Abstract
A dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) tool (10) includes a perforating shaft (30) having a distal perforating tip (32) configured to form a bypass between a lacrimal sac and a nasal cavity through a lateral side of the lacrimal sac, a lacrimal bone, and nasal mucosa. A DCR guide (20) includes a nasal guide component (40) configured to be inserted into the nasal cavity and having a distal guide tip (42); and a lacrimal guide component (50) shaped so as to define a guide channel (52) that orients the DCR guide (20) with respect to the distal perforating tip (32) during advancing of the distal perforating tip (32) through a lacrimal passageway and into the lacrimal sac, until contact of the distal perforating tip (32) with the distal guide tip (42) blocks further advancing of the distal perforating tip (32). The DCR guide (20) constrains the distal guide tip (42) to fall in a path of advancement of the distal perforating tip (32). Other embodiments are also described.
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a nasal component configured to be inserted into the nasal cavity, the nasal component having a distal tip; a lacrimal guide channel; a perforating shaft configured for being received within said lacrimal guide channel, said perforating shaft having a distal perforating tip configured for advancing through a lacrimal passageway, to form a bypass between a lacrimal sac and the nasal cavity; and a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) guide coupled to said nasal component and to said lacrimal guide channel, wherein said DCR guide is configured to orient said distal tip of said nasal component relative to said distal perforating tip during said advancing of said distal perforating tip, to block advancing of said distal perforating tip beyond said distal tip.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the DCR guide is configured to set a desired angle between respective central longitudinal axes of the nasal component and the perforating shaft.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the DCR guide is shaped so as to define an arcuate portion comprising (i) a first support member coupled in fixed orientation to said nasal component, and (ii) a second support member coupled in fixed orientation to said lacrimal guide channel, wherein said first and second support members are arranged in slidable attachment with respect to one other so as to set a total aggregate length of said arcuate portion, and wherein said total aggregate length of said arcuate portion defines said desired angle.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lacrimal passageway includes a lacrimal punctum, a lacrimal canal, and a common canaliculus.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nasal component, including the distal tip, is shaped so as to define a nasal guidewire-accepting channel, and wherein said nasal guidewire-accepting channel comprises a distal opening which faces at least partially in a lateral direction that faces toward the lacrimal guide channel.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the nasal component comprises (a) an outer guide element that is shaped so as to define a nasal-shaft-accepting channel therethrough, and (b) a nasal shaft that is slidable through the nasal-shaft-accepting channel, and wherein the nasal shaft is shaped so as to define the distal tip and the nasal guidewire-accepting channel.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the perforating shaft, including the distal perforating tip, is shaped so as to define a lacrimal guidewire-accepting channel.
8. A method comprising: providing an apparatus comprising: a nasal component configured to be inserted into the nasal cavity, the nasal component having a distal tip, a lacrimal guide channel, a perforating shaft configured for being received within said lacrimal guide channel, said perforating shaft having a distal perforating tip configured for advancing through a lacrimal passageway, to form a bypass between a lacrimal sac and the nasal cavity, and a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) guide coupled to said nasal component and said lacrimal guide channel, wherein said DCR guide is configured to set a desired angle between respective central longitudinal axes of the nasal component and the perforating shaft, and to orient said distal tip of said nasal component relative to said distal perforating tip during said advancing of said distal perforating tip, to block advancing of said distal perforating tip beyond said distal tip; inserting said nasal guide into said nasal cavity; operating said DCR guide to set said desired angle; and advancing said perforating shaft through said lacrimal passageway to form said bypass, until said advancing is blocked by said distal tip.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the DCR guide is shaped so as to define an arcuate portion comprising (i) a first support member coupled in fixed orientation to said nasal component, and (ii) a second support member coupled in fixed orientation to said lacrimal guide channel, wherein said first and second support members are arranged in slidable attachment with respect to one other so as to set a total aggregate length of said arcuate portion, and wherein said total aggregate length of said arcuate portion defines said desired angle.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said lacrimal passageway includes a lacrimal punctum, a lacrimal canal, and a common canaliculus.
