Apparatus for the Prevention of Urinary Incontinence in Females

• US 20070244352A1
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ConTipi Ltd.
• Inventors: Ziv, Elan
• Granted Patent: US 8,727,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 Support slings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/005 with pressure applied to urethra by an element placed in the vagina

Abstract

An apparatus for treating urinary incontinence, comprising a node; a support section adapted for providing urethral support attached to the node; and, an anchoring section adapted for resisting movement of the apparatus attached to the node; wherein the node is no longer than 30% of the entire length of the apparatus comprising the node, support section and the anchoring section together.

Claims

1. An apparatus arranged around a central axis for treating urinary incontinence, comprising:

a node located on the central axis;

a support section adapted for providing urethral support attached to said node; and

,

an anchoring section adapted for resisting movement of said apparatus attached to said node;

wherein said node is no longer than 30% of the entire length of said apparatus comprising said node, support section and said anchoring section together.

2. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said node is no longer than 20% of the entire length of said apparatus for treating urinary incontinence.

3. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein said node is no longer than 15% of the entire length of said apparatus for treating urinary incontinence.

4. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support section is provided with at least 2 supporting arms.

5. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said anchoring section is provided with at least 2 anchoring arms.

6. An apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cover.

7. An apparatus of claim 6, wherein said cover substantially encapsulates said node, support section and said anchoring section.

8. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least said support section and said anchoring section are flexible.

9. An apparatus of any claim 1 wherein at least said node is flexible.

10. An apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a device displace.

11. An apparatus of claim 10 wherein said device displacer is attached to said support section.

12. An apparatus of claim 4 further comprising support struts interlinking said supporting arms.

13. An apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an applicator adapted to insert said apparatus into a vagina.

14. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is symmetrically arranged around the central axis.

15. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the length of the apparatus is 50 mm or less.

16. An apparatus for treating urinary incontinence, comprising:

a support section adapted for providing urethral support using a plurality of outwardly extending arms; and

an extending insert adapted to increase the diameter of said support section by outwardly urging the arms.

17. An apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a node and an anchoring section adapted for resisting movement of said apparatus.

18. An apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a cover.

19. An apparatus of claim 18 wherein said cover substantially encapsulates said node support section, and said extending insert.

20. An apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a device displacer.

21. An apparatus of claim 20 wherein said device displacer is attached to said support section.

22. An apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an applicator adapted to insert said apparatus into a vagina.

23. An apparatus for treating urinary incontinence, comprising:

a body provided with a plurality of arms adapted for rendering urethral support for treating incontinence when inserted in a vagina;

an arm collapser; and

a device displacer coupled to the arm collapse which when pulled causes;

a) the arms to collapse; and

b) the apparatus to displace.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said device displacer is a string.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said apparatus is flexible and distorted by said string.

26. A method of using an apparatus for the treatment of urinary incontinence, comprising:

inserting said incontinence treating apparatus; and

deploying said incontinence treating apparatus in a position to render mid-urethral support.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein inserting is facilitated by an applicator.

28. A method according to claim 26 further comprising removing said apparatus.

29. A method according to claim 28 wherein said removing is facilitated by a device displacer.

30. An apparatus for inserting an expanding and anchoring vaginal device having a preferred deployment location, comprising:

an enclosure for containing said vaginal device; and

a stopper, wherein said stopper prevents over insertion and wherein said stopper is adjustably positioned on an exterior of said enclosure.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30 further comprising a plurality of selectable positions located on said apparatus such that, upon adjustably positioning said stopper in one of said positions, insertion of said apparatus into said vagina up to said stopper will result in the apparatus being in an appropriate position within said vagina for deployment.