Tissue Anchor System

• US 20100022822A1
• Filed: 10/05/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher J. Walshe
• Original Assignee: Christopher J. Walshe
• Inventors: Walshe, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,801,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• 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 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• 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 2017/0435 the barbs being separate elements mechanically linked to the anchor, e.g. by pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2911 rings

Abstract

A suburethral sling system including a suburethral sling body having first and second ends; a tissue anchor connected approximate to each of the first and second sling ends, the tissue anchors having barbs for retaining the anchors in soft tissue; and an anchor delivery device having a hand-grip and an anchor stay adapted to reversibly mate with the tissue anchors.

Claims

1. A suburethral sling system comprising:

a. a suburethral sling body having first and second ends;

b. a tissue anchor connected approximate to each of said first and second sling ends, said tissue anchors comprising barbs for retaining said anchors in soft tissue; and

c. an anchor delivery device comprising a hand-grip and an anchor stay adapted to reversibly mate with said tissue anchors.

2. The suburethral sling system of claim 1, wherein one tissue anchor is adjustable and one tissue anchor is non-adjustable.

3. The suburethral sling system of claim 1, wherein both of said tissue anchors are adjustable.

4. The suburethral sling system of claim 1, wherein said anchor delivery device comprises either a thimble-shaped or a pen-shaped housing.

5. The suburethral sling system of claim 1, wherein said anchor barbs are collapsible barbs.

6. The suburethral sling system of claim 1, wherein said sling comprises either a man-made material or a tissue grafted material.

7. The suburethral sling system of claim 2, wherein said adjustable anchor comprises a threaded anchor body and a threaded anchor shaft.

8. A suburethral sling system comprising:

a. a suburethral sling body having first and second ends;

b. a tissue anchor connected approximate to each of said first and second sling ends, said tissue anchors comprising barbs for retaining said anchors in soft tissue;

c. at least one of said tissue anchors being adjustable; and

d. an anchor delivery device adapted to reversibly mate with at least said adjustable tissue anchor.

9. The suburethral sling system of claim 8, wherein said adjustable tissue anchor comprises a rotatable mechanism allowing an attachment member to rotate independently of a remainder of said tissue anchor.

10. The suburethral sling system of claim 8, wherein said adjustable tissue anchor comprises a hollow body and a shaft positioned therein.

11. The suburethral sling system of claim 10, wherein interleaving members are positioned between said hollow body and said shaft.

12. The suburethral sling system of claim 11, wherein said barbs are formed on said hollow body.

13. A method of suburethral bladder neck suspension comprising the steps of:

a. making an incision to access the uretha of a patient;

b. inserting an anchor delivery device into said incision, said anchor delivery device comprising a hand-grip and an anchor stay adapted to reversibly mate with a tissue anchor;

c. setting a first tissue anchor positioned on said anchor delivery device into soft tissue on a first side of the bladder neck, said first tissue anchor including (i) an anchor body with barbs, (ii) being adapted to engage said anchor stay, and (iii) a sling having a first end attached to said first tissue anchor;

d. positioning, either prior to step (c) or after step (c), said sling under the bladder neck; and

e. setting a second tissue anchor connected to a second end of said sling into tissue on a second side of the bladder neck, said second tissue anchor including an anchor body with barbs and being adapted to engage said anchor stay.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of said first or second anchors is adjustable in order to modify tension in said sling.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a portion of said adjustable anchor is allowed to extend through said incision and outside said body in order to allow postoperative adjustment of said anchor.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said adjustable tissue anchor comprises a hollow body and a shaft positioned therein.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein interleaving members are positioned between said hollow body and said shaft.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said incision is a transvaginal incision.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said sling is positioned at approximately a bladder neck of said patient.

20. A method of suburethral suspension comprising the steps of:

a. making an incision to provide access to the uretha of a patient;

b. fixing a first anchor to a tissue of said patient, said first anchor having a sling attached thereto;

c. positioning, either prior to step (b) or after step (b), said sling under said uretha;

d. fixing a second anchor connected to said sling within said patient such that said sling supports said uretha;

e. wherein at least one of said first or second anchors is adjustable; and

f. wherein said adjustable anchor has a portion which is allowed to extend through said incision outside said body in order to allow post-operative adjustment.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said anchors are tissue anchors comprising barbs.