Treatment of vault prolapse
First Claim
1. Apparatus for forming an artificial tie or ligament between a first internal part, and a second, different, internal part, within a mammalian body, the apparatus comprising a strip of flexible material adapted to remain within the body after a procedure has been performed therewith, the strip incorporating a drawstring which extends between at least two points separated lengthwise along the strip, the drawstring being configured such that when one point has been attached to a first internal part of the body, and the other part point has been attached to a second internal part of the body, a tension applied to the drawstring will assist in causing the length of the strip between the two points to be reduced, and retain the strip in its reduced length condition, thereby forming said artificial tie or ligament between said first and second parts.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for forming an artificial tie or ligament between different internal parts within a mammalian body, the apparatus comprising a strip (10) of preferably mesh type fabric formed of a material which is suitable for remaining in the body, and a drawstring (12) which is looped between different points along the length of the strip (10). By drawing the drawstring (12) the length of the strip (10) can be reduced. Opposite ends of the strip (11, 13) are in use attached to the different internal parts, and then those parts can be pulled together by applying tension to the drawstring (12), and once the length of the strip (10) has been reduced, tying off the drawstring (12) to hold the strip (10) in its reduced length condition. The apparatus is specifically useful for use in a method of treating vault or vaginal prolapse. The invention extends to a method of treating vault or vaginal prolapse.
192 Citations
18 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for forming an artificial tie or ligament between a first internal part, and a second, different, internal part, within a mammalian body, the apparatus comprising a strip of flexible material adapted to remain within the body after a procedure has been performed therewith, the strip incorporating a drawstring which extends between at least two points separated lengthwise along the strip, the drawstring being configured such that when one point has been attached to a first internal part of the body, and the other part point has been attached to a second internal part of the body, a tension applied to the drawstring will assist in causing the length of the strip between the two points to be reduced, and retain the strip in its reduced length condition, thereby forming said artificial tie or ligament between said first and second parts.
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12. Apparatus for forming an artificial tie or ligament between different internal parts within a mammalian body, the apparatus comprising a first elongate flexible member, and a second elongate flexible member, each member being formed of a material adapted to remain for at least a significant time within the body, the second elongate flexible member being attached to the first elongate flexible member at at least two points, the attachment at at least one point being a slidable attachment such that tension applied to the second flexible member, relative to the first flexible member will cause the first flexible member to reduce in length, over at least part of its length, opposite end regions of the first elongate member being adapted to be attached to different respective parts within a said body.
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13. A method of treating vaginal prolapse using at least one elongate flexible member having a drawstring extending between two points separated lengthwise along the member, the method comprising the steps of:
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attaching said member between the pelvic floor and the vault, using the drawstring to reduce the length of the member, thereby pulling the vault towards the pelvic floor, and tying off the drawstring to maintain the member in its reduced length condition, thereby forming a tie between the vault and the pelvic floor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of forming an artificial tie between two internal parts of a mammalian body using at least one elongate flexible member having a drawstring extending between two points separated lengthwise along the member, the method comprising the steps of:
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attaching said flexible member between said parts;
using the drawstring to reduce the length of the member, thereby drawing the two parts together; and
tying off the drawstring to maintain the elongate member in its reduced length condition, thereby forming a tie between said parts.
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17. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore describe with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
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18. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Specification