Implantable sling having bladder support

• US 20050080317A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caldera Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caldera Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Merade, Bryon
• Granted Patent: US 7,393,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 Support slings

Abstract

Surgical implants operative to simultaneously function as a pubovaginal sling for the treatment of incontinence and as a support member to effectuate cystocele repair. The implant comprises a first sling portion operative to be positioned beneath the urethra, per conventional pubovaginal sling surgery. The implant further includes a second bladder support portion extending from the sling support portion that is oriented to extend beneath and be surgically attached to a portion of the bladder to thus enable the same to be supported to a degree necessary to effectuate cystocele repair. The implant may be fabricated from a unitary piece of harvested tissue, synthetic material or combinations thereof. Preferably, the sling portion of the implant is fabricated from a synthetic material whereas the bladder support portion of the implant comprises a segment of harvested tissue sewn to the sling portion.

Claims

1. An implant for concomitantly treating incontinence and effectuating cystocele repair in a female patient in need thereof comprising:

a. a sling portion fabricated from a synthetic material and operatively positionable beneath the urethra of said patient; and

b. a bladder support portion fabricated from a harvested tissue and connected to and extending from said sling portion, said bladder support portion being operatively positionable against the bladder of said patient to substantially prevent said bladder from pushing against the vagina of said patient.

2. The implant of claim 1 wherein said sling portion comprises an elongate segment defining opposed ends.

3. The implant of claim 2 wherein said sling portion has a generally rectangular shape.

5. The implant of claim 1 wherein said sling portion and said bladder support portion are integrally formed with one another.

6. The implant of claim 5 wherein said sling portion orf said implant is fabricated from a harvested segment of tissue.

8. The implant of claim 1 wherein said sling portion defines a continuous peripheral edge and said bladder support portion defines a continuous peripheral edge, said sling portion and said bladder support portion being interconnected to one another by a segment of stitching whereby a portion of said peripheral edge of said sling portion stitched to a portion of said peripheral edge of said bladder support portion.

10. The implant of claim 8 wherein said sling material is fabricated from a harvested tissue and said bladder support portion is fabricated from a synthetic material.

11. The implant of claim 8 wherein said sling portion and said bladder support portion cooperate to define a generally T-shape.

20. The implant of claim 8 wherein said sling portion is fabricated from a harvested tissue.

21. The implant of claim 8 wherein said bladder support portion is fabricated from a synthetic material.

4. (canceled)

7. (canceled).

9. (canceled).

12. A method for concomitantly treating a female patient afflicted with urinary incontinence and effectuating cystocele repair via a single surgical procedure comprising the steps:

a. providing a pre-fabricated implant comprising;

i. a sling portion formed from a synthetic material and operatively positionable beneath the urethra of said patient; and

ii. a bladder support portion formed from harvested tissue and connected to and extending from said sling portion, said bladder support portion being operatively positionable against said bladder of said patient to substantially prevent said bladder from pushing against the vagina of said patient;

b. forming an incision within the vagina of said patient; and

c. transvaginally implanting said implant provided in step (a) through said incision made in step (b) such that said sling portion of said implant is operatively positioned beneath the urethra of said patient and said bladder support portion of said implant is operatively positioned against the bladder of said patient.

13. (canceled).

14. A method for concomitantly treating a female patient afflicted with urinary incontinence and effectuating cystocele repair via a single surgical procedure comprising the steps:

a. providing a pre-fabricated implant comprising;

i. a sling portion formed from a synthetic material and operatively positionable beneath the urethra of said patient; and

ii. a bladder support portion formed from harvested tissue and connected to and extending from said sling portion, said bladder support portion being operatively positionable against said bladder of said patient to substantially prevent said bladder from pushing against the vagina of said patient;

b. forming an incision within the abdomen of said patient; and

c. implanting said implant provided in step (a) through said incision made in step (b) such that said sling portion of said implant is operatively positioned beneath the urethra of said patient and said bladder support portion of said implant is operatively positioned against the bladder of said patient.

15. (canceled).

16. A method for concomitantly treating a female patient afflicted with urinary incontinence and effectuating cystocele repair via a single surgical procedure comprising the steps:

a. providing a pre-fabricated implant comprising;

i. a sling portion formed from a synthetic material and operatively positionable beneath the urethra of said patient; and

ii. a bladder support portion formed from harvested tissue and connected to and extending from said sling portion, said bladder support portion being operatively positionable against said bladder of said patient to substantially prevent said bladder from pushing against the vagina of said patient;

b. forming an incision within the vagina of said patient; and

c. implanting said implant provided in step (a) and into the obturator foramen via said incision made in step (b) such that said sling portion of said implant is operatively positioned beneath the urethra of said patient and said bladder support portion of said implant is operatively positioned against the bladder of said patient.

17. (canceled).

18. An implant for concomitantly treating incontinence and effectuating rectocele repair in a patient in need thereof comprising:

a. a sling portion operatively positionable beneath the urethra of said patient; and

b. a rectum support portion connected to and extending from said sling portion, said rectum support portion being operatively positionable against the rectum of said patient to substantially eliminate prolapse of the rectum.

19. An implant for concomitantly treating incontinence and effectuating enterocele repair in a patient in need thereof comprising:

a. a sling portion operatively positionable beneath the urethra of said patient; and

b. an intestinal support portion connected to and extending from said sling portion, said intestinal support portion being operatively positionable against a portion of said intestine to effectuate enterocele repair.

22. A method for concomitantly treating a female patient afflicted with urinary incontinence and effectuating rectocele repair via a single surgical procedure comprising the steps:

a. providing a pre-fabricated implant comprising;

i. a sling portion operatively positionable beneath the urethra of said patient; and

ii. a rectum support portion connected to and extending from said sling portion, said rectum support portion being operatively positionable against the rectum of said patient;

b. forming an incision within said patient; and

c. implanting said implant provided in step (a) through said incision made in step (b) such that said sling portion of said implant is operatively positioned beneath the urethra of said patient and said rectum support portion of said implant is operatively positioned against the rectum of said patient.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein in step (b), said incision is made within the vagina of said patient.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein in step (a), said implant is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a synthetic material and a harvested tissue.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein in step (a), said sling portion of said implant is fabricated from a synthetic material and said rectum support portion is fabricated from harvested tissue.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein in step (b), said incision is made within the vagina of said patient.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein in step (a), said implant is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a synthetic material and a harvested tissue.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein in step (a), said sling portion of said implant is fabricated from a synthetic material and said intestinal support portion is fabricated from harvested tissue.

26. A method for concomitantly treating a female patient afflicted with urinary incontinence and effectuating enterocele repair via a single surgical procedure comprising the steps:

a. providing a pre-fabricated implant comprising;

i. a sling portion operatively positionable beneath the urethra of said patient; and

ii. an intestinal support portion connected to and extending from said sling portion, said intestinal support portion being operatively positionable against the intestinal of said patient;

b. forming an incision within said patient; and

c. implanting said implant provided in step (a) through said incision made in step (b) such that said sling portion of said implant is operatively positioned beneath the urethra of said patient and said intestinal support portion of said implant is operatively positioned against the intestine of said patient.