11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the nasal component, including the distal tip, is shaped so as to define a nasal guidewire-accepting channel, and wherein said nasal guidewire-accepting channel comprises a distal opening which faces at least partially in a lateral direction that faces toward the lacrimal guide channel.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the nasal component comprises (a) an outer guide element that is shaped so as to define a nasal-shaft-accepting channel therethrough, and (b) a nasal shaft that is slidable through the nasal-shaft-accepting channel, and wherein the nasal shaft is shaped so as to define the distal tip and the nasal guidewire-accepting channel.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the perforating shaft, including the distal perforating tip, is shaped so as to define a lacrimal guidewire-accepting channel.
14. An apparatus comprising: a nasal component configured to be inserted into the nasal cavity, the nasal component having a distal tip, wherein the nasal component, including the distal tip, is shaped so as to define a nasal guidewire-accepting channel; a lacrimal guide channel; and a lacrimal guidewire shaft configured for being received within said lacrimal guide channel, the lacrimal guidewire shaft having a distal shaft tip configured for advancing through a lacrimal passageway, wherein the lacrimal guidewire shaft, including the distal shaft tip, is shaped so as to define a lacrimal guidewire-accepting channel, and a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) guide coupled to said nasal component and said lacrimal guide channel, wherein said DCR guide is configured to orient said distal tip of said nasal component relative to said distal shaft tip during said advancing of said distal shaft tip, to block advancing of said distal shaft tip beyond said distal tip.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said distal shaft tip is configured to form a bypass between a lacrimal sac and the nasal cavity.
16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the DCR guide is configured to set a desired angle between respective central longitudinal axes of the nasal component and the lacrimal guidewire shaft.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the DCR guide is shaped so as to define an arcuate portion comprising (i) a first support member coupled in fixed orientation to said nasal component, and (ii) a second support member coupled in fixed orientation to said lacrimal guide channel, wherein said first and second support members are arranged in slidable attachment with respect to one other so as to set a total aggregate length of said arcuate portion, and wherein said total aggregate length of said arcuate portion defines said desired angle.
18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said nasal guidewire-accepting channel comprises a distal opening which faces at least partially in a lateral direction that faces toward the lacrimal guide channel.
19. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the nasal component comprises (a) an outer guide element that is shaped so as to define a nasal-shaft-accepting channel therethrough, and (b) a nasal shaft that is slidable through the nasal-shaft-accepting channel, and wherein the nasal shaft is shaped so as to define the distal tip and the nasal guidewire-accepting channel.
20. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said lacrimal passageway includes a lacrimal punctum, a lacrimal canal, and a common canaliculus.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0077] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) tool, in accordance with an application of the present invention;
[0078] FIGS. 2A-C are schematic illustrations of components of respective DCR tools, in accordance with respective applications of the present invention;
[0079] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of performing dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), in accordance with an application of the present invention;
[0080] FIGS. 4A-I are schematic illustrations of the performance of the method of FIG. 3, in accordance with an application of the present invention; and
[0081] FIGS. 5A-D are schematic illustrations of a locking mechanism of a nasal guide component of the DCR tool of FIG. 1, in accordance with an application of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF APPLICATIONS
[0082] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) tool 10, in accordance with an application of the present invention. the DCR tool is used to perform dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), i.e., the formation of a bypass between the lacrimal system and the nasal cavity. DCR tool 10 comprises a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) guide 20 and, for some applications, a perforating shaft 30 having a distal perforating tip 32 configured to form a bypass between a lacrimal sac and a nasal cavity through a lateral side of the lacrimal sac, a lacrimal bone, and nasal mucosa, such as described hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 4A-B.
