Implant capable of forming a differential image in an eye and methods of inserting and locating same

Abstract

An implant capable of forming a differential image in an eye is shown. The implant comprises an elongated member having a pair of spaced ends. The elongated member is formed of a dimension to be inserted into and/or passed through a punctum opening of an eye and into the canaliculus. The implant comprises an energy obstructing material, such as for example a pigment comprising titanium dioxide, which is responsive to the application of an energy wave in the visible light range which, upon everting of an eyelid of an eye and exposing the implant to the energy wave, forms a differential image pattern showing the location of the implant in the canaliculus of the eye.

1 . An implant capable of forming a visible differential image in a canaliculus of an eye comprising: 
 an elongated member having a pair of spaced ends and a central axis wherein one of said pair of ends includes a distal section which extends in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis, said elongated member and said distal section being formed of a dimension to be inserted into and passed through a punctum opening of an eye; and    an energy obstructing material in the form of an energy blocking material coated as layer on part of or all of said elongated member or as pigment elements disseminated within part of or all of said elongated member responsive to the application of an energy wave having a wave length in the visible light range which upon everting of an eyelid of an eye and exposing the implant to an energy wave having a wave length in the visible light range forms on the opposite side of the canaliculus of an eye a visible differential image pattern showing the location of said implant in the canaliculus of an eye and wherein said opaque material comprises a pigment for absorbing light energy in the visible light range.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein said energy obstructing material is integral with said elongated member or said distal section.  
   
   
       5 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein said energy obstructing material is coated on said elongated member or said distal section.  
   
   
       6 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein said energy obstructing material is integral with the implant.  
   
   
       7 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein said energy obstructing material is coated on the implant.  
   
   
       8 . An implant capable of forming a differential image in an eye comprising: 
 an elongated member having a pair of spaced ends wherein one of said pair of ends includes a distal section which extends in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis, said elongated member and said distal section being formed of a dimension to be inserted into and passed through a punctum opening of an eye; and    a radiation obstructing material responsive to electromagnetic radiation in the visible light range being incorporated in said elongated member or said distal section which upon everting of an eyelid of an eye and exposing the implant to electromagnetic radiation in the visible light range forms a differential image pattern showing the location of said implant in the eye wherein said radiation obstructing material is responsive to electromagnetic radiation in the visible wavelength is incorporated in said elongated member or said distal section which upon everting of an eyelid of an eye and exposing the implant to electromagnetic radiation in the visible wavelength forms a differential image pattern on an opposite side of the canaliculus showing the location of said implant in the eye and wherein said opaque material comprises a pigment comprising titanium dioxide.    
   
   
       9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . The implant of  claim 8  wherein said a radiation obstructing material is integral with the implant.  
   
   
       12 . The implant of  claim 8  wherein said radiation obstructing material is coated on the implant.  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . An implant capable of forming a differential image in the canaliculus of an eye comprising: 
 an elongated member having a pair of spaced ends wherein one of said pair of ends includes a distal section which extends in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis, said elongated member and said distal section being formed of a dimension to be inserted into and passed through a punctum opening of an eye; and    a substantially opaque material responsive to electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength of visible light incorporated in said elongated member or distal section which upon everting of an eyelid of an eye and exposing the implant to electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength of visible light forms a differential image pattern showing on the opposite side of the canaliculus the location of said implant in the eye and wherein said opaque material comprises a pigment comprising titanium dioxide.    
   
   
       16 . The implant of  claim 13  wherein said distal section terminates in a distal tip.  
   
   
       17 . The implant of  claim 13  wherein said distal section terminates in a distal tip having a collapsible expanded section.  
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . The implant of  claim 13  wherein said opaque material comprises a pigment comprising about 3% to about 10% titanium diotide.  
   
   
       24 . The implant of  claim 13  wherein said distal section terminates in a distal tip having a collapsible expanded section and the other of said pair of ends includes a thin retaining lip, said thin retaining lip being positioned on the elongated member to pass the distal tip through the punctum opening and to position the distal tip adjacent to the punctum opening whereupon the thin retaining lip engages a lip margin of an eyelid to occlude the punctum opening.  
   
