US3726284A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Replacement tube for the lacrimal drainage ducts
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-04-05
•
Granted: 1973-04-10
•
Expires: 1991-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A replacement tube for the lacrimal drainage ducts includes a pair of elongated end portions. An expanded portion having a drain passage adjoins adjacent ends respectively of the end portions. Each of the end portions has a drain passage extending therethrough and communicating with the drain passage of the expanded portion. The expanded portion forms relatively abrupt junctions at generally opposite sides thereof with the end portions to prevent rejection of the replacement tube.
Inventors
- 👤 R Parker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00772
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A full-flow replacement tube for lacrimal drainaGe ducts and configured for permanent retention in a patient''s canthal area, said tube being fabricated from a substantially rigid material and comprising a pair of elongated end portions, an expanded portion having a drain passage extending therethrough longitudinally of said end portions and adjoining adjacent ends respectively of said end portions, each of said end portions having a drain passage extending therethrough and communicating with the drain passage of said expanded portion, said expanded portion forming abrupt outer junctions at generally opposite sides thereof with said end portions respectively to prevent rejection of said replacement tube through the patient''s flesh in either direction longitudinally of said end portions, and inner wall surfaces of said expanded portion forming relatively smooth junctions with inner wall surfaces of said end portions respectively in avoidance of obstruction to a full-flow of lacrimal fluid therethrough, said end portions and said expanded portion being shaped to extend from an innercanthus to an inferior nasal meatus of a given patient and to drain lacrimal fluid through said drain passages by gravity at least in an erect posture of said patient, at least one of said end portions having a sufficiently small outer dimension so as to extend through a surgical perforation in the patient''s lacrimal bone, said expanded portions having an outer dimension of a size to prevent passage thereof through said perforation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A full-flow replacement tube for lacrimal drainaGe ducts and configured for permanent retention in a patient''s canthal area, said tube being fabricated from a substantially rigid material and comprising a pair of elongated end portions, an expanded portion having a drain passage extending therethrough longitudinally of said end portions and adjoining adjacent ends respectively of said end portions, each of said end portions having a drain passage extending therethrough and communicating with the drain passage of said expanded portion, said expanded portion forming abrupt outer junctions at generally opposite sides thereof with said end portions respectively to prevent rejection of said replacement tube through the patient''s flesh in either direction longitudinally of said end portions, and inner wall surfaces of said expanded portion forming relatively smooth junctions with inner wall surfaces of said end portions respectively in avoidance of obstruction to a full-flow of lacrimal fluid therethrough, said end portions and said expanded portion being shaped to extend from an innercanthus to an inferior nasal meatus of a given patient and to drain lacrimal fluid through said drain passages by gravity at least in an erect posture of said patient, at least one of said end portions having a sufficiently small outer dimension so as to extend through a surgical perforation in the patient''s lacrimal bone, said expanded portions having an outer dimension of a size to prevent passage thereof through said perforation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said end portions are substantially straight and in substantial alignment with one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said end portions are each of substantially constant diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said end portions is of bent or curving configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said expanded portion includes a number of individual and laterally extending protuberances.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
A replacement tube for the lacrimal drainage ducts, said tube comprising a pair of elongated end portions, an expanded portion having a drain passage therethrough and adjoining adjacent ends respectively of said end portions, each of said end portions having a drain passage extending therethrough and communicating with the drain passage of said expanded portion, said expanded portion forming relatively abrupt junctions at generally opposite sides thereof with said end portions respectively to prevent rejection of said replacement tube in either direction of said end portions, and a relatively flexible cord inserted into said tube and extending from the upper end portion thereof when implanted in a patient to prevent the innercanthal area of the patient from healing over an inlet opening of said tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
A replacement tube for the lacrimal drainage ducts, said tube comprising a pair of elongated end portions, an expanded portion having a drain passage therethrough and adjoining adjacent ends respectively of said end portions, each of said end portions having a drain passage extending therethrough and communicating with the drain passage of said expanded portion, said expanded portion forming relatively abrupt junctions at generally opposite sides thereof with said end portions respectively to prevent rejection of said replacement tube in either direction of said end portions, and a relatively flexible cord inserted into said tube and extending from the upper end portion thereof when implanted in a patient to prevent the innercanthal area of the patient from healing over an inlet opening of said tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination according to claim 6 wherein said cord extends substantially through said tube and is secured at the other end thereof to an inserted stopper or closure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination according to claim 6 wherein said cord extends entirely through said tube and protrudes from a lower end thereof when so implanted to permit grasping and pulling of the cord downwardly through said tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination according to claim 8 wherein said cord extends a sufficient distance outwardly from the upper end of said tube for taping to an adjacent facial area of the patient and the lower end portion of the cord extends outwardly of the tube sufficient distance to pass through the inferior nasal meatus for taping to an adjacent facial area of the patient.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said tube is fabricated from a glass material and said expanded portion is blown spheroidal bubble.