System for delivering anchors for treating incontinence

• US 10,292,801 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2013
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teleflex Life Sciences III LLC
• Original Assignee: NeoTract, Inc. (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lamson, Theodore C, Catanese, III, Joseph, McLean, Matthew, Niederjohn, James W, Cheng, Floria, Tachibana, Brian Y, Gearhart, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Kaylee R
• Application Number:
  US13/852,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20130296639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,245 Days
• Field of Search: 600 30, 600 37, 606151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 H-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0022 placed deep in the body opening occluding blood vessels by internal devices A61B17/12022
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0036 implantable A61F2/0018 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and associated method for manipulating tissues and anatomical or other structures in medical applications for the purpose of treating incontinence. In one aspect, the system includes a delivery device configured to deploy and implant anchor devices for distracting and/or retracting the urethra or tissues proximate thereto, or to maintain a position of a urethra in response to intra-abdominal pressures.

Claims

1. A method for treating incontinence, comprising:

implanting a first anchor;

implanting a second anchor with a connector between the first and second anchors, wherein the first anchor, second anchor, and connector are implanted exterior to a prostate gland;

connecting the first anchor, second anchor, and connector to define a first anchor assembly; and

stabilizing a position of the urethra without maintaining compression on prostatic tissue during the time the position of the urethra is stabilized.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting an anchor delivery device within a urethral lumen and actuating the anchor delivery device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein stabilizing a position of the urethra comprises repositioning then stabilizing the position of the urethra.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein stabilizing a position of the urethra comprises stabilizing the position of the urethra without repositioning the urethra.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein connecting the first anchor, second anchor, and connector to define a first anchor assembly provides lateral forces to the urethra to offset changes in intra-abdominal pressures in the urethra to treat incontinence.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the connector through anterior periurethral fascia.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the first anchor assembly and a second anchor assembly such that connectors thereof are positioned against a prostate capsule.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the connectors of the first and second anchor assemblies cross.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing a plurality of anchor assemblies spaced along a longitudinal length of the urethra.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising assembling the anchor assembly in situ.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the anchor assembly has a length, further comprising determining the length in situ.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the connector so that upon implantation the connector assumes a non-linear trajectory through the tissue defining the urethra.