Medical slings

• US 20030023137A1
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gellman, Barry N.
• Granted Patent: US 6,755,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/30
• 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 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0097 Visible markings, e.g. indicia

Abstract

A medical sling is made from material that is in a shape suitable for use in a medical application. One or more cuts are disposed in the material. The width of the sling remains substantially constant when the sling is exposed to substantially longitudinal tensioning force in connection with its implantation inside the body of a patient. The cuts on the sling provide open areas to permit tissue ingrowth and crosslinking when the sling is implanted inside the body of the patient.

Claims

1. A sling for use in a medical application, comprising a sheet including a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion disposed opposite and away from the first end portion along a first axis, the sheet also including a first side and a second side, the second side disposed opposite and away from the first side by a distance and along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis and that intersects the first axis at substantially the midpoint of the first axis, the sheet further including one or more cuts disposed substantially along at least a portion of the second axis.

2. The sling of claim 1 wherein each of the cuts comprises a slit through the sheet.

3. The sling of claim 2 wherein at least some of the slits open upon exposure to the tensioning force applied during the medical application.

4. The sling of claim 1 wherein each of the cuts comprises an aperture.

5. The sling of claim 4 wherein at least some of the apertures remain open upon exposure to the tensioning force applied during the medical application.

6. The sling of claim 1 wherein the cuts are disposed substantially along the second axis.

7. The sling of claim 6 wherein the cuts are disposed equidistant from one another substantially along the second axis.

8. The sling of claim 1 wherein the cuts permit tissue crosslinking and ingrowth therein when the sling is implanted inside the body of a patient.

9. The sling of claim 1 further comprising a line disposed substantially along at least a portion of the second axis as a visual indicator.

10. The sling of claim 9 wherein the line comprises a surgical ink applied to the sheet.

11. The sling of claim 1 wherein the material to form the sheet comprises an omnidirectional material.

12. The sling of claim 1 wherein the material to form the sheet comprises an oriented material.

13. The sling of claim 12 wherein the cuts are formed through and along the grain of the oriented material.

14. The sling of claim 1 wherein the material to form the sheet comprises a high tensile strength direction.

15. The sling of claim 14 wherein the cuts are formed through and along the high tensile strength direction.

16. The sling of claim 1 wherein the material to form the sheet comprises mammalian tissue.

17. The sling of claim 1 wherein the mammalian tissue material is selected from the group consisting of bovine, porcine, ovine, equine, human cadaveric and tissue-engineered tissues.

18. The sling of claim 1 wherein the material to form the sheet comprises synthetic material.

19. The sling of claim 1 the material is selected from the group consisting of nylon polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene, fluoropolymers, and co-polymers thereof.

20. The sling of claim 1 wherein one or more fasteners are disposed at each of the first and second end portions of the sheet.

21. The sling of claim 1 wherein one or more eyelets are disposed at each of the first and second end portions of the sheet.

22. The sling of claim 1 wherein the sheet comprises a substantially rectangular shape.

23. The sling of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second end portions comprises one or more elongated members extending substantially from a central portion of the sheet that includes the intersection of the axes.

24. A method of making a sling, comprising:

providing a sheet in a shape suitable for a medical application, the sheet including a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion disposed opposite and away from the first end portion along a first axis, the sheet also including a first side and a second side, the second side disposed opposite and away from the first side by a distance and along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and that intersects the first axis at substantially the midpoint of the first axis; and

forming one or more cuts in the sheet and substantially along at least a portion of the second axis such that the distance remains substantially constant upon exposure to tensioning force applied to the sheet substantially along the first axis during the medical application.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising forming a line substantially along at least a portion of the second axis of the sheet.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising disposing one or more fasteners at the first end portion of the sheet.

27. The method of claim 24 further comprising disposing one or more eyelets at the first end portion of the sheet.

28. The method of claim 24 further comprising sterilizing the sling.

29. The method of claim 24 further comprising packaging the sling in a sterile holder.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising packaging the sling under conditions that are dry and protected from ultra-violet light.

31. A method of treating a damaged portion of a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:

providing a sling comprising a sheet including a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion disposed opposite and away from the first end portion along a first axis, the sheet also including a first side and a second side, the second side disposed opposite and away from the first side by a distance and along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis and that intersects the first axis at substantially the midpoint of the first axis, the sheet further including one or more cuts disposed substantially along at least a portion of the second axis;

securing the first end portion of the sheet to a first anatomical structure in the body of the patient;

applying tensioning force substantially along the first axis of the sheet;

securing the second end portion of the sheet to a second anatomical structure in the body of the patient, and

supporting a damaged portion of the patient'"'"'s body with the secured sheet.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising centering the sling at the damaged portion of a patient'"'"'s body using a line disposed substantially along at least a portion of the second axis as a visual indicator.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the one or more cuts disposed on the sheet are aligned with the damaged portion of the patient'"'"'s body using the line.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein at least some of the cuts open when supporting the damaged portion of the patient'"'"'s body.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein at least some of the cuts remain open when supporting the damaged portion of the patient'"'"'s body.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein at least some of the cuts permit tissue crosslinking and ingrowth therein once secured inside the body of a patient.

37. The method of claim 31 wherein the one or more cuts disposed on the sheet contacts the underside of the sphincter muscle, the first side contacts the under portion of the distal bladder neck and second side contacts the under portion of the urethra.

38. The method of claim 31 wherein the cuts formed at the center of the sling are placed substantially adjacent the mid urethra.

39. The method of claim 31 further comprising securing the first end portion to an anatomical structure with a surgical fastener.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the surgical fastener comprises a suture.

41. The method of claim 31 wherein the first or the second anatomical structure includes bone.

42. The method of claim 31 wherein the first or the second anatomical structure includes fascia.

43. The method of claim 31 wherein the first or the second anatomical structure includes ligament.

44. The method of claim 31 wherein the first or the second anatomical structure includes muscle.

45. The method of claim 31 wherein the sling distributes pressure substantially uniformly on a damaged portion of a patient'"'"'s body.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the sling distributes pressure substantially uniformly on a patient'"'"'s urethra.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the sling distributes pressure substantially uniformly on a patient'"'"'s sphincter muscle.

48. The method of claim 31, wherein the sling is absorbed by the patient'"'"'s body after implantation therein.