[0083] DCR guide 20 comprises: [0084] a nasal guide component 40, which is configured to be inserted into the nasal cavity and has a distal guide tip 42; and [0085] a lacrimal guide component 50, which is shaped so as to define a guide channel 52, which is configured to orient DCR guide 20 (via lacrimal guide component 50) with respect to guide distal perforating tip 32 of perforating shaft 30 during advancing of distal perforating tip 32 through a lacrimal passageway and into a lacrimal sac, such as described hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 4A-B, until contact of distal perforating tip 32 with distal guide tip 42 of nasal guide component 40 blocks further advancing of distal perforating tip 32, such as described hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 4B.
[0086] DCR guide 20 is configured to constrain distal guide tip 42 of nasal guide component 40 to fall in a path of advancement of distal perforating tip 32. The lacrimal passageway to a large extent sets the path of advancement of distal perforating tip 32, which in turn sets an orientation and location of perforating shaft 30. Perforating shaft 30 in turn sets an orientation and location of lacrimal guide component 50, which sets an orientation and location of nasal guide component 40, including distal guide tip 42, in the nasal cavity (as described in more detail hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 4B). As a result, distal guide tip 42 is automatically and non-electrically positioned in the path of advancement of distal perforating tip 32, and thus comes in contact with distal perforating tip 32 and blocks its advancement. Typically, DCR guide 20 does not comprise any circuitry or other electrical or electronic elements.
[0087] Reference is still made to FIG. 1. For some applications, DCR guide 20 (e.g., a support structure thereof) is configured to set a desired angle a (alpha) between respective central longitudinal axes 56A and 56B of nasal guide component 40 and perforating shaft 30. For some of these applications, DCR guide 20 (e.g., a support structure thereof) is shaped so as to define an arcuate portion 60 that is configured to allow relative movement between nasal guide component 40 and lacrimal guide component 50 to set the desired angle a (alpha). For some applications, DCR guide 20 comprises first and second arcuate support members 62A and 62B, which are coupled in fixed orientation to nasal guide component 40 and lacrimal guide component 50, respectively, and together define arcuate portion 60. First and second arcuate support members 62A and 62B are arranged in slidable attachment with respect to one other so as to set a total aggregate length of an arc defined by the support members and thus angle a (alpha). For example, one of first and second arcuate support members 62A and 62B may be partially disposed within the other of first and second arcuate support members 62A and 62B, as shown, or first and second arcuate support members 62A and 62B be disposed alongside one another in slidable attachment.
[0088] Reference is still made to FIG. 1. For some applications, nasal guide component 40, including distal guide tip 42, is shaped so as to define a nasal guidewire-accepting channel 70. Typically, a distal opening 72 of nasal guidewire-accepting channel 70 faces at least partially in a lateral direction D that faces toward lacrimal guide component 50 (typically, this orientation is set (i.e., constrained) by DCR guide 20, such as described hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 5A-D). (As used in the present application, including in the claims, the phrase “faces toward” does not require the lateral direction D to be directed entirely toward lacrimal guide component 50.)
[0089] Reference is still made to FIG. 1. For some applications, nasal guide component 40 comprises (a) an outer guide element 80 that is shaped so as to define a nasal-shaft-accepting channel 82 therethrough, and (b) a nasal shaft 84 that is slidable through nasal-shaft-accepting channel 82, typically before nasal guide component 40 is inserted into the nasal cavity. Nasal shaft 84 is shaped so as to define distal guide tip 42 and nasal guidewire-accepting channel 70, if provided. For some applications, as shown, nasal shaft 84 comprises a needle, which, for example, may be a Tuohy needle, as is known in the epidural art. As mentioned above, distal opening 72 of nasal guidewire-accepting channel 70 typically faces at least partially in lateral direction D. For some applications, DCR guide 20 is configured to rotationally orient distal guide tip 42 such that lateral direction D faces toward lacrimal guide component 50. For some applications, nasal guide component 40 further comprises a locking mechanism 600, such as described hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 5A-D.
