Eagle Vision, Inc.

Enteroptyx

Clarity Corporation

Richard W Mendius

Anthony D Prescott

Nicholas J Webb

Patrick Ireland

Robert Wade Allen

Jerre M Freeman

J Patrick Ireland

Connor James Robinson

James S Linder

A cleaning system includes a surgical tool assembly having a longitudinal shaft and a sleeve surrounding the longitudinal shaft. The system includes an injector head and body that receive the assembly. The head has an inlet coupling that fluidly couples to a pressurized fluid source. The body couples to the head to house the assembly between the head and the body. The body has an outlet coupling to fluidly couple to a vacuum source. When the assembly is housed between the head and the body, at least one fluid pathway is formed between the inlet coupling, the head, the shaft and the sleeve, the body, and the outlet coupling. A positive pressure fluid source is coupled to the inlet coupling and a vacuum source is connected to the outlet coupling to establish a pressure differential across the fluid pathway sufficient to draw the fluid therethrough.

Surgical instrument sanitizer apparatus, system, and method of use

A punctum plug includes a proximal head, a shaft, and a distal body, and an axial bore. The head is defined by a flexible circular flange with a convex upper portion and a concave lower portion. The body defines a frustoconically tapered distal tip and a two wings that extend in an arc and taper in thickness. The wings can extend further radially than the flange of the head. A recessed groove is defined around the shaft extending between the wings and a wall structure connecting the winged portions of the body. The above structure permits one plug or fewer plugs to accommodate a broad patient population.

Punctum plug

A punctum dilating and plug inserting system includes an inserter and a protective cover defining a dilator. The inserter includes a longitudinal body, and a handle. The handle has a rounded stationary member and a trigger rotatably connected to the handle by a living hinge. A mounting wire extends through the body and is connected to the trigger. When the trigger is activated, the wire is retracted and a plug mounted on a distal end of the wire is released. A packaging is provided for receiving, protecting, and handling at least a portion of the entire inserter until ready for use. An end of the packaging includes a dilator dip for dilating the punctum in advance of receiving the punctum plug.

Punctum plug insertion device and device packaging

A system is provided for stabilized total ossicular replacement in a middle ear having an intact stapes with a capitulum and a footplate. The system includes an ossicular replacement prosthesis including with elongate shaft and a head coupled to the shaft, and a stabilizer that couples the prosthesis to the stapes. The stabilizer has a first portion with a first opening and a second portion with a second opening, said first opening sized to stably engage the shaft of the prosthesis, and said second opening sized to stably engage the capitulum. When the shaft and capitulum are engaged they are retained in an side-by side configuration. The stabilizer may be constructed of an elastic polymer, an elastic metal alloy, a plastic material or a shape memory material.

Ossicular prosthesis with stabilizer and method of use with intact stapes

A punctum plug includes a body portion having a nose and rim portions which meet at an angle which facilitates both insertion and retention. In addition, the shaft of the plug includes a circumferential groove level with the top of the body which increases flexibility between the shaft and body of the plug. Furthermore, the groove locates the pivot point of the rim of the body radially inward which increases the flexibility of the rim.

Scleral implants are provided having structure that locks the implant into incisions in the sclera and provide a stress thereto. In several embodiments, such structure includes a foot that extends laterally from a bottom of the implant, as well as an opening through which suture may be passed. Furthermore, the foot of the implant may be contoured to conform to the natural curvature of the sclera. In other embodiments, the implant is generally disc-shaped and includes a tab and a suture opening. With this implant, one or two pockets are defined in the sclera, preferably at eleven o'clock and/or one o'clock, the implant is placed therein, and the pocket incision may be closed with suture. The implant may also include a system for measuring and transmitting the intraocular pressure. With all the implants, the eye pressure is increased and/or the sclera is lifted to treat a disorder of the eye.

Bulbous scleral implants for the treatment of eye disorders such as presbyopia and glaucoma

A punctum plug system includes a punctum plug and an insertion tool therefor. In various embodiments of the invention, the plug includes an axial bore shaped in accord with a stepped cylinder, a cylinder having a tapered end, or a combination thereof. In each embodiment, a relatively proximal portion of the tip of the insertion tool extends within a relatively larger diameter proximal portion of the plug bore but does not frictionally engage such portion, and a relatively distal portion of the insertion tool tip frictionally engages the distal portion of the plug bore. The frictional engagement between the tool tip and the plug is preferably optimized such that once the plug is inserted into a punctum for which the plug is appropriately sized, the insertion tool may be removed simply by withdrawal of the tool, without wiggling the tool or stabilizing the plug with a second instrument.

