Apparatus and method for treating female urinary incontinence

• US 20060205995A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Coloplast A/S
• Original Assignee: Gyne Ideas Limited
• Inventors: Browning, James
• Application Number:
  US11/324,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20060205995A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/29
• 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
• 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

The present invention provides a surgical implant and method for supporting the urethra where the implant includes a suburethral support suspended between two soft tissue anchors. The surgical implant is introduced into at least one incision made on the upper wall of a vagina with the first soft tissue anchor inserted on a first side of the urethra behind the pubic bone, and the second soft tissue anchor inserted on a second side of the urethra behind the pubic bone, such that the suburethral support is suspended from the soft tissue anchors and supports the urethra. Each of the first and second soft tissue anchors are inserted in, and fix in, the soft tissue of the perineum without penetrating the obturator foramen.

Claims

1. A method of supporting a urethra comprising the steps of

introducing a surgical implant comprising first and second soft tissue anchors and a suburethral support portion therebetween into at least one incision made on the upper wall of a vagina,

inserting the first soft tissue anchor on a first side of the urethra behind the pubic bone, and

inserting the second soft tissue anchor on a second side of the urethra behind the pubic bone, such that the suburethral support is suspended from the soft tissue anchor and supports the urethra,

wherein each of the first and second soft tissue anchors are inserted in and fix in the soft tissue of the perineum without penetrating the obturator foramen.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second tissue anchors comprises a central portion and retaining means wherein the retaining means comprise a plurality of projections, the projections extending radially from the central portion along a substantial portion of the length of the central portion allowing fixation of the anchor at a plurality of layers within the soft tissue of the perineum.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second tissue anchors comprises biocompatible glue.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first soft tissue anchor is inserted on a first side on the urethra behind the pubic bone in a lateral direction away from the urethra and positioned in the soft tissue of the perineum, and the second soft tissue anchor is inserted on a second side of the urethra in an opposite lateral direction from the first soft tissue anchor and away from the urethra and positioned in the soft tissue of the perineum, such that the suburethral support is suspended from the first and second soft tissue anchors and supports the urethra.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the surgical implant does not penetrate the endopelvic fascia.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising providing at least one of the first and second soft tissue anchors with portions to grip the soft tissue of the perineum at multiple layers.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the surgical implant comprises polymer tape.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the surgical implant comprises bioabsorbable material.

9. A method of supporting a urethra comprising the steps:

introducing a surgical implant into at least one incision made on the upper wall of a vagina the surgical implant comprising first and second ends and a suburethral support section therebetween;

inserting a first end of the surgical implant on a first side of the urethra and positioning the first end into soft tissue of the perineum without penetrating the obturator foramen; and

inserting a second end of the surgical implant on a second side of the urethra and positioning the second end into the soft tissue of the perineum without penetrating the obturator foramen such that the suburethral support section is positioned under the urethra and provides support thereto.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the surgical implant does not penetrate the endopelvic fascia.

11. A method of supporting a urethra, comprising:

mechanically coupling, with a surgical implant, a first soft tissue portion of a perineum on a first side of the urethra to a second soft tissue portion of the perineum on a second side of the urethra, wherein the urethra is positioned between the first and second tissue portion, and

orientating a portion of the surgical implant underneath the urethra to provide support thereto, wherein the obturator foramen is not penetrated.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising causing a portion of the surgical implant to grip at least one of the first and second tissue portions.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the surgical implant does not penetrate the endopelvic fascia.

14. A method of supporting a urethra comprising:

positioning a surgical implant in a perineum to mechanically couple a first tissue portion of the perineum on a first side of the urethra to a second tissue portion of the perineum on a second side of the urethra, wherein the urethra is positioned between the first and second tissue portions; and

positioning a portion of the surgical implant underneath the urethra to provide support thereto,

wherein substantially all of the mechanical coupling is provided by interaction of the first and second tissue portions with respective portions of the surgical implant.