Method of treating urinary incontinence

• US 10,076,394 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2015
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coloplast A/S
• Original Assignee: Coloplast A/S
• Inventors: Browning, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuhlman, Catherine B
• Application Number:
  US14/741,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20170042650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 19 29- 31, 19 37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 Support slings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0072 Delivery tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0031 made from both resorbable and non-resorbable prosthetic parts, e.g. adjacent parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0051 differing in tissue ingrowth capacity, e.g. made from both ingrowth-promoting and ingrowth-preventing parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A method of treating urinary incontinence is disclosed. The method includes guiding a tip of an introducer tool through a length of a soft tissue anchor and out of an end of the soft tissue anchor. The method includes pushing the tip of the introducer tool and the soft tissue anchor into tissue on a side of a urethra, penetrating the tissue with the tip of the introducer tool, and delivering the soft tissue anchor into the tissue. The method includes removing the tip of the introducer tool from the soft tissue anchor and allowing a plurality of projections connected to the soft tissue anchor to expand thus anchoring the soft tissue anchor in the tissue.

Claims

1. A method of treating urinary incontinence, the method comprising:

pushing a tip of an introducer tool and a first soft tissue anchor coupled to the introducer tool into first soft tissue on a first side of a urethra, penetrating the first soft tissue with the tip of the introducer tool and the first soft tissue anchor, and delivering the first soft tissue anchor into the first soft tissue;

removing the tip of the introducer tool from the first soft tissue anchor and allowing a first projection connected to the first soft tissue anchor to expand thus anchoring the first soft tissue anchor in the first soft tissue;

pushing the tip of the introducer tool and the a second soft tissue anchor coupled to the introducer tool into second soft tissue on a second side of a urethra, penetrating the second soft tissue with the tip of the introducer tool and the second soft tissue anchor, and delivering the second soft tissue anchor into the second soft tissue;

removing the tip of the introducer tool from the second soft tissue anchor and allowing a second projection connected to the second soft tissue anchor to expand thus anchoring the second soft tissue anchor in the second soft tissue; and

supporting the urethra with a support that is coupled between the first soft tissue anchor and the second soft tissue anchor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a length of the support between the first soft tissue anchor and the second soft tissue anchor.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising anchoring the first soft tissue anchor in the first soft tissue without penetrating a rectus sheath with the first soft tissue anchor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein during insertion of the first soft tissue anchor into the first soft tissue the first projection is confined by the introducer tool.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein after insertion of the first soft tissue anchor, the first projection is released such that the first projection extends radially into the first soft tissue and secures the first soft tissue anchor.