[0090] Reference is now made to FIGS. 2A-C, which are schematic illustrations of components of DCR tools 110, 210, and 310, respectively, in accordance with respective applications of the present invention. DCR tools 110, 210, and 310 are implementations of DCR tool 10, described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 1 and may implement any of the features thereof.
[0091] For some applications, DCR tool 10 further comprises a dilator 100, which is configured to be advanced through the lacrimal passageway and into the bypass, and to dilate the bypass. For some of these applications, dilator 100 comprises an inflatable element 102, such as a balloon, which is configured to dilate the bypass by being inflated in the bypass. Typically, inflatable element 102 is disposed at or near a distal end 104 of a shaft 106 of dilator 100. Dilator 100 is typically inflated about 12 mm medially from a lacrimal punctum 514, and typically has a length of 10-15 mm. For other applications, DCR tool 10 does not comprise dilator 100.
[0092] Reference is made to FIG. 2A. In this configuration, DCR tool 110 further comprises, in addition to perforating shaft 30, a lacrimal guidewire shaft 90 having a distal tip 92 (which is either sharp, as shown, or blunt). In this configuration, perforating shaft 30 is typically solid, i.e., does not define a channel therethrough. For some applications, perforating shaft 30 comprises a drilling perforating shaft 130, and distal perforating tip 32 of perforating shaft 30 is shaped as a drill bit 132. For other applications, perforating shaft 30 comprises a punching perforating shaft, and distal perforating tip 32 is shaped as a punch (configuration not shown, but similar to punching perforating shaft 230 described hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 2B, except that in the present configuration the punching perforating shaft does not necessarily define a channel therethrough). Further alternatively, perforating shaft 30 comprises an energy-application perforating shaft, which uses energy (e.g., RF, electrical, or laser) to form the bypass.
[0093] Reference is still made to FIG. 2A. Lacrimal guidewire shaft 90, including distal tip 92 thereof, is shaped so as to define a lacrimal guidewire-accepting channel 94. Guide channel 52 of lacrimal guide component 50 is configured to orient DCR guide 20 (via lacrimal guide component 50) with respect to distal tip 92 of lacrimal guidewire shaft 90 during advancing of distal tip 92 through guide channel 52 and the lacrimal passageway and into the lacrimal sac. DCR guide 20 is configured to constrain distal guide tip 42 of nasal guide component 40 to fall in a path of advancement of distal tip 92 of lacrimal guidewire shaft 90.
[0094] Reference is still made to FIG. 2A. For some applications, DCR tool 110 does not comprise perforating shaft 30. For these applications, the surgeon forms bypass using a perforating tool that is not a component of DCR tool 110, either using or not using DCR tool 110.
[0095] Reference is made to FIGS. 2B and 2C. In these configurations, perforating shaft 30, including distal perforating tip 32, is shaped so as to define lacrimal guidewire-accepting channel 94. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2B, perforating shaft 30 of DCR tool 220 comprises a punching perforating shaft 230, and distal perforating tip 32 is shaped as a punch 232. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2C, perforating shaft 30 of DCR tool 320 comprises a drilling perforating shaft 330, and distal perforating tip 32 is shaped as a drill bit 332.
[0096] For some applications, a tubular support element 96 is provided, which is configured to be advanced through the lacrimal passageway and into the bypass, and to maintain patency of the bypass, such as described hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 4H.
[0097] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a flowchart illustrating a method 400 of performing dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), in accordance with an application of the present invention. Reference is also made to FIGS. 4A-I, which are schematic illustrations of the performance of method 400, in accordance with an application of the present invention. Method 400 is illustrated using DCR tool 110, described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 2A. DCR tool 210 or DCR tool 310, described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 2B and 2C, respectively, may alternatively be used, mutatis mutandis, such as described hereinbelow.
