Claims
- 1. A punctum plug for insertion into a punctum of a wearer, comprising:a) a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length; b) a plurality of circumferential rings radially extending from said shaft and spaced apart along said length of said shaft and defining spaces therebetween, at least one of said plurality of circumferential rings has a diameter larger than a diameter of said head; and c) a head at said proximal end of said shaft.
- 2. A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein:said head and said shaft at least partially define an axial bore, said axial bore adapted to receive an insertion tool.
- 3. A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein:at least one of said plurality of circumferential rings has a diameter larger than a diameter of said head.
- 4. A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein:said plurality of circumferential rings include at least one proximal ring, one distal ring and an intermediate ring, at least two of said plurality of circumferential rings having different diameters.
- 5. A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein:said head tapers distally toward said shaft.
- 6. A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein:a tip is provided at said distal end of said shaft, said tip having a diameter no greater than a diameter of said shaft.
- 7. A punctum plug according to claim 6, wherein:said tip is one of pointed, rounded and truncated in shape.
- 8. A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein:said shaft, said circumferential rings, and said head are flexible.
- 9. A punctum plug for insertion into a punctum of a wearer comprising:a) a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length; b) a plurality of circumferential rings radially extending from said shaft and spaced apart along said length of said shaft and defining spaces therebetween, said plurality of circumferential rings including at least one proximal ring, one distal ring and an intermediate ring, said intermediate ring having a larger diameter than said proximal ring and said distal ring; and c) a head at said proximal end of said shaft.
- 10. A punctum plug for insertion into a punctum of a wearer comprising:a) a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length; b) a plurality of circumferential rings radially extending from said shaft and spaced apart along said length of said shaft and defining spaces therebetween; and c) a head at said proximal end of said shaft, said head: said head having a concave proximal surface.
- 11. A punctum plug for insertion into a punctum of a wearer, comprising:a) a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a circumference, and a length; b) a plurality of flanges which extending less than 360 degrees about the circumference and are spaced apart along said length of said shaft; and c) a head at said proximal end of said shaft.
- 12. A punctum plug according to claim 11, wherein:said head and said shaft at least partially define an axial bore adapted to receive an insertion tool.
- 13. A punctum plug according to claim 11, wherein:said head has a radial extension and at least one of said flanges has a radial extension greater than said radial extension of said head.
- 14. A punctum plug according to claim 11, wherein:said plurality of flanges include at least a proximal flange, a distal flange and an intermediate flange, at least two of the flanges having different diameters.
- 15. A punctum plug according to claim 14, wherein:said intermediate flange is of a larger diameter than said proximal flange and said distal flange.
- 16. A punctum plug according to claim 11, wherein:said head tapers distally toward said shaft.
- 17. A punctum plug according to claim 11, wherein:a tip is provided at a distal end of said shaft, said tip having a diameter no greater than a diameter of said shaft.
- 18. A punctum plug according to claim 17, wherein:said tip is one of pointed, rounded and truncated in shape.
- 19. A punctum plug according to claim 11, wherein:said shaft, said plurality of flanges, and said head are flexible.
- 20. A punctum plug according to claim 11, wherein: said flanges are substantially semicircular.
- 21. A punctum plug for insertion into a punctum of a wearer comprising:a) a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a circumference, and a length; b) a plurality of flanges which are circumferentially offset and spaced apart along said length of said shaft; and c) a head at said proximal end of said shaft, said head; said head having a concave proximal surface.
- 22. A punctum plug for insertion into a punctum of a wearer, comprising:a) a longitudinally extending shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length; b) a flexible flange radially extending from and helically coiled about said longitudinally extending shaft; and c) a head at said proximal end of said shaft.
- 23. A punctum plug according to claim 22, wherein:said head and said shaft at least partially define an axial bore adapted to receive an insertion tool.
- 24. A punctum plug according to claim 22, wherein:said flange has a portion which radially extends from said shaft greater than a maximum radial extension of said head.
- 25. A punctum plug according to claim 24, wherein:said flange has a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion being of larger radial extension than said proximal and distal portions.
- 26. A punctum plug according to claim 22, wherein:said head tapers distally toward said shaft.
- 27. A punctum plug according to claim 22, wherein:a tip is provided at a distal end of said shaft, said tip having a diameter which does not exceed a diameter of said shaft.
- 28. A punctum plug according to claim 27, wherein:said tip is one of pointed, rounded and truncated in shape.
- 29. A punctum plug according to claim 22, wherein:said shaft, said plurality of said flanges, and said head are flexible.
- 30. A punctum plug for insertion into a punctum of a wearer comprising:a) a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a length; b) a flange extending from and helically coiled about said shaft; and c) a head at said proximal end of said shaft, said head having a concave proximal surface.
- 31. A punctum plug for insertion into a punctum of a wearer, comprising:a) a shaft; b) anchoring means for anchoring said plug within the punctum, said anchoring means including at least one arm extending from said shaft at at least two axial locations along said shaft; and c) a head at a proximal end of said shaft.
- 32. A punctum plug according to claim 31, wherein:said at least one anchoring means is at least one arm radially extending from said shaft.
- 33. A punctum plug according to claim 31, wherein:said at least one anchoring means is at least one arm extending at an angle less than ninety degrees relative to said shaft.
- 34. A punctum plug according to claim 33, wherein:said at least one arm forms a barb.
- 35. A punctum plug according to claim 34, wherein:said barb is adapted to bend both toward said shaft and away from said shaft.
- 36. A punctum plug according to claim 34, wherein:said at least one barb is curved.
- 37. A punctum plug according to claim 34, wherein:said at least one arm include a portion which expands in size as said portion extends further from said shaft.
Parent Case Info
This application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,785, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/305,599 filed May 5, 1999, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/826,216 filed Mar. 27, 1997; all three of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
US Referenced Citations (20)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2069339 |
Aug 1981 |
GB |
2160778 |
Jan 1986 |
GB |