Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center to Transfer Novel Monocanalicular Lacrimal Stent with Adjustable Angle and Dual-Channel Drainage for Obstructive Lacrimal Disorders
Recently, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University released a public notice on the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, proposing to"A Novel Single-Tube Lacrimal Duct Stent"The relevant patent was transferred to Jinan Runshi Medical Devices Co., Ltd., with a transfer amount ofRMB 88,000 + Sales Revenue Royalties After Contract Product Launch. The inventor of this patent isLiang Xuanwei and his team。
Image source: Official website of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University
The assignee of this patent is Jinan Runshi Medical Devices Co., Ltd., a high-tech enterprise focusing on the field of ophthalmic and nasal medical devices. Invention coreSurgical Treatment for Lacrimal Duct Obstructive Diseases, mainly compatible with conjunctival dacryocystorhinostomy, conjunctival nasolacrimal duct anastomosis, and conjunctival nasal anastomosis. It is also suitable for clinical scenarios such as single canalicular laceration or punctal occlusion. By implanting the lacrimal duct, it plays a core role in supporting the anastomosis and guiding tear drainage, addressing many defects of traditional lacrimal duct drainage tubes and improving the success rate of lacrimal duct recanalization surgery.
The successful implementation of lacrimal duct obstructive disease surgery highly dependsThe Effect of Drainage Tube Implantation, needs to be achieved through a drainage tubeLacrimal duct anastomosis stent, smooth tear drainageThe core objective, while ensuringStability of Tubular Fixation and Adaptability to Anatomical Structures, but the existing single-tube lacrimal duct drainage tube has many prominent pain points in clinical application, seriously affecting the surgical outcome and patients' postoperative recovery, becoming the core technical bottleneck of complex lacrimal duct obstruction surgery.
The anatomical structure of the lacrimal duct is unique, with larger dimensions of anastomoses such as the conjunctival-lacrimal sac anastomosis and the lacrimal sac-nasal cavity anastomosis. Additionally, the conjunctival surface forms a natural anatomical angle with the distal anastomosis, requiring higher support and angular compatibility for the drainage tube. Traditional single-tube lacrimal duct drainage systems have a straight, fixed structure that cannot accommodate the anatomical angle and rely on a single fixation method, making it difficult to meet core clinical needs.
Technically speaking, the existingSingle-lumen lacrimal duct drainage tubeThe structural design has obvious limitations.
On the one hand, traditional drainage tubes have an overall straight structure without angle adjustment functions. After implantation, the outer end of the tube tends to point outward and upward, unable to make effective contact with the tear river. This not only affects the efficiency of tear drainage but also easily causes the suspension and reflux of secretions inside the tube. It cannot adapt to the natural anatomical angle between the conjunctival surface and the distal anastomosis, resulting in extremely poor compatibility with surgical methods such as conjunctival sac-anastomosis and conjunctival lacrimal sac-nasal cavity anastomosis.
On the other hand, the existing drainage tubes only rely on simple positioning with an elliptical lug at the end, lacking a professional fixation structure. The outer end of the tube protrudes from the inner canthus, and when patients rub their eyes or experience slight external force, the drainage tube can easily slip out of the lacrimal duct. This may require patients to undergo re-implantation or repositioning surgery, not only increasing patient suffering and treatment costs but also easily leading to postoperative complications. At the same time, traditional drainage tubes have a fixed diameter, providing insufficient support for large-sized anastomosis sites. The tube body is prone to being suspended within the anastomosis, failing to provide effective support and potentially causing blockage or adhesion in the anastomosis, thereby reducing the success rate of surgical recanalization.
In addition, the existing single-lumen drainage tube has a single drainage channel design with limited drainage pathways. It demonstrates poor drainage performance in complex cases of lacrimal duct obstruction. Moreover, the tube lacks scale markings, making it impossible to precisely cut the length according to surgical needs during the operation, resulting in poor operational flexibility. Doctors need to spend extra time adjusting the tube, indirectly affecting surgical efficiency.
These issues directly limit the outcomes of clinical surgeries:Inappropriate angle of the drainage tube, single drainage channel, which will significantly reduce the efficiency of tear drainage and easily cause reflux of secretions;Poor fixation of the tube, insufficient support, which not only increases the risk of drainage tube dislodgement but also easily causes anastomotic obstruction and adhesion, significantly reducing the success rate of the surgery;Repeated surgical adjustments and secondary surgeries, but also increase the probability of postoperative complications, affecting patients' postoperative recovery. For complex lacrimal duct obstruction surgeries such as conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy, conjunctivodacryocystostomy, single canalicular laceration, and punctal occlusion, existing single-tube drainage tubes can hardly meet the core clinical requirements for angle adaptation, stable fixation, effective support, and smooth drainage. There is an urgent need for a new type of single-tube lacrimal duct drainage tube with adjustable angles, firm fixation, and strong support to overcome the core technical bottleneck of lacrimal duct obstruction surgery.
This new single-tube lacrimal duct drainage tube precisely addresses the pain points of traditional products, such as poor fixation, weak compatibility, insufficient support, and suboptimal drainage, through targeted structural innovation.Universality, Fixity, Supportiveness, and Drainage EfficiencyForm a significant advantage, providing a more stable drainage solution for complex lacrimal duct obstruction surgeries such as conjunctivodacryocystorrhinostomy.
