Adjustable Sling and Method of Treating Pelvic Conditions
First Claim
1. A system for providing support within the pelvic region of a patient, comprising:
- an elongated sling having a sling length, a central support portion positionable to support the urethra of the patient, and first and second sling end portions extendable through body tissue;
a tension adjustment assembly operatively connected with the elongated sling to selectively adjust the sling length, the tension adjustment mechanism at least partially contained within a housing and having;
a plunger device adapted for traversal within an interior of the housing; and
an inflatable bladder to selectively control the traversal of the plunger device within the interior of the housing.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems for providing support within the pelvic region of a patient. The systems can include an elongated incontinence sling having a central support portion adapted to be positioned to support any one of the urethra or anus, and a sling tension adjustment mechanism operatively attached to the elongated sling. The sling tension adjustment mechanism can include a plunger device adapted for traversal within an interior of the housing, and an inflatable bladder provided within the housing to selectively control traversal of the plunger. Alternatively, the adjustment mechanism can include a bobbin device within the housing and one or more retention devices to selectively restrict unwinding of a suture from the bobbin device.
192 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for providing support within the pelvic region of a patient, comprising:
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an elongated sling having a sling length, a central support portion positionable to support the urethra of the patient, and first and second sling end portions extendable through body tissue; a tension adjustment assembly operatively connected with the elongated sling to selectively adjust the sling length, the tension adjustment mechanism at least partially contained within a housing and having; a plunger device adapted for traversal within an interior of the housing; and an inflatable bladder to selectively control the traversal of the plunger device within the interior of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for providing support within the pelvic region of a patient, comprising:
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an elongated sling having a sling length, a central support portion positionable to support the urethra of the patient, and first and second sling end portions extendable through body tissue; a tension adjustment assembly operatively connected with the elongated sling to selectively adjust the sling length, the tension adjustment mechanism at least partially contained within a housing and having; a bobbin device provided within an interior of the housing and having a length of a suture wrapped therearound, with at least one end of the suture operatively connected to the elongated sling; and a retention device provided within the interior of the housing to selectively restrict unwinding of the suture from the bobbin device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of providing support within the pelvic region of a patient, comprising:
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providing an elongated sling having a sling length, a central support portion positionable to support the urethra of the patient, and first and second sling end portions extendable through body tissue providing a tension adjustment assembly operatively connected with the elongated sling to selectively adjust the sling length, the tension adjustment mechanism at least partially contained within a housing; providing a plunger device adapted for traversal within an interior of the housing; providing an inflatable bladder within the housing; and adjusting fluid volume within the inflatable bladder to selectively control the traversal of the plunger device within the interior of the housing.
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21. A method of providing support within the pelvic region of a patient, comprising:
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providing an elongated sling having a sling length, a central support portion positionable to support the urethra of the patient, and first and second sling end portions extendable through body tissue providing a tension adjustment assembly operatively connected with the elongated sling to selectively adjust the sling length, the tension adjustment mechanism at least partially contained within a housing; providing a bobbin device within an interior of the housing, the bobbin device having a length of a suture wrapped therearound, with at least one end of the suture operatively connected to the elongated sling; and providing a retention device within the interior of the housing; and adjusting the retention device to selectively restrict unwinding of the suture from the bobbin device
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Specification