Patent ID: 11857461
Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, A BODY CORPORATE
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A lacrimal system for drug delivery to an eye, comprising;
a) a reservoir balloon having an exit port, the reservoir balloon configured to enclose a volume of fluid;
b) a tube comprising at least a first lumen and a second lumen, a first end, and a second end; wherein the first end of the tube is fluidly coupled to the exit port of the reservoir balloon; wherein the at least the first lumen and the second lumen each extend through the first end of the tube such that the at least the first lumen and the second lumen are each in fluid communication with the reservoir balloon;
c) an endcap comprising a port and configured to interface with a punctum and to be in contact with a tear film of the eye of a subject during use to facilitate delivery of fluid from the reservoir balloon to the eye, wherein the endcap is fluidly coupled to the second end of the tube;
d) a flow-limiting plug, the flow-limiting plug at least partially residing within the at least the first lumen of the tube and extending through the port of the endcap to provide flow resistance and create a pressure differential to at least partially control a flow of the fluid from the reservoir balloon, through the at least the first lumen, to the eye during use, wherein the flow-limiting plug comprises a hydrogel; and
e) a guide-wire.