Reinforced mesh for retropubic implants

• US 20080161837A1
• Filed: 01/02/2008
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Rao, Doreen, Weiser, Michael F., Toso, Kenneth E., Bean, Jeffery V., Fortunate, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,828,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 Support slings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0077 Special surfaces of prostheses, e.g. for improving ingrowth A61F2/30767 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30322 differing in surface structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0026 differing in surface structures

Abstract

Disclosed are reinforced meshes for retropubic implants for treatment of urinary incontinence and/or pelvic floor disorders and related uses, devices, and methods. In certain embodiments, implants have various resilient strengthening members added to a retropubic support mesh.

Claims

1. An implant for use in treating a pelvic floor condition in a patient, comprising:

a mesh having at least one longitudinal edge and at least one longitudinal surface and being sized and shaped to support one or more of a patient'"'"'s urethra, bladderneck, and pelvic organ; and

a resilient strengthening member disposed within or on the mesh and protruding beyond one or more of a longitudinal edge and a longitudinal surface.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the resilient strengthening member protrudes beyond a first longitudinal edge of the mesh and a second longitudinal edge of the mesh.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the resilient strengthening member is attached to the mesh at a plurality of points.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein the resilient strengthening member is a rigid member having a portion adapted to penetrate a tissue of a patient.

5. The implant of claim 4, wherein the rigid member is oblong.

6. The implant of claim 5, wherein the rigid member is disposed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal edge.

7. The implant of claim 5, wherein the rigid member is disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal edge.

8. The implant of claim 5, wherein the rigid member is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal edge.

9. The implant of claim 1, wherein the resilient strengthening member includes a rigid member deposited on a surface of the mesh.

10. The implant of claim 1, wherein the mesh is configured in an irregular shape for pelvic organ support.

11. The implant of claim 10, wherein the mesh includes one or more securement straps, and at least one of the one or more securement straps includes a resilient strengthening member disposed in an end region of the securement strap.

12. The implant of claim 1, wherein an end region of the mesh is configured in an irregular shape for securing to a location within the patient.

13. The implant of claim 1, wherein the resilient strengthening member is disposed in an end region of the mesh.

14. The implant of claim 13, wherein the resilient strengthening member is disposed inward from an end edge of the mesh.

15. The implant of claim 13, wherein the resilient strengthening member is disposed at least about 25% of a way from an end of the mesh to a center of the mesh.

16. The implant of claim 13, wherein the resilient strengthening member is spaced away from a center region of the mesh, said center region being adapted to be adjacent to one or more of the patient'"'"'s urethra, bladderneck, and pelvic organ.

17. The implant of claim 1, wherein the resilient strengthening member has plastic or metal.

18. The implant of claim 1, further comprising an anchor disposed at an end of the mesh for securing the implant to soft tissue within a patient.

19. The implant of claim 1, wherein the mesh includes an end region having tangs that project from a longitudinal edge.

20. The implant of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of resilient strengthening members.

21. The implant of claim 20, further comprising a first plurality of resilient strengthening members disposed in a first end region of the mesh and a second plurality of resilient strengthening members disposed in a second end region of the mesh.

22. The implant of claim 20, wherein two or more resilient strengthening members directly connect.

23. The implant of claim 22, wherein the two or more resilient strengthening members are affixed to each other.

24. The implant of claim 1, wherein at least one resilient strengthening member couples to a plurality of other resilient strengthening members.

25. A method for implanting a surgical implant in the pelvic floor region of a patient comprising:

creating an incision in the vaginal wall of the patient,

coupling an implant to a delivery device, wherein the implant is a mesh implant having a longitudinal edge, a longitudinal surface, and a resilient strengthening member disposed within or on the mesh implant and protruding beyond one or more of the longitudinal edge and the longitudinal surface, and

inserting the delivery device through the vaginal incision via the external vaginal opening of the patient to extend a portion of the implant within the patient'"'"'s pelvic region.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising guiding the device to a location beneath the patient'"'"'s epidermis to secure the implant in the patient'"'"'s soft tissue.