[0098] As shown in FIG. 4A, at a nasal guide insertion step 402, nasal guide component 40 of DCR guide 20 is inserted into a nasal cavity 500 of a patient's body 502. Nasal guide component 40 need not be inserted precisely by the surgeon, so long as it is inserted into the correct nostril, because it will be precisely oriented and positioned by DCR guide 20 at lacrimal advancement step 404, described hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 4B.
[0099] As shown in FIG. 4B, at a lacrimal advancement step 404, perforating shaft 30 is advanced through guide channel 52 of lacrimal guide component 50 of DCR guide 20 and a lacrimal passageway 510 and into a lacrimal sac 512. Lacrimal passageway 510 includes lacrimal punctum 514 (either inferior, as shown, or superior, not shown), a lacrimal canal 516 (either inferior, as shown, or superior, not shown), and a common canaliculus 518. Surgeons skilled in the DCR art generally are able to advance perforating shaft 30 through lacrimal passageway 510 without difficulty.
[0100] DCR guide 20 constrains distal guide tip 42 of nasal guide component 40 to fall in a path of advancement of distal perforating tip 32. As a result of this constraint, DCR guide 20 typically positions distal guide tip 42 of nasal guide component 40 at an axilla of a middle turbinate of nasal cavity 500. Optionally, the surgeon may visually confirm the proper positioning of distal guide tip 42, such as using a nasal endoscope.
[0101] For some applications, such as shown in the transition between FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, for performing nasal guide insertion step 402 and lacrimal advancement step 404, DCR guide 20 is used to set a desired angle α (alpha) between respective central longitudinal axes 56A and 56B of nasal guide component 40 and perforating shaft 30, such as described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 1, based on the particular anatomy of the patient (e.g., the shape and size of the relevant parts of the anatomy). For some applications, the desired angle α (alpha) is set using arcuate portion 60 of DCR guide 20 that allows relative movement between nasal guide component 40 and lacrimal guide component 50 to set the desired angle, such as described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 1.
[0102] Also as shown in FIG. 4B, at a perforation step 406, a bypass 520 is formed between lacrimal sac 512 and nasal cavity 500 by advancing distal perforating tip 32 of perforating shaft 30 through a lateral side 522 of lacrimal sac 512, a lacrimal bone 524, and nasal mucosa 526, until contact of distal perforating tip 32 with distal guide tip 42 of nasal guide component 40 blocks further advancing of distal perforating tip 32. This contact prevents over-advancement distal perforating tip 32, which might otherwise perforate tissue across nasal cavity 500, which is generally no more than several millimeters beyond bypass 520. For some applications, such as shown in FIG. 4B, distal perforating tip 32 is drilled through the lateral side of lacrimal sac 512, lacrimal bone 524, and nasal mucosa 526. Alternatively, distal perforating tip 32 is punched through the lateral side of lacrimal sac 512, lacrimal bone 524, and nasal mucosa 526 (technique not shown in FIG. 4B).
[0103] Lacrimal advancement step 404 and perforation step 406 are optional; the surgeon may instead form bypass 520 using a perforating tool that is not a component of DCR tool 110 (e.g., either mechanically or using energy, e.g., laser energy), either using or not using DCR tool 110.
[0104] For some applications, as shown in FIGS. 4C-E, at a guidewire placement step 408, a guidewire 530 is placed such that guidewire 530 passes through lacrimal passageway 510, bypass 520, and at least a portion of nasal guidewire-accepting channel 70 (labeled in FIGS. 1 and 2A). (In these applications, nasal guide component 40, including distal guide tip 42, is shaped so as to define nasal guidewire-accepting channel 70.) Typically, guidewire 530 is advanced in a direction from lacrimal punctum 514 toward nasal cavity 500. Typically, guidewire 530 is placed such that guidewire 530 passes through lacrimal passageway 510, bypass 520, the entire nasal guidewire-accepting channel 70, and out of a proximal end of nasal guidewire-accepting channel 70. Typically, distal opening 72 of nasal guidewire-accepting channel 70 faces at least partially in lateral direction D that faces toward lacrimal guide component 50, such as described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 1.
