Patent US6041785A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6041785A
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US
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Punctum plug
Assignee: Eaglevision Inc
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Filing: 1998-11-06
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Granted: 2000-03-28
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Expires: 2018-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A punctum plug includes a proximal head, a distal body, and a shaft between the head and the body. The shaft of the plug is provided with one or more foldable portions, thereby permitting the length of the shaft to vary depending upon the degree to which the folds are folded or unfolded. In addition, the folds permit the 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.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas J. Webb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M39/00; A61M39/02; A61M39/04; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00772; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/12; A61B17/12022; A61B17/12099; A61B17/12131; A61B17/12159
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
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 fit into the punctal opening; and c) a central shaft portion having a circumference and at least one fold substantially around said circumference, said shaft being able to at least one of flex and change in length due to said at least one fold, said head and said shaft at least partially defining a bore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
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 fit into the punctal opening; and c) a central shaft portion having a circumference and at least one fold substantially around said circumference, said shaft being able to at least one of flex and change in length due to said at least one fold, said head and said shaft at least partially defining a bore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein: said shaft portion is able to both flex and change in length due to said at least one fold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein: said shaft portion includes an upper portion provided with said at least one fold and a lower portion which defines a cylindrical portion of said bore.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein: said shaft portion includes at least one convex portion and at least one concave portion which together define said at least one fold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A punctum plug according to claim 4, wherein: said shaft portion includes a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions alternating displaced about a length of said shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein: said shaft portion is provided with a wall and said at least one fold is at least one angular undulation of said wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein: said shaft portion tapers in a smaller diameter in the direction of said body portion to said head portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein: said shaft portion includes a wall having a substantially constant thickness at and adjacent said at least one fold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A punctum plug according to claim 1, further comprising: d) a flared skirt portion defining a rim which is collapsible toward said shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A punctum plug according to claim 1, wherein: said body portion includes a conical skirt portion, and said body portion includes an exterior surface provided with traction means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
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 fit within the punctal opening; and c) a shaft having an inner wall and an outer wall which are each provided with at least one undulation along a length of the shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
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 fit within the punctal opening; and c) a shaft having an inner wall and an outer wall which are each provided with at least one undulation along a length of the shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A punctum plug according to claim 11, wherein: said at least one undulation is smooth.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A punctum plug according to claim 11, wherein: said at least one undulation is angular.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A punctum plug according to claim 11, wherein: said shaft portion tapers to a smaller diameter in the direction of said body portion to said head portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A punctum plug according to claim 11, wherein: said at least one undulation defines a helical fold in said shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A punctum plug according to claim 11, further comprising: d) a flared skirt portion defining a rim which is collapsible toward said shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A punctum plug according to claim 11, wherein: said body portion discrete from said shaft portion includes a conical skirt portion discrete from said shaft portion, and said body portion includes an exterior surface provided with traction means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
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 fit within the punctal opening; and c) a shaft having a wall which is provided with a plurality of curving portions along a length of the shaft.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
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 fit within the punctal opening; and c) a shaft having a wall which is provided with a plurality of curving portions along a length of the shaft.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A punctum plug according to claim 18, wherein: a least some of said plurality of curving portions are convex.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A punctum plug according to claim 19, wherein: said shaft portion is provided with a fold substantially around said circumference of said shaft between each of said convex curving portions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A punctum plug according to claim 18, wherein: at least some of said plurality of curving portions are concave.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A punctum plug according to claim 21, wherein: said shaft is provided with an apex portion between each of said convex curving portions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
A punctum plug according to claim 18, wherein: A plurality of curving portions are convex and said shaft further includes along said length of said shaft at least one circumferential concave curving portion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
A punctum plug according to claim 18, wherein: said shaft portion tapers to a smaller diameter in a direction of said body portion to said head portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
A punctum plug according to claim 18, further comprising: d) a flared skirt portion defining a rim which is collapsible toward said shaft.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
A punctum plug according to claim 18, wherein: said body portion includes a conical skirt portion, and said body portion includes an exterior surface provided with traction means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
57 words
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 fit within the punctal opening; and c) a shaft having a wall which has a length over which said wall changes in thickness at a nonconstant rate.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
57 words
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 fit within the punctal opening; and c) a shaft having a wall which has a length over which said wall changes in thickness at a nonconstant rate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-28 | 2003-09-27 | 2004-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-28 | 2007-09-27 | 2008-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-28 | 2011-09-27 | 2012-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |