Gauge/dilator apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring a lacrimal punctum and a canaliculus is provided. The apparatus comprises a handle and a tip disposed at one end of the handle, said tip having a gauge portion of size and shape to allow measurement of the lacrimal punctum and the canaliculus. The apparatus may further comprise a dilator portion disposed between the gauge portion and handle.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for measuring a lacrimal punctum and a canaliculus comprising a handle and a tip disposed at the end of the handle, said tip comprising a gauge having a shape and size that allows measurement of a lacrimal punctum and a canaliculus.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gauge has a plurality of graduating diameters, each diameter corresponding to a respective lacrimal punctum and a canaliculus.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gauge has a diameter of about 0.1 mm to about 1.0 min length.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the gauge has a diameter of about 0.4 mm to about 0.9 mm.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said tip further comprises a dilator disposed between the handle and the gauge and having a diameter that is about 0.5-2 mm larger than the diameter of the gauge.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the dilator is about 1 mm-3 mm in length.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a first tip having a first gauge on one end of the handle and a second tip having a second gauge on the opposite end of the handle.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first gauge and the second gauge have a diameter of about 0.1 mm to about 1.0 mm, and wherein the diameter of the first gauge is different from the diameter of the second gauge.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the diameter of the first gauge is different from the diameter of the second gauge by 0.1 mm increments.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a first dilator located between the first gauge and the handle, and a second dilator between the second gauge and the handle.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first gauge is about 0.4 mm in diameter and the second gauge is about of 0.5 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first gauge is about 0.5 mm in diameter and the second gauge is about of 0.6 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first gauge is about 0.6 mm in diameter and the second gauge is about 0.7 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first gauge os about of 0.8 mm in diameter and the second gauge is about 0.9 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a punctum plug on the opposite end of the handle, said punctum plug and the gauge having the same diameter.  
     
     
         16 . A plurality of measurement devices, each device comprising a handle and a tip disposed at the end of the handle, said tip comprising a gauge having a shape and size that allows measurement of a lacrimal punctum and a canaliculus, each gauge having a different diameter, wherein the different diameters incrementally increase 0.1 mm from a first gauge to a last gauge of the plurality of gauges.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is a gauge having incremental graduations along the length of said handle.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus are composed of any metal or plastic tissue-inert material.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handle and the tip are composed of an alloy of stainless steel.  
     
     
         20 . A method for measuring the lacrimal punctum and canaliculus, comprising inserting the gauge of the apparatus of  claim 1  into a lacrimal punctum until a sphincter seats flush around the tip and by this means measuring the lacrimal punctum and canaliculus.  
     
     
         21 . A method for treating keratoconjunctivitis sicca, comprising the steps of: 
 a) inserting the gauge portion of the apparatus of  claim 4 , into a lacrimal punctum until a sphincter seats flush around the gauge portion when observed and by this means determining whether the inserted gauge portion fits snugly when both entering and exiting the lacrimal punctum;    b) inserting a larger or smaller diameter gauge portion of the apparatus into the lacrimal punctum if the gauge portion in step (a) does not fit snugly or offers to much resistance when inserted and repeating step (a) with increasingly larger or smaller diameter gauge portions until the sphincter is observed to fit snugly;    c) inserting the dilator portion into the lacrimal punctum without first removing the gauge portion in step (b);    d) removing the apparatus from the lacrimal punctum and immediately inserting a punctum plug the same size as the largest gauge portion used in steps (b) or (c) into the lacrimal punctum thereby treating keratoconjunctivitis sicca.