[0105] For some applications, guidewire placement step 408 comprises: [0106] at a perforating shaft removal step 410, removing perforating shaft 30 from the patient's body (after forming bypass 520, as shown in FIG. 4B); [0107] as shown in FIG. 4C, at a lacrimal guidewire insertion step 412, inserting lacrimal guidewire shaft 90 through guide channel 52 of lacrimal guide component 50 and lacrimal passageway 510 and into lacrimal sac 512; DCR guide 20 constrains distal guide tip 42 of nasal guide component 40 to fall in a path of advancement of distal tip 92 of lacrimal guidewire shaft 90 (as describe hereinabove with reference to FIG. 2A, lacrimal guidewire shaft 90, including distal tip 92 thereof, is shaped so as to define lacrimal guidewire-accepting channel 94); [0108] as shown in FIG. 4D, at a guidewire advancement step 414, advancing guidewire 530 through lacrimal guidewire-accepting channel 94 while lacrimal guidewire shaft 90 is disposed passing through lacrimal passageway 510; and [0109] withdrawing lacrimal guide component 50, lacrimal guidewire shaft 90, and nasal guide component 40 from guidewire 530 and out of the patient's body, leaving guidewire 530 in place, as shown in FIG. 4E, typically such that a first end 532A of guidewire 530 extends out of the patient's body through lacrimal punctum 514 and a second end 532B of guidewire 530, opposite first end 532A, extends out of the patient's body through nasal cavity 500.
[0110] Typically, as shown in FIG. 4D, at guidewire advancement step 414, guidewire 530 is advanced through lacrimal guidewire-accepting channel 94 while (a) lacrimal guidewire shaft 90 is disposed passing through lacrimal passageway 510 and bypass 520, and (b) distal tip 92 of lacrimal guidewire shaft 90 is in contact with distal guide tip 42 of nasal guide component 40.
[0111] For some applications, as shown in FIG. 4F, at a dilation step 416, dilator 100 is advanced along and over guidewire 530 and through lacrimal passageway 510 and into bypass 520, and bypass 520 is dilated using dilator 100. As shown in FIG. 4G, dilator 100 is removed from the patient's body.
[0112] For some applications, such as shown in FIG. 4H, at a support step 418, tubular support element 96 is advanced along and over guidewire 530 and through lacrimal passageway 510 and into bypass 520, and guidewire 530 is removed from the patient's body while leaving the tubular support element in place in bypass 520, as shown in FIG. 41. For example, tubular support element 96 may comprise a stent (e.g., comprising metal (e.g., Nitinol) and/or a polymer, e.g., silicone) or a polymer tube, e.g., comprising silicone. For some applications, tubular support element 96 is left in place long-term, while for other applications, tubular support element 96 is removed after patency of bypass 520 is achieved, such as after a few weeks. Although the proximal end of tubular support element 96 is shown as terminating outside lacrimal punctum 514, tubular support element 96 may alternatively be shorter, and terminate within lacrimal canal 516, common canaliculus 518, in lacrimal sac 512.
[0113] Reference is made to FIGS. 2B-C and FIG. 4B-E. For applications in which DCR tool 210, described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 2B, or DCR tool 310, described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 2C, is used to perform the DCR, guidewire placement step 408 does not comprise perforating shaft removal step 410; instead, perforating shaft 30 is left in lacrimal passageway 510 after forming bypass 520. At lacrimal guidewire insertion step 412, guidewire 530 is advanced through lacrimal guidewire-accepting channel 94 while perforating shaft 30 is disposed passing through lacrimal passageway 510, such that guidewire 530 passes through lacrimal passageway 510. Typically, guidewire 530 is advanced through lacrimal guidewire-accepting channel 94 while (a) perforating shaft 30 is disposed passing through lacrimal passageway 510 and bypass 520, and (b) distal perforating tip 32 is in contact with distal guide tip 42 of nasal guide component 40. Thereafter, lacrimal guide component 50, perforating shaft 30, and nasal guide component 40 are withdrawn from guidewire 530 and out of the patient's body, leaving guidewire 530 in place, as shown in FIG. 4E.
