Texas Patent of the Month – February 2025
Quest Medical, Inc. has unveiled a groundbreaking nasolacrimal duct stent designed to address tear drainage issues with minimal discomfort and visibility for patients. The innovative device features a hollow shaft flanked by two specialized anchors—each meticulously engineered for function and patient comfort. At the proximal end, a punctal plug paired with a flange ensures secure lodging in the eye’s punctum and ampulla, while allowing fluid to flow into the shaft. At the distal end, a resilient anchor deploys into a predetermined shape—ranging from pigtail to spiral or zigzag—once a removable guidewire is withdrawn.
This intelligent use of shape memory and flexibility means the stent can be inserted in a straight, collapsed form for easy navigation through the nasolacrimal duct. Once in place, the guidewire is removed and the stent springs into its final configuration, securely anchoring itself with minimal exposed surface. By reducing external visibility and irritation, Quest’s design addresses a key drawback in prior stent models, which often left distracting and vulnerable tubing visible outside the puncta.
Equally important is the ease of removal. Though the distal anchor provides resistance to accidental retraction, its pliability allows for safe withdrawal through the original insertion point. With a shaft diameter as slim as 0.3 mm and lengths around 50 mm, the device is engineered for comfort, performance, and discretion—an elegant solution for restoring tear flow while preserving patient experience.
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