Nasolacrimal Compression Device

Abstract

A device is used to temporarily compress the nasolacrimal ducts to reduce outflow of eyedrop during and after eyedrop instillation. The device is to be hand bended to snuggly fit any adult head sizes with any facial features so that the nose pads may apply firm pressure over the nasal aspect of the orbital rim where nasolacrimal ducts lay underneath the skin. The pressure delivered by the device is consistent and is controllable by the user. The device includes failure mechanism to protect against excessive pressure. By keeping eyedrops in the eye, medication absorption is improved and bitter taste due to eydrop outflow is reduced or eliminated. It alleviates the burden of manual nasolacrimal occlusion currently practiced by eye patients and is best for frequent, multiple eyedrops users.

Claims

1. A device for temporarily occluding the nasolacrimal ducts in adult patients to reduce outflow through the nasolacrimal ducts, the device comprising a steel wire device frame, steel wire hooks, rubber sleeves and hook and loop bands; the steel wire device frame comprising: a first curved nose pad segment and a second curved nose pad segment joined together at the central point, each of the first and second curved nose pad segments being formed to fit across the nasolacrimal duct at the nasal aspect of the orbital rim; a first frontal segment and a second frontal segment, with the first and second curved nose pad segments being located between the first frontal segment and the second frontal segment; a first temple segment and a second temple segment extended from first and second frontal segments; the steel wire hooks comprising: a first temple hook and a second temple hook; the rubber sleeves comprising: a first rubber sleeve covering the first curved nose pad segment and a second rubber sleeve covering the second curved nose pad segments; a third rubber sleeve covering the first temple segment and the first temple hook and a fourth rubber sleeve covering the second temple segment and the second temple hook; the hook and loop bands comprising: a first hook and loop band attaching to the first temple hook and the second hook and loop band attaching to the second temple hook;

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is flexible and can be bended by hand; the hand adjustable items comprising: the curvature of curved nose pad segments, which is adjustable by bending both curved nose pad segments towards the central point to increase their curvature to fit deeper facial contour or bending away from the central point to decrease their curvature to fit flatter facial contour; the distance between two nose pad segments, which is adjustable by bending the angle at the central point to fit either wider or narrower nose; the width of the frontal segments, which is adjustable by bending both frontal segments upwards to fit narrower face; the angle between the curved nose pad segments and temple segments, which is adjustable by twisting both frontal segments clockwise to fit deeper set eyes or counterclockwise to fit shallower set eyes; the position of the central point relative to the nose, which is adjusted to point away perpendicularly from the nose to allow room for the nose; the length of temple segment, which is extendable by pulling the temple hook away from the temple sleeve to fit larger head size, or pushing the temple hook into the temple sleeve to fit smaller head size; the pressure exerted on the nasolacrimal ducts, which can be controlled by adjusting the tightness of hook and loop bands around the back of the head; the proper pressure varies from persons but can be determined via trial and error using the bitter taste test or dye disappearance test.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is biocompatible; the biocompatible items comprising: the curved nose pad segments, which are covered with non-latex rubber sleeves; the temple segments and temple hooks, which are covered with non-latex rubber sleeves.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is safe; the embedded safety items comprising: the device frame and temple hooks, which are coated with non-flammable plastic; the hook and loop bands, which are made of flame retardant fabric; the pressure applied on nasolacrimal ducts, which is capped by the yield stress limit of the device frame.

5. The flexible fitting method herein disclosed offers advantage over fixed fitting methods used by prior devices because it enables positive and complete occlusion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0018] FIG. 1 is the side view of a person wearing the device.

[0019] FIG. 2 is the anatomical site for applying the device.

[0020] FIG. 3 is the detailed description of the device.

[0021] FIG. 4 is the adjustable components and adjustment methods of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] This device frame is made of plastic coated soft carbon steel wire with skin contact portions covered with non-latex rubber sleeves. It is almost identical to a spectacle frame but is fully adjustable. The device frame width, nose bridge frame width, nose pad curvature and temple length can all be adjusted by hands to fit individual users.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 1, the side view of a person wearing the device. The device frame has a central point 1 where curved nose pad segment 2 meet. The curved nose pad segment extends to the frontal segment 3 and the frontal segment extends to the temple segment 4. The hook and loop fastening band 5 go around the back of person's head.

[0024] Referring now to FIG. 2, the anatomical site for applying the device. The nose pad 2 sits on top of the nasolacrimal duct 6. The nose pad is shaped concave inward to fit the contour of the face in the nasal aspect of the orbital rim. The graphic illustrates a nose pad sitting across the nasolacrimal duct; exerting gentle pressure on it.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 3, the detailed description of the device. Two curved nose pad segments 2 are covered with non-latex rubber sleeves 7 and joined together at the central point 1. The curved nose pad segments are extended side way to form a pair of frontal segments 3 and then angled backwards to form a pair of temple segments 4. Each of the two hook and loop fastening bands 5 is fixed by a ring 10 on a temple hook 8. Each of the two temple hooks is attached to a temple segment by inserting both temple segment and temple hook into a non-latex rubber temple sleeve 9.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 4, the adjustable components and adjustment methods of the device. The curved nose pad segments 2 can be bended towards 11 the central point 1 to increase their curvature to fit deeper facial contour or be bended away 12 from the central point to decrease their curvature to fit flatter facial contour. The distance 13 between two curved nose pad segments can be adjusted to fit either wider or narrower nose by bending the angle 14 at the central point. The frontal segments 3 can be bended upwards 15 to fit narrower face. The frontal segments 3 can be twisted clockwise 16 to fit deeper set eyes or counterclockwise 17 to fit shallower set eyes. After the nose pad and frontal frame adjustments, the central point should be adjusted to point away perpendicularly from the nose to allow room for the nose. The length of temple segment 4 can be extended by pulling the temple hook 8 inside the temple sleeve 9 outwards 18 to fit larger head size, or be reduced by pushing the temple hook inwards 19 to fit smaller head size. To apply pressure on the nasolacrimal ducts, wrap the hook and loop bands around the back of the head and then tighten them by reducing a desired amount 20 of length. Excessive tightness will not produce excessive pressure on the nasolacrimal ducts as the pressure is capped by the yield stress limit of the device frame. The required pressure varies from persons but can be determined by trial and error via leak checking using bitter taste test at home or dye disappearance test at clinic.