   
       25 . The implant of  claim 13  wherein collapsible expanded section is in the form of a collapsible flared section and said thin retaining lip is in the form of a thin elongated lip extending in a generally anterior direction upon insertion of the collapsible flared section into and through a punctum opening positioning the thin elongated lip anterior of the cornea of an eye whereupon the thin elongated lip is urged against the edge of the punctum opening and lid margin of an eyelid and occludes the punctum opening.  
   
   
       26 . The implant of  claim 25  wherein said thin elongated lip is positioned slightly anterior to the cornea of an eye whereupon the thin elongated lip is urged against the edge of the punctum opening and lid margin of an eyelid and occludes the punctum opening.  
   
   
       27 . A locatable implant comprising 
 an elongated member having central axis and a pair of spaced ends wherein one of said pair of ends includes a distal section terminating in a distal tip which extends in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis, said elongated member and said distal tip being formed of a dimension to be inserted into and passed through a punctum opening of an eye; and    a substantially opaque material responsive to electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength of visible light incorporated in at least one of said elongated member and distal tip which upon everting of an eyelid of an eye and exposing the implant to electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength of visible light forms a differential image pattern showing the location of said implant in the eye and wherein said opaque material comprises a pigment comprising 10% titanium dioxide.    
   
   
       28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 . (canceled)  
   
   
       30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . (canceled)  
   
   
       32 . (canceled)  
   
   
       33 . (canceled)  
   
   
       34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35 . (canceled)  
   
   
       36 . (canceled)  
   
   
       37 . (canceled)  
   
   
       38 . The implant of  claim 27  wherein the diameter of the distal tip is about 0.2 mm to about 0.4 mm.  
   
   
       39 . The implant of  claim 38  wherein the diameter of the distal tip is about 0.3 mm.  
   
   
       40 . The implant of  claim 27  wherein the implant is formed of a biodegradable material.  
   
   
       41 . The implant of  claim 27  wherein the biodegradable material is a collagen material.  
   
   
       42 . The implant of  claim 27  wherein the implant is formed of a non-biodegradable material.  
   
   
       43 . The implant of  claim 27  wherein the non-biodegradable material is a silicone material.  
   
   
       44 . An implant adapted to be inserted into a punctum opening of an eye and be transported therethrough into and to occlude the canaliculus, said implant comprising 
 an elongated member having a first end and a spaced, opposed second end and a central member having a predetermined cross-sectional dimension extending from said first end to said second end;    said second end having a collapsible expanded section which varies in cross-section as the collapsible expanded section approaches the second end and which terminates in an outer edge having a dimension which is greater than the predetermined cross-sectional dimension of the central member, said collapsible expanded section having an extended distal section which extends in a direction substantially normal to the central axis, said collapsible expanded section having a geometrical dimension approximately equal to that of the punctum opening of an eye adapted to pass the same, and wherein the application of a radial force in a direction to collapse the collapsible expanded section urges the same from its extended position into its collapsed position; and    a substantially opaque material responsive to electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength of visible light incorporated in at least one of said elongated member and distal section which upon everting of an eyelid of an eye and exposing the implant to electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength of visible light forms a differential image pattern showing the location of said implant in the eye and wherein said opaque material comprises a pigment comprising titanium dioxide.    
   
   
       45 . (canceled)  
   
   
       46 . (canceled)  
   
   
       47 . (canceled)  
   
   
       48 . (canceled)  
   
   
       49 . (canceled)  
   
   
       50 . (canceled)  
   
   
       51 . (canceled)  
   
   
       52 . (canceled)  
   
   
       53 . (canceled)  
   
   
       54 . (canceled)  
   
   
       55 . (canceled)  
   
   
       56 . (canceled)  
   
   
       57 . (canceled)  
   
   
       58 . (canceled)  
   
   
       59 . (canceled)  
   
   
       60 . (canceled)  
   
   
       61 . (canceled)