generally cylindrical body member, an arcuate head at a first end of the body member, and a placement and retaining member at a second, peripheral end of the body member. An insertion port is located at the first end of the cylindrical body member for receiving a dilator/inserter tool. A hydrating port is fashioned at the peripheral end of the plug and partially extends through the placement and retaining member. The hydrating port is not coated with the hydrophobic material so that fluid in the canaliculus, or canalicular fluid, or preocular tear film may enter the interior portion of the plug and permit the hydrogel to expand to a desired configuration.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A punctum plug for blocking lacrimal fluid flow through a punctal aperture and into an associated canaliculus of a human eye comprising:

a generally cylindrical body member composed of a hydrogel material and having,
a first end operable to be positioned adjacent the punctal aperture, and
a second end operable to be positioned through the punctal aperture and into an associated canaliculus;
a head member composed of a hydrogel material and integrally joined to said generally cylindrical body member positioned at said first end of said generally cylindrical body member, the diameter of said head member at the junction with said generally cylindrical body member being greater than the diameter of said generally cylindrical body member so that an annular ridge is formed between said head member and said generally cylindrical body member, said annular ridge being operable to rest on a surface surrounding the punctal aperture to prevent said punctum plug from migrating into the associated canaliculus;
a placement and retaining member composed of a hydrogel material and integrally joined to said generally cylindrical body member and positioned at said second end of said generally cylindrical body member for facilitating placement of said generally cylindrical body member through the punctal aperture of a patient and for retaining said generally cylindrical body member within the associated canaliculus;
a hydrophobic coating covering the exterior surface of said head member, said generally cylindrical body member, and said placement and retaining member, said hydrophobic coating isolating said hydrogel material from physical contact with the canalicular tissue of a patient;
and
hydrating means fashioned through said hydrophobic coating for permitting placement of said punctum plug into position in a dehydrated, relatively rigid condition and then permitting, in situ, hydration of said hydrogel material of said punctum plug, said hydrating means serving to admit lacrimal fluid into said hydrogel material of said punctum plug to hydrate said punctum plug into an expanded, relatively flexible condition.

5 more elements

A punctum plug for blocking lacrimal fluid flow through a punctal aperture and into an associated canaliculus of a human eye comprising:

a generally cylindrical body member composed of a hydrogel material and having an arcuate and concave lateral side surface dimensioned to generally conform to and receive a punctum of a patient's eye;
an arcuate head member composed of a hydrogel material integrally joined to a first end of said body member for positioning adjacent an exterior surface of the punctal aperture;
a placement member composed of a hydrogel material integrally joined to a second end of said body member for facilitating placement of said body member through the punctal aperture and into the associated canaliculus of the patient;
a hydrophobic coating covering the exterior surface of said head member, said generally cylindrical body member, and said placement, said hydrophobic coating isolating said hydrogel material from initiating contact with the canalicular tissue of a patient;
and
hydrating means fashioned through said hydrophobic coating for permitting placement of said punctum plug into position in a dehydrated, relatively rigid condition and then permitting, in situ, hydration of said hydrogel material of said punctum plug, said hydrating means serving to admit lacrimal fluid into said hydrogel material of said punctum plug to hydrate said punctum plug into an expanded and relatively rigid condition.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.