From the core structure, the patentAdopting a segmented design with an adjustable angle of 100° to 150°, which can precisely match the anatomical angle of the lacrimal duct according to different surgical methods, making the tube fit the physiological structure of the lacrimal duct. This ensures that the drainage port faces the lacrimal lake, guaranteeing smooth tear drainage while fundamentally preventing the reflux of secretions. At the same time, it adapts to the anatomical differences of different patients, greatly improving clinical versatility.
The patent achieves its goal through multi-structural collaborative design.Fixation, Support, DrainageTriple Upgrade: First, to build"Threaded Hole + Oval Convex Plate" Dual Fixation Mechanism, four symmetric through-holes can securely fix the tube to the conjunctiva, and the protruding piece effectively prevents the tube from slipping out or into the nasal cavity, significantly reducing the risk of postoperative complications and the need for secondary surgery; secondlyInflatable Limiting PartAddress the issue of insufficient traditional tube diameter, closely fit large anastomosis sites, resolve the problem of tube suspension, enhance anastomosis support, prevent blockage and adhesion, and improve surgical success rates; thirdly, the design"Hollow Main Pipeline + Through-type Drainage Groove" Dual Drainage Channels, combined with through-holes connected to the main pipeline, improve drainage efficiency through multiple pathways, and further reduce the probability of reflux.
At the same time, the product details are highly tailored to meet clinical operation needs:Medical silicone integrally molded tube, convex piece, and limiting part, soft and with good biocompatibility, no irritation or corrosion after implantation;The second tube segment features precise scales ranging from 0 to 20mm., which can be cut to the desired length as needed, making it easy to operate;First and Second Tube Segments: Differential Diameter Design, respectively adapting to the needs of anastomotic support and distal lacrimal duct implantation, achieving precise matching between the tube and various parts of the lacrimal duct.
These advantages optimize the clinical experience and treatment outcomes in all aspects: a single product compatible with multiple surgical procedures reduces the need for various instruments; dual fixation and enhanced support significantly improve surgical success rates; multi-channel drainage ensures smooth tear drainage; convenient detailed design simplifies operations and shortens surgical time. This technology breaks through the functional limitations of traditional single-lumen drainage tubes, achieving comprehensive improvements in adaptability, fixation, support, and drainage efficiency through structural innovation, providing strong instrumental support for the precise and safe implementation of lacrimal duct recanalization surgeries.
Currently, in response to the core clinical needs for fixation, adaptability, and support of drainage tubes in lacrimal duct obstruction surgeries, medical enterprises and research institutions both domestically and internationally have launched multi-dimensional technology development and product strategies. This has resulted in a competitive landscape where imported brands dominate the high-end market, while local enterprises penetrate the mid-to-low end and move towards innovation and upgrading. Dual-tube products are the mainstream in the market, while single-tube products focus on structural optimization and functional adaptability for technological iteration.
Hefei First People's HospitalFocusConvenient Technology for Lacrimal Duct Stent ImplantationResearch and Development, Launch"Magnetic-guided lacrimal duct drainage tube" technologyThe core achieves precise implantation of the soft drainage tube through the magnetic attraction between the iron component and the magnet, which can shorten operation time and reduce the risk of secondary damage to the lacrimal duct and nasal cavity. This addresses the issue of the high operational difficulty associated with traditional drainage tube implantation. Currently, this technology has applied for a utility model patent but has not yet been industrialized. Its single-tube product still features a fixed straight structure and does not include specialized designs for anastomotic support or anti-dislodgement.
Lanzhou Leiguan Disposable Lacrimal Duct Stent(Single-tube adult type) Suitable for drainage and support requirements in basic surgeries for adult lacrimal duct obstruction, featuring a hollow straight structure made from medical-grade conventional materials. This commonly used model in primary healthcare institutions includes specialized designs such as no-angle adjustment and enhanced fixation.
Shandong Freda's Lacrimal Duct Stent, available in Fr2 and Fr3 models, made with a core material of silicone rubber, paired with stainless steel probes and traction hooks to enhance implant convenience. The product line includes single-lumen and double-lumen types, with the single-lumen model featuring a traditional straight structure, suitable for common lacrimal duct conditions such as chronic dacryocystitis and lacrimal duct stenosis, and is a mainstream locally produced product used in secondary-level hospitals and above in China.
In summary, this technology precisely addresses the clinical pain points of traditional single-lumen lacrimal duct drainage tubes through core innovations such as adjustable angles, dual fixation, enhanced support, and multi-channel drainage. It incorporates detailed design considerations for clinical operations, achieving a comprehensive upgrade in product performance and providing an excellent instrument solution for complex lacrimal duct obstruction surgeries. By breaking through the limitations of traditional industry structures, this technology sets a new benchmark for the iteration of single-lumen lacrimal duct drainage tubes. It is expected to fill the market gap for specialized instruments in complex surgical procedures, promoting the development of the field towards precise adaptation and diversified synergy. The industrial implementation of this technology will advance the innovation and upgrading of domestic ophthalmic minimally invasive devices, enhancing their clinical application value.