Method and apparatus for lacrimal canal obstruction
A plug is presented. The plug includes biodendrimer and is suitably sized and shaped to be placed within a punctum or a lacrimal canal of an eye. The plug, when placed within the punctum or the lacrimal canal for approximately six months, can at least partly occlude the punctum or the lacrimal canal throughout the approximately six months. The plug can completely dissolve or partially dissolve and fall out of the punctum or the lacrimal canal after the approximately six months. A method of treating an eye is also presented. The method includes introducing biodendrimer into a punctum or a lacrimal canal of the eye and polymerizing the biodendrimer such that the polymerized biodendrimer at least partly occludes the punctum or the lacrimal canal for at least approximately six months.
1 . A plug comprising:
biodendrimer, wherein the plug is suitably sized and shaped to be placed within a punctum or a lacrimal canal of an eye.
2 . The plug of claim 1 , wherein the plug, when placed within the punctum or the lacrimal canal for about a predetermined time period, is configured to at least partly occlude the punctum or the lacrimal canal throughout the predetermined time period.
3 . The plug of claim 2 , wherein the plug is configured to completely occlude the punctum or the lacrimal canal throughout the predetermined time period.
4 . The plug of claim 2 , wherein the plug is configured to completely dissolve or partially dissolve and fall out of the punctum or the lacrimal canal after the predetermined time period.
5 . The plug of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined time period is substantially more than seven days.
6 . The plug of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined time period is about two weeks.
7 . The plug of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined time period is about six months.
8 . The plug of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined time period is approximately equal to the time period in which a corneal flap re-innervates.
9 . A method of treating an eye comprising:
introducing biodendrimer into a punctum or a lacrimal canal of the eye; and
polymerizing the biodendrimer, wherein the polymerized biodendrimer at least partly occludes the punctum or the lacrimal canal for about a predetermined time period.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein introducing biodendrimer into the punctum or the lacrimal canal includes injecting the biodendrimer with a syringe.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein polymerizing the biodendrimer includes exposing the biodendrimer to laser light.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the laser light is from an argon laser.
13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of:
refraining from removing the polymerized biodendrimer from the punctum or the lacrimal canal before the polymerized biodendrimer completely dissolves or falls out of the punctum or the lacrimal canal.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the polymerized biodendrimer completely dissolves or falls out of the punctum or the lacrimal canal at about the predetermined time period.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined time period is about six months.
16 . A method of retaining moisture in an eye comprising:
making a biodendrimer plug, wherein the biodendrimer plug is insertable into a punctum or a lacrimal canal of the eye such that the biodendrimer plug at least partly occludes the punctum or the lacrimal canal for about a predetermined time period.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein making the biodendrimer plug includes introducing biodendrimer into a mold.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein making the biodendrimer plug includes exposing the biodendrimer to laser light.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the biodendrimer plug completely dissolves or falls out of the punctum or the lacrimal canal if the biodendrimer plug is not removed from the punctum or the lacrimal canal.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the biodendrimer plug completely dissolves or falls out of the punctum or the lacrimal canal after the predetermined time period.
21 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the predetermined time period is approximately six months.