PUNCTUM DILATING AND PUNCTUM PLUG INSERTION INSTRUMENT

摘要

A dilating and plug inserting instrument includes a tubular body having at each of its ends a punctum plug mount and a mechanism for individually releasing the plugs therefrom. In addition, the instrument includes removable clear dilating caps provided over the plug mounts which in addition to permitting dilation of the punctum provides a protective enclosure for the plug until the cap is removed. A method is also provided for dilating a punctum and inserting a plug using a single instrument without necessitating using opposite ends of the instrument. A packaging system including a clear plastic tube containing the instrument and a sterile barrier end cap enclosing an open end of the tube is also provided and a carton is also provided for storing the tubes. The instrument may be color coded to indicate a size of the plug loaded thereon.