Patent ID: 8235932

Claim:
A method for placing a stent in a patient's nasolacrimal duct which comprises the steps of: selecting an elongated semirigid tubular probe and an elongated flexible stent; wherein said probe has a proximal end and a distal end; wherein said stent has a proximal extremity and a distal extremity; wherein said distal extremity is detachably secured to said distal end; and, wherein said probe and said stent are oriented in a side-by-side configuration; pushing said distal end and said distal extremity through a patient's punctum, canaliculus, lacrimal sac, nasolacrimal duct and into the nasal cavity; detaching said distal extremity from said distal end while said distal end is located in said cavity; proximally withdrawing said probe while leaving said distal extremity in said cavity; and, placing a punctal anchor associated with said proximal extremity within said patient's punctum.