Nasolacrimal implants and related methods for tear stimulation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016367806-A1
Application number	US-201615180451-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 13, 2016
Priority date	Jun 16, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device for inducing production of tears may include a body extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The body may be configured for insertion through a puncta of a subject. The device also may include a stimulus delivery mechanism positioned between the proximal end and the distal end and an induction coil operably coupled to the stimulus delivery mechanism. Further, the device may include an external controller wirelessly coupled to the induction coil for inductively transferring energy to the induction coil.

First claim

1 . A device for inducing production of tears, comprising:
a body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the body is configured for insertion through a puncta of a subject; and a stimulus delivery mechanism positioned between the proximal end and the distal end.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus delivery mechanism includes a conductor.

3 . The device of claim 2 , further including a plurality of conductors positioned between the proximal end and the distal end of the body.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein an induction coil is operably coupled to the stimulus delivery mechanism.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the body is configured for direct contact with a canaliculus of a subject.

6 . The device of claim 1 , further including a faceplate adjacent the proximal end of the body.

7 . The device of claim 1 , further including a sensor configured for sensing one or more of biochemical properties of tears, placement of the body, and operation of stimulus delivery mechanism.

8 . A device for inducing production of tears, comprising:
a body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the body is configured for insertion through a puncta of a subject; a stimulus delivery mechanism positioned between the proximal end and the distal end; an induction coil operably coupled to the stimulus delivery mechanism; and an external controller wirelessly coupled to the induction coil for inductively transferring energy to the induction coil.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the body includes an opening extending through a side wall of the body.

10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the stimulus delivery mechanism is positioned within the opening.

11 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the body includes a plurality of openings extending through a side wall of the body.

12 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the stimulus delivery mechanism includes a conductor.

13 . The device of claim 12 , further including a plurality of conductors positioned between the proximal end and the distal end of the body.

14 . The device of claim 8 , further including a faceplate adjacent the proximal end of the body.

15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the faceplate has a faceplate diameter larger than a diameter of the proximal end of the body.

16 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the induction coil is in direct contact with the faceplate.

17 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the body and the faceplate include non-planar surfaces.

18 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the body is tapered such that the proximal end has a proximal end diameter and the distal end has a distal end diameter, wherein the distal end diameter is smaller than the proximal end diameter.

19 . The device of claim 8 , further including a lumen extending from the proximal end of the body to the distal end of the body.

20 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the body comprises mesh.

21 . The device of claim 20 , wherein the mesh is self-expandable.

22 . The device of claim 8 , further including a sensor configured for sensing one or more of biochemical properties of tears, placement of the body, and operation of stimulus delivery mechanism.

23 . A method for inducing production of tears, comprising:
contacting tissue of a canaliculus of a subject with a stimulus delivery mechanism of a device; wirelessly communicating a stimulation signal from an external device to an induction coil associated with the device; and stimulating tissue of the canaliculus of the subject via the stimulation delivery mechanism to induce tearing from a lacrimal gland of the subject.

24 . The method of claim 23 , further including inserting the device through a puncta of the subject and positioning the device within the canaliculus of the subject.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein upon inserting the device and positioning the device, no portion of the device is received within a nasal cavity of the subject.

26 . The method of claim 23 , wherein stimulating tissue of the canaliculus of the subject includes exciting at least one of the nasociliary nerve, the supratrochlear nerve, and the infratrochlear nerve to induce tearing from the lacrimal gland of the subject.

27 . A system for inducing production of tears, comprising:
a plurality of stimulation devices, each stimulation device including:
a body extending from a proximal end to a distal end;
a stimulus delivery mechanism positioned between the proximal end and the distal end; and
an induction coil operably coupled to the stimulus delivery mechanism; and
an external controller wirelessly coupled to the induction coil of each of the plurality of stimulation devices for inductively transferring energy to the induction coil, wherein the placement of at least one stimulation device of the plurality of stimulation devices is dependent on the placement of at least one other stimulation device of the plurality of stimulation devices.

28 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the stimulus delivery mechanism of at least one of the plurality of stimulation devices includes a conductor.

29 . The system of claim 27 , wherein at least one of the plurality of stimulation devices includes a faceplate adjacent the proximal end of the body of the at least one of the plurality of stimulation devices.

30 . The device of claim 29 , wherein the faceplate has a faceplate diameter larger than a diameter of the proximal end of the body.

Assignees

• Univ Colorado Regents

Inventors

• Kahook Malik Y

Classifications

• A61N1/37205

  Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula · CPC title

• A61N1/37229

  Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna · CPC title

• A61N1/36046 Primary

  of the eye · CPC title

• A61N1/0551

  Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes · CPC title

• A61N1/36057

  adapted for stimulating afferent nerves · CPC title