Abstract: An implant and method for treating external human eye conditions due to a deficiency of tears. The method includes the temporary blockade of the canaliculus of a patient without resorting to a surgical stitch, observing the response of the patient's eye to the temporary blockade and, if an improvement is observed, placing an implant within the horizontal portion of at least one of the canaliculi of the patient's eye. The temporary blockade may be produced by the placement of a piece of catgut in the canaliculus. The implant is constructed of a material that is nonabsorbable by the human body and is constructed to facilitate placement into and removal from the canaliculus.

Abstract: A periodontal probe which is structurally isolated from a recording device and which is touch-activated. The probe includes a tubular probe body and a semi-rigid fiber extending from a forward segment of the probe body for insertion into an anatomical pocket of a patient. A slider member within the probe body is connected to the fiber at one end and to an iron-nickel core at the opposite end. The fiber is inserted into an anatomical pocket in a fully extended position. After contact with the base of the pocket, the fiber begins to retract into the probe body. Thus, the fiber and the core move relative to the probe body. The probe body is brought into contact with the upper extent of the anatomical pocket, so that the portion of the fiber extending from the probe has a length equal to the depth of the pocket. The core is received within a coil winding, and the relative position of the core within the coil winding determines the inductance of a LC oscillator.