METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTABLE SLING FOR TREATMENT OF URINARY STRESS INCONTINENCE

• US 20080167518A1
• Filed: 03/25/2008
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Uromedica, Inc
• Original Assignee: Uromedica, Inc
• Inventors: Burton, John H., Cook, Timothy C.
• Application Number:
  US12/054,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167518A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/31
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/004 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 Support slings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0003 having an inflatable pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid or gas

Abstract

One embodiment of the present subject matter includes an implantable, adjustable sling for a body which includes an implantable sling cup connected to a first strap and a second strap, the first strap and the second strap adapted to be anchored within the body and at least one adjustable element forming an integral portion of the first strap.

Claims

1. An implantable, adjustable sling for a body, comprising:

an implantable sling cup connected to a first strap and a second strap, the first strap and the second strap adapted to be anchored within the body; and

at least one adjustable element forming an integral portion of the first strap, the at least one adjustable element including a flowable material adapted for adjustment of the adjustable element.

2. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one adjustable element is attached to a septum.

3. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one adjustable element is connected to a self sealing port via a conduit.

4. The implantable device of claim 3, wherein the adjustable element is adapted for adjustment by connection of the self sealing port to a source of the flowable material.

5. The implantable device of claim 3, wherein the self sealing port comprises a septum.

6. The implantable, adjustable sling of claim 1, further comprising an anchoring system connected to the first strap and the second strap.

7. The implantable, adjustable sling of claim 1, wherein the at least one adjustable element comprises a conduit and a port.

8. The implantable, adjustable sling of claim 1, further comprising attachment tabs adapted for connecting the implantable sling cup to the first strap and the second strap.

9. A method for postoperative adjustment of a sling for coapting a urethra, comprising:

—

adjusting at least one of one or more adjustable elements to change position of the urethra; and

adjusting coaptation of the urethra by adjusting one or more expandable elements of a sling cup implanted adjacent the urethra, the adjusting coaptation including adding a flowable material to, or withdrawing the flowable material from, the one or more expandable elements.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising changing a length of the sling.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the at least one of the one or more adjustable elements comprises adjusting lift and support of a bladder by adjusting the sling tension to provide proper bladder placement.

12. An implantable device for use in a body having a urethra, comprising:

an anchoring system;

a first strap connected to the anchoring system;

a second strap connected to the anchoring system.

an implantable sling cup coupled between the first strap and the second strap, the implantable sling cup including a first expandable element adapted to coapt the urethra.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the anchoring system comprises a first anchor connected to the first strap and a second anchor connected to the second strap.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the anchoring system comprises an anchor connected to the first strap and the second strap.

15. The device of claim 12, comprising:

a first self sealing port; and

a first conduit in fluid communication with the first expandable element, the first conduit terminating in the first self sealing port,

wherein the first expandable element includes a balloon having a size adjustable by adding a flowable material to the first self sealing port or withdrawing the flowable material from the first self sealing port.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the self sealing port comprises a septum.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein implantable sling cup comprises a plurality of expandable elements adapted to coapt the urethra, the plurality of expandable elements including the first expandable elements.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the first conduit is in fluid communication with all expandable elements of the plurality of expandable elements.

19. The device of claim 17, comprising:

a plurality of self sealing ports; and

a plurality of conduits each in fluid communication with an expandable element of the plurality of expandable elements, the conduits of the plurality of conduits each terminating in a self sealing port of the plurality of self sealing ports,

wherein the expandable elements of the plurality of expandable elements each include a balloon having a size adjustable by adding a flowable material to a self sealing port of the plurality of self sealing ports or withdrawing the flowable material from a self sealing port of the plurality of self sealing ports.

20. A method for coaptation of a urethra in a body, comprising:

adjusting a size of a first expandable element of an implantable sling cup anchored within the body using straps each connected between the implantable sling cup and an anchoring system by adding a flowable material to, or withdrawing the flowable material from, the first expandable element,

wherein the first expandable element is placed adjacent the urethra for adjustable coaptation of the urethra.

21. The method of claim 20, comprising anchoring the implantable sling cup within the body using an each connected to one of the straps.

22. The method of claim 20, comprising anchoring the implantable sling cup within the body using an anchor connected to the straps.

23. The method of claim 20, comprising adding the flowable material to, or withdrawing the flowable material from, the first expandable element via a first conduit and a first self sealing port, the first conduit in fluid communication with the first expandable device and terminating in the first self sealing port.

24. The method of claim 23, comprising adjusting a plurality of expandable elements of the implantable sling cup, the plurality of expandable elements including the first expandable element.

25. The method of claim 24, comprising adjusting all expandable elements of the plurality expandable elements via the first conduit and the first self-sealing port.

26. The method of claim 24, comprising adjusting the plurality of expandable elements via a plurality of conduits and a plurality of self sealing ports, the conduits of the plurality of conduits each in fluid communication with an expandable device of the plurality of expandable devices and terminating in a self sealing port of the plurality of sealing ports.