Punctum plug
US6016806A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 27, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 25, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 27, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F9/00772
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A punctum plug includes a proximal head, a distal body, and a thin-walled flexible shaft between the head and the body. The thin wall of the shaft of the plug is preferably provided with accordion-like folds, thereby permitting the length of the shaft to vary depending upon the degree to which the accordion-like folds are folded or unfolded. In addition, the accordion-like folds permit the thin wall of the shaft to easily bend, permitting the head and body of the plug to lie along different axes. As a result, the plug is shaped to accommodate both relatively long and short vertical puncta and the body of the plug may be angled relative to the head to accommodate a variety of anatomical structures. According to another aspect of the invention, the body of the plug may be provided with a thread which rotationally guides the plug into the small punctal opening when insertional and rotational forces are applied to the plug. As a result, a relatively larger body size may be used. Moreover, the thread provides improved plug fixation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.