The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 25, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 27, 1997
Nicholas J Webb, Wrightwood, CA (US);
Eaglevision, Inc, Memphis, TN (US);
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.