[0114] Reference is now made to FIGS. 5A-D, which are schematic illustrations of a locking mechanism 600 of nasal guide component 40, in accordance with an application of the present invention. In this configuration, as mentioned above with reference to FIG. 1, nasal guide component 40 comprises (a) outer guide element 80 that is shaped so as to define nasal-shaft-accepting channel 82 therethrough (labeled in FIG. 2A), and (b) nasal shaft 84 that is slidable through nasal-shaft-accepting channel 82, typically before nasal guide component 40 is inserted into the nasal cavity. Nasal shaft 84 is shaped so as to define distal guide tip 42 and nasal guidewire-accepting channel 70 (labeled in FIG. 2A). Providing nasal shaft 84 as a component separate from outer guide element 80 (and from the other elements of DCR guide 20) may enable reusability of DCR guide 20 with a plurality of disposable nasal shafts 84 (for example, because nasal shaft 84 may become slightly damaged, e.g., bent, during the surgical procedure).
[0115] Typically, as shown in FIG. 5D, when outer guide element 80 and nasal shaft 84 are coupled together, distal opening 72 of nasal guidewire-accepting channel 70 is constrained by outer guide element 80 and nasal shaft 84 to face at least partially in lateral direction D, described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 1.
[0116] Optionally, but not necessarily, nasal guide component 40 comprises locking mechanism 600, which is configured to lock nasal shaft 84 rotationally with respect to nasal-shaft-accepting channel 82, thereby maintaining the rotational orientation of distal opening 72 of nasal guidewire-accepting channel 70, i.e., facing at least partially in lateral direction D after rotationally orienting distal guide tip 42, as shown in FIG. 5D. Locking mechanism 600 also typically locks nasal shaft 84 axially with respect to nasal-shaft-accepting channel 82, which fixes the axial position of distal guide tip 42 with respect to nasal guide component 40 and ensures that distal guide tip 42 falls in the path of advancement of distal tip 92 of lacrimal guidewire shaft 90, as described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 1.
[0117] FIG. 5A shows DCR guide 20 before insertion of nasal shaft 84 into nasal-shaft-accepting channel 82 (labeled in FIG. 2A) of outer guide element 80 of nasal guide component 40. FIG. 5B shows DCR guide 20 upon partial insertion of nasal shaft 84 into nasal-shaft-accepting channel 82. FIG. 5C shows DCR guide 20 after insertion of nasal shaft 84 into nasal-shaft-accepting channel 82, while locking mechanism 600 is in an unlocked state.
[0118] For some applications, as shown in FIG. 5D, rotation of nasal shaft 84 with respect to outer guide element 80 transitions locking mechanism 600 from the unlocked state to a locked state, in which distal opening 72 of nasal guidewire-accepting channel 70 is constrained and locked to face at least partially in lateral direction D. In addition, in the locked state, locking mechanism 600 locks nasal shaft 84 axially with respect to nasal-shaft-accepting channel 82.
[0119] For some applications, as shown in FIGS. 5A-D, nasal guide component 40 comprises a first proximal base 602 that is shaped so as to define a first coupling element 604 of locking mechanism 600, and nasal shaft 84 comprises a second proximal base 606 that is shaped so as to define a second coupling element 608 of locking mechanism 600. First and second coupling elements 604 and 608 are configured to be locked together, such as by rotation with respect to each other, as shown in FIG. 5D.
[0120] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove, as well as variations and modifications thereof that are not in the prior art, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.
