Claims
- 1. A punctum plug for insertion into a punctal opening of a nasal lacrimal duct and adapted for use with an insertion tool having a non-circular cross-section, said punctum plug comprising:
- a) a proximal head portion;
- b) a distal body portion sized to fit into the punctal opening;
- c) a shaft portion between said head portion and said body portion,
- said head portion and said shaft portion at least partially defining an axial bore having a non-circular cross-section, said axial bore for cooperating with the insertion tool.
- 2. A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein:
- said head portion, said shaft portion, and said body portion defining said axial bore, said axial bore having one of a rectangular and hexagonal cross-section.
- 3. A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein:
- said head portion has a concave proximal surface.
- 4. A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein:
- said distal body portion has a thread.
- 5. A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein:
- said shaft portion is flexible.
- 6. A punctum plug according to claim 5, wherein:
- said shaft portion has a diameter and includes a wall having a thickness approximately one-fourth said diameter of said shaft portion.
- 7. A punctum plug according to claim 5, wherein:
- said shaft portion has a circumference and includes at least one of a foldable portion, a groove, and a rib substantially around said circumference and about which said shaft portion is adapted to flex.
- 8. A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein:
- said body portion includes a tip which is one of pointed, rounded and truncated in shape.
- 9. A punctum plug for insertion into a punctal opening of a nasal lacrimal duct, said punctum plug comprising:
- a) a proximal head portion;
- b) a distal body portion sized to snugly fit into the punctal opening; and
- c) a shaft portion having a circumference and at least one of a foldable portion, a groove, and a rib substantially around said circumference and about which said shaft portion is adapted to flex.
- 10. A punctum plug according to claim 9, wherein:
- said head portion has a concave proximal shape.
- 11. A punctum plug according to claim 9, wherein:
- said body portion includes a tip which is one of pointed, rounded and truncated in shape.
- 12. A punctum plug according to claim 9, wherein:
- said body portion has a thread.
- 13. A punctum plug according to claim 12, wherein:
- said thread is an external thread having a width of approximately 0.005 inches.
- 14. A punctum plug according to claim 12, wherein:
- said thread is an external thread which is raised from said body by approximately 0.005 inches.
- 15. A punctum plug for insertion into a punctal opening of a nasal lacrimal duct, said punctum plug consisting essentially of:
- a) a proximal head portion;
- b) a distal body portion sized to fit into the punctal opening such that the lacrimal duct is occluded, said body portion having an outer surface with a spiraling means for guiding said punctum plug into the punctal opening, said spiraling means sized to engage the punctal opening; and
- c) a shaft portion between said head portion and said body portion.
- 16. A punctum plug according to claim 15, wherein:
- said means for guiding is a thread.
- 17. A punctum plug according to claim 15, wherein:
- said shaft portion includes a circumference and at least one of a foldable portion, a groove, and a rib substantially around said circumference about which said shaft portion is adapted to flex.
- 18. A punctum plug according to claim 15, wherein:
- said body portion is substantially conically shaped.
- 19. A punctum plug according to claim 15, wherein:
- said head portion has a concave proximal surface.
- 20. A method of inserting a punctum plug into the punctal opening of the nasal lacrimal duct, the punctum plug having head, shaft, and body portions which define an axial bore having a substantially non-circular cross-section, said method comprising:
- a) inserting an insertion tool having a substantially non-circular cross-section into the axial bore of the punctum plug such that rotation of the insertion tool causes the punctum plug to rotate;
- b) positioning the body portion of the plug against the punctal opening of the nasal lacrimal duct;
- c) applying rotational and insertional force to the insertion tool until the punctum plug is satisfactorily inserted into the nasal lacrimal duct; and
- d) removing the insertion tool.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/826,216, filed Mar. 27, 1997, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
US Referenced Citations (21)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
826216 |
Mar 1997 |
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