Patent ID: 7846124

Claim:
A method for stenting a patient's nasolacrimal duct which comprises the steps of: selecting an elongated tubular guide sleeve and an elongated flexible stent; wherein said guide sleeve has an open proximal end and an open distal end, and defines an internal channel; and, wherein said stent has a proximal extremity and a distal extremity; and, wherein said stent is located within said channel; pushing said sleeve carrying said stent through a patient's punctum, canaliculus, lacrimal sac, nasolacrimal duct and into the nasal cavity; confirming that the distal end of said sleeve is located in said nasal cavity; proximally withdrawing said guide sleeve while leaving said stent in place; and, affixing a punctal anchor to said stent; wherein said selecting an elongated flexible stent further comprises: choosing said stent to be tubular; and, wherein said distal extremity is closed and said proximal extremity is open.