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for surgically by-passing the lacrimal drainage ducts, said method comprising the steps of surgically removing said ducts, constructing a passage in the canthal area of a patient substantially from the innercanthus to the inferior nasal meatus, said passage including a preforation thRough the lacrimal bone, inserting a cord through a replacement tube for said ducts, inserting said tube and cord in said passage, and extending an upper portion of said cord through the inner-canthal area of the patient''s eye so that the patient''s flesh can heal therearound to form an excretory inlet to said tube.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for surgically by-passing the lacrimal drainage ducts, said method comprising the steps of surgically removing said ducts, constructing a passage in the canthal area of a patient substantially from the innercanthus to the inferior nasal meatus, said passage including a preforation thRough the lacrimal bone, inserting a cord through a replacement tube for said ducts, inserting said tube and cord in said passage, and extending an upper portion of said cord through the inner-canthal area of the patient''s eye so that the patient''s flesh can heal therearound to form an excretory inlet to said tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 11 including the additional step of extending a lower end portion of said cord through the patient''s nasal passage for grasping and removing the cord from said tube and said innercanthal area after healing of the incision.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 11 including the additional step of enlarging an intermediate portion of said tube for retentional purposes prior to insertion thereof in said incision.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for surgically by-passing the lacrimal drainage ducts, said method comprising the steps of surgically removing said ducts, constructing a passage in the canthal area of a patient substantially from the innercanthus to the inferior nasal meatus, said passage including a surgical perforation through the lacrimal bone, forming a relatively rigid drainage tube substantially in conformance with said passage to extend substantially from the patient''s innercanthus to the inferior nasal meatus, disposing both said passage and said drainage tube such that lacrimal fluid drains through said tube by gravity at least in an erect posture of the patient, enlarging an intermediate portion of said tube for retentional purposes, and implanting said tube in said passage.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for surgically by-passing the lacrimal drainage ducts, said method comprising the steps of surgically removing said ducts, constructing a passage in the canthal area of a patient substantially from the innercanthus to the inferior nasal meatus, said passage including a surgical perforation through the lacrimal bone, forming a relatively rigid drainage tube substantially in conformance with said passage to extend substantially from the patient''s innercanthus to the inferior nasal meatus, disposing both said passage and said drainage tube such that lacrimal fluid drains through said tube by gravity at least in an erect posture of the patient, enlarging an intermediate portion of said tube for retentional purposes, and implanting said tube in said passage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
93 words
Replacement means for the lacrimal drainage ducts, said replacement means comprising a relatively rigid tubular member having a length sufficient to extend from the canthal area to the inferior nasal meatus of a patient, said tubular member having a full-flow drainage passage extending therethrough, a flexible cord inserted into said tubular member and extending substantially therethrough, said cord in addition extending from an upper end portion of said tubular member when implanted in said patient to prevent the innercanthal area of the patient from healing over an inlet opening of said tubular member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
Replacement means for the lacrimal drainage ducts, said replacement means comprising a relatively rigid tubular member having a length sufficient to extend from the canthal area to the inferior nasal meatus of a patient, said tubular member having a full-flow drainage passage extending therethrough, a flexible cord inserted into said tubular member and extending substantially therethrough, said cord in addition extending from an upper end portion of said tubular member when implanted in said patient to prevent the innercanthal area of the patient from healing over an inlet opening of said tubular member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination according to claim 15 wherein said cord extends at least to a lower end portion of said tubular member, and securance means are secured both to said cord and to said tubular member lower end portion such that said securance means and said cord can be removed with a surgical instrument inserted into the nasal passage of said patient.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination according to claim 15 wherein said cord in addition protrudes from a lower end of said tubular member for extension through a nasal passage of said patient for removal purposes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 14 including the additional step of providing means extending from an upper end of the tube and through the innercanthal area of the patient''s eye to prevent tissue closing off the upper end of said tube.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
77 words
Replacement means for the lacrimal drainage ducts, said replacement means comprising a relatively rigid tubular member having a length sufficient to extend from a canthal area to an inferior nasal meatus of a patient, said tubular member having a full-flow drainage passage extending therethrough, and means attached to said tubular member and extending at least from one end thereof to prevent the innercanthal area of the patient from healing over an inlet opening of the tubular member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
77 words
Replacement means for the lacrimal drainage ducts, said replacement means comprising a relatively rigid tubular member having a length sufficient to extend from a canthal area to an inferior nasal meatus of a patient, said tubular member having a full-flow drainage passage extending therethrough, and means attached to said tubular member and extending at least from one end thereof to prevent the innercanthal area of the patient from healing over an inlet opening of the tubular member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination according to claim 19 wherein said tubular member has an intermediate expanded portion through which said drainage passage extends, said expanded portion forming abrupt outer junctions with the remainder of said tubular member to prevent rejection thereof in either direction longitudinally of said member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-09 | 1976-10-09 | 1977-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-09 | 1980-10-09 | 1981-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-09 | 1984-10-09 | 1985-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |