Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F9/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand
  • A61F9/007—Methods or devices for eye surgery
  • A61F9/00772—Apparatus for restoration of tear ducts

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a screwable meatic pad for the lacrimal duct.
• Tears are produced continuously, excess fluid being drained from the surface of the eyeball through two upper and lower point openings located near the inner corner of the eye and communicating with conduits known as canaliculi leading to a lacrimal sac which pours into the nasal cavity.
• the punctual openings, or tear points have the option of opening or closing close like a sphincter-like muscle, so as to regulate the flow of fluid.
• the lack of lacrimal fluid on the eyeball is generally due to an insufficiency of the producing glands which can be caused by age or by other causes, the excessive quantity of tears can in particular be caused by a blockage of the lacrimal canals . In both cases, the situation can be improved by acting on these channels, either by blocking them, totally or partially, or on the contrary by keeping them open.
• permanent occlusion possibly by the surgical route (cauterization, laser), of the lacrimal ducts can be a method of treating deficiencies relating to tears.
• the flow of tears in the nasolacrimal sac is thus prevented, the volume of the remaining tears provides higher humidity.
• the device according to the present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks. It makes it possible to produce meatic pads which can be fixed and removed easily without a surgical procedure and which does not risk either involuntary expulsion or migration to the innermost part of the lacrimal ducts.
• It consists of a substantially cylindrical body, the lateral surface of which includes a helical thread similar to that of a screw allowing the meatic buffer to be put in place or removed by screwing or unscrewing using a tool with a polygonal blade. or cruciform used as a screwdriver, the buffer with or without an axial through conduit allowing the passage of a determined flow of tear fluid.
• FIG. 1 shows in elevation a meatic buffer with flange and through conduit
• FIG. 2 shows, on a different scale , the same pad in axial section and seen from above
• FIG. 3 shows, under the same conditions, a variant without collar or through duct
• FIG. 4 schematically represents an eye with the lacrimal canals and the lacrimal sac
• FIG. 5 is an enlargement of detail A of FIG. 4
• Figures 6 and 7 are examples seen in elevation, of particular forms of State pads
• Figure 8 shows various cross-sectional sections of helical ribs
• Figure 9 shows, on a different scale from those used for pads, a tool allowing to put in or remove a meatic pad.
• the device consists of a body 1 having the general shape of a cylinder whose lateral surface comprises a helical rib 2 forming a thread.
• the body 1 is provided with a tapered and rounded front end 3 facilitating its introduction into the lacrimal canals 4, 5, the other end, or head, possibly comprising a flange 6 intended to prevent the tampon from penetrating too deeply into the inside a canal.
• the dimensions of the device are determined to allow it to fit into the vertical part of the lacrimal canals.
• the insertion and removal of the meatic buffer is carried out by means of a very simple tool in the form of a screwdriver consisting of a handle 7 and a blade 8 of polygonal, cruciform or similar section intended to penetrate an axial hole 9 of the same shape provided in the head of the tampon.
• the hole 9 receiving the blade 8 can be a blind hole ( Figure 3) or be extended by a conduit 10 passing through the buffer and opening at the front end 3 thereof.
• the device is used as a plug for the lacrimal duct (s) 4, 5, in order to prevent the flow of tears to the lacrimal sac 11.
• the meatic buffer is used on the contrary to increase the rate of elimination of the lacrimal fluid when the lacrimal canals are blocked or when their section is too weak .
• the meatic tampon according to the invention can be cylindrical (FIGS. 1 to 3) or have a frusto-conical shape (FIG. 7) or even have one or more bulges or constrictions (FIG. 6).
• Its lateral surface can be provided with hooking means 12 directed radially outwards so as to sink into the internal wall of the lacrimal duct, thus preventing any possibility of movement of the device and in particular a rotation resulting in a screwing or a unscrewing.
• the attachment means will advantageously consist of lugs or curved flexible eyelashes (Figure 2).
• the section of the helical thread 2 may also take various forms as it appears in FIG. 8. It may in particular be semi-circular, triangular or trapezoidal.
• the body 1 of the tampon will preferably be made of an indissoluble rigid or flexible synthetic material of physiological quality, such as silicone, polyethylene or teflon. For certain applications, it may however be made of an absorbable material such as hydroxyapathite or cut coral.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Surgery (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Prostheses (AREA)
• Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9502512

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (36)

Family Cites Families (16)

• 1997
  • 1997-02-04 EP EP97904483A patent/EP0944371A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1997-02-04 WO PCT/FR1997/000216 patent/WO1998033461A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-02-04 JP JP53257598A patent/JP2001509705A/ja active Pending
  • 1997-02-04 CA CA002251223A patent/CA2251223A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-02-04 US US09/147,090 patent/US6254562B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-02-04 AU AU17276/97A patent/AU1727697A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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