Punctum plug system including a punctum plug and passive insertion tool therefor

A punctum plug generally includes a shaft and a head at a proximal end of the shaft. The shaft is provided with at least one circumferentially radiating flexible anchoring arm of varying radial extension at at least two locations along its length which is adapted to secure the punctum plug within the punctum of a wearer. The head has a concave proximal surface and a distal surface which tapers toward the shaft. A diameter of the head is substantially larger than a diameter of the shaft. According to a first embodiment of the invention, a plurality of anchoring arms in the form of symmetric circumferential rings are spaced a distance apart along a length of the shaft and define spaces therebetween. One or more of the rings has a diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of the head of the plug, and different rings preferably have different diameters. According to a second embodiment of the invention, a plurality of anchoring arms in the form of longitudinally offset flanges are spaced a distance apart along a length of the shaft. The offset flanges are offset relative to a plane extending axially through the shaft.

Punctum plug with at least one anchoring arm

A monocanalicular stent includes a plug and a tubing molded with or coupled to the plug portion at an angle. The plug portion preferably includes a body portion, a neck portion, and a head portion. The tubing extends substantially longer than the plug portion. A delivery stylet is also provided and extends into a pathway of the tubing and provides a device by which the physician may handle the stent and insert it into the canaliculus. The tubing portion may be cut to length and closed. The stylet is then maneuvered to deliver the stent into a dilated punctal opening and then advanced through the canaliculus until the position of the plug portion is immediately above the punctal opening. The stylet is then removed, and the plug portion is then manipulated into the punctal opening until the head portion is flush with the surface of the punctal opening.

Monocanalicular stent

A punctum plug includes a proximal head, a distal body, and a shaft between the head and the body. The head and shaft are provided with a bore to facilitate insertion of the plug through the punctal opening with an insertion tool. According to one aspect of the invention, the head is provided with a lower portion having a frustoconical shape which, in situ, reduces the external profile of the head, without sacrificing the thickness of the head. Preferably, the head includes peripheral upper and lower surfaces which are both non-orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and a more central upper surface which is generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. According to a second aspect of the invention, the head has an oblong cross-section such that long and short lateral dimensions are defined across the head. According to a third aspect of the invention, at least a proximal portion of the shaft is provided with an oblong cross-section. The exterior shape of the head, and the oblong shape of the head and waist provide a punctum plug which has an improved anatomical fit in the vertical punctum and at the punctal opening, and thereby minimizes contact between the head of the plug and the conjunctiva of the eye, and thereby reduces eye irritation.

Punctum plug and method for inserting the same into the punctual opening

A microsurgical scalpel assembly including an elongate scalpel handle and a scalpel blade affixed at one end of the scalpel handle and a shield releasably affixed to the one end of the scalpel handle and extending away from the handle to operably surround the scalpel blade to isolate sharp surfaces of the scalpel blade from a surgeon and to protect the blade from damage during a re-sterilization autoclave procedure.

Microsurgical scalpel assembly

A punctum dilating and plug inserting instrument includes a cylindrical body with a first end being a plug inserting tip, and a second end being a punctum dilating tip. An elongated button is arranged longitudinally along the body. The button includes a fixed end and a slidable end; the fixed end being positioned between the slidable end and the plug inserting tip. The button also includes an outwardly bowing inner surface spaced from the body. A wire is slidably positioned longitudinally within the body. The wire includes an outer end protruding from the plug inserting tip, and an inner end attached to the slidable end of the button. A conventional punctum plug is attached to the outer end of the wire, and can be inserted into a punctum after the punctum is dilated by the dilating tip. The plug is released by depressing the button, which causes the outwardly bowing inner surface to be moved inwardly against the body, and the slidable end to be moved along the body away from the fixed end and the plug inserting tip. The wire is thus pulled by the slidable end of the button away from the punctum plug to release it.

Growing community of inventors

Collierville, TN, United States of America

Richard W Mendius