This document discusses, among other things, an apparatus comprising a lacrimal implant insertable at least partially into a lacrimal punctum. The lacrimal implant comprises an implant core, and an implant body. The implant body includes a cavity sized and shaped to receive the implant core. At least one of the implant core and the implant cavity includes a detection device configured to allow automatic detection of the lacrimal implant with a separate detector device.

The present invention discloses a degradable foldable biological amniotic membrane composite repair stent, comprising a tubular body with an axially extending through hole, the front end of the tubular body is provided with an elastic balloon, and the end of the tubular body is connected to a one-way valve which seals the through hole here, the outer face of the elastic balloon is coated with a foldable reticulated polylactic acid stent, the outer surface of the foldable reticulated polylactic acid stent is coated with a biological amniotic membrane, and there are a plurality of micropores on meshes of the foldable reticulated polylactic acid stent, the plurality of micropores are filled with biological amniotic membrane powder; in the initial state, the elastic balloon, the foldable reticulated polylactic acid stent, and the biological amniotic membrane are compressed into a tight state; in the use state, after being implanted in the body and expanded under pressure, it can conform to the lacrimal duct/uterine cavity to form a tubular or drop-like shape or other spatial shape that adapts to the body cavity.

A surgical tool for inserting a spile or plug into the punctal opening of a meatus such as a lacrimo-nasal canaliculus. The tool includes a distal end having a plug-carrying structure which includes distally extending rod for engaging an axial bore in the plug, and an abutment having a radial prominence supporting a penetration-resisting bearing surface which prevents over-insertion of the plug by contacting tissue surrounding the punctal opening. The abutment can be shaped and dimensioned to provide effective and comfortable penetration resistance while affording ample visibility to the surgeon user. The rod can be axially withdrawn through a rod tracking tube having a precisely dimensioned central lumen restricting off-axis movement of the rod. The abutment can be fixed to the rod or detached from it.

A cannula includes a hollow cylindrical body which is open at one end and closed at the other end. A slot extends from the open end toward the closed end, terminating with an opening that is larger in width than the slot, the width being measured in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in which the slot extends. The opening allows the passage of a guide wire for relative sliding. The configuration of the cannula is such that the end of the wire coming out of the cannula through the opening cannot, once inserted into the openings, penetrate into the part of the cannula beyond the opening between the latter and the closed end of the cannula. Related methods for inserting a tube shaped probe into a tear duct are disclosed.

A paranasal sinus access implant device may include one or more material or geometric features that may enhance performance of one or more portions of the implant device, for example an exposed surface including an antimicrobial agent. Various products and methods may include or use such an implant device.

Lacrimal implants for treating diseases or disorders are disclosed. More particularly, lacrimal implants, methods of making such implants, and methods of treating ocular, respiration, inner ear or other diseases or disorders using such implants are disclosed.

An apparatus to treat a cataract where the cataractous lens is pierced and the resulting opening is mechanically maintained using a lens system device such as a cylindrical lens, tubular lens, pinhole device, a stent or similar small diameter device, or where the device itself is the lens. The resulting passageway for visible light created in the cataractous lens allows light to better reach the retina, thus improving vision. This lens system device that can be placed into an in situ cataract provides for a much simpler surgical technique and reduces related pre and post operative procedures and potential complications. Intraocular lenses may also be used in concert with this invention. The apparatus and related methods can be applied to humans as well as animals.

A dermal conditioning device is for creating at least one pressure point on at least an external surface of an eyelid. The device includes at least one skin tissue lesion generator, at least one controller, a power supply and a housing, the controller coupled to the skin tissue lesion generator. A power supply couples to the skin tissue lesion generator and the controller and the housing encasing the skin tissue lesion generator and the controller. The controller controls the skin tissue lesion generator to generate at least one signal and to apply the signal to stress the external surface of an outer layer of the eyelid, the stress causing a formation of the pressure point on the eyelid without tissue coagulation, thereby activating at least one of a corneal reflex, a menace reflex, and a lacrimation reflex of the eyelid by activating at least one nociceptor on the eyelid.

A medical instrument and method is described for facilitating lacrimal occlusion. The instrument has two arms for holding a plug being inserted through the punctum, each arm having a distal end and a proximal end. Attached to the proximal end of the arms is a dilator oriented in the opposite direction along the longitudinal axis of the instrument. The instrument is conveniently rotated in the hand of the practitioner to alternately present the functioning end of the instrument as either the distal end of the arms (for holding a plug) or the distal end of the dilator (for enlarging the punctum prior to attempting to inserting the plug). The instrument has a means for moving the two arms near to each other and away from each, and a means for holding the two arms near to each other without requiring closing pressure applied by the practitioner.

An implant device is configured to be implanted in a fistula to fluidly connect the lacrimal apparatus and a paranasal sinus. A surgical tool has an implant the implant device mounted on a carrier. Various methods involve a fistula between the lacrimal apparatus and a paranasal sinus. A kit includes an entry device for use to form a fistula and an implant tool for use to implant an implant device following formation of a fistula.