PELVIC FLOOR TREATMENTS AND RELATED TOOLS AND IMPLANTS

• US 20100298630A1
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ams Research Corporation (Endo International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Ams Research Corporation (Endo International PLC)
• Inventors: Wignall, Shawn Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/669,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20100298630A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0625 the needle being specially adapted to interact with the manipulator, e.g. being ridged to snap fit in a hole of the manipulator A61B17/06109 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 Support slings

Abstract

Described are implants, tools, and methods useful for treating pelvic conditions such as prolapse, incontinence, and others, by placing an implant to support pelvic tissue, the implants, tools, and methods involving placement of implants at locations within the pelvic region by placing an extension portion within tissue of the pelvic region.

Claims

1. A pelvic implant system comprising a pelvic implant, a dart insertion tool, and a receiver, the implant comprising a tissue support portion, an extension portion, and a dart connected to the extension portion, the dart being capable of engaging the dart insertion tool, and the dart being capable of engaging the receiver.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the dart comprises a proximal dart portion capable of engaging a distal end of the dart insertion tool, and a distal dart portion capable of engaging the receiver.

3. A system of claim 2 wherein the distal dart portion comprises a sharpened surface.

4. A system according to claim 2 wherein the distal dart portion comprises a deflecting surface.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein

the dart comprises a surface that engages the receiver to produce a secure engagement between the dart and the receiver, and

the receiver comprises a surface that engages the dart to produce a secure engagement between the dart and the receiver.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the receiver comprises a distal receiver portion comprising a sharpened surface.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the receiver comprises a distal receiver portion comprising a deflecting surface.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein the extension portion comprises mesh.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the receiver comprises a distal receiver portion comprising a surface capable of frictionally engaging a surface of soft support tissue without penetrating the soft support tissue.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the dart insertion tool comprises a handle, a shaft, and a distal end that engages the dart in a manner that allows the dart insertion tool to push the dart.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein the receiver tool is separate from the dart insertion tool, and the receiver tool comprises a handle, a shaft, and a receiver integral with the shaft.

12. A system according to claim 1 comprising a forceps comprising two opposing jaws, one jaw comprising the dart insertion tool and the opposing jaw comprising the receiver tool.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein the implant comprises supportive portions consisting of a tissue support portion and four extension portions, each extension portion comprising a dart.

14. A system according to claim 1 wherein the implant comprises supportive portions consisting of a tissue support portion and two extension portions, each extension portion comprising a dart.

20. A method of surgically implanting a pelvic implant, the method comprising

providing a system according to claim 1,

placing the tissue support portion in contact with a pelvic tissue,

extending the extension portion to soft support tissue,

inserting the dart into the soft support tissue by penetrating a surface of the soft support tissue at an insertion location,

passing the dart through soft support tissue to an exit location on a surface of the soft support tissue that is on the same side of the soft support tissue as the insertion location, and

engaging the dart and the receiver.

21. A method of surgically implanting a pelvic implant, the method comprising

providing a system according to claim 12, wherein the dart insertion tool and the receiver are opposing jaws of the forceps,

engaging the dart with a jaw of the tool, and contacting the engaged dart with soft support tissue at an insertion location,

contacting a receiver with soft support tissue at an exit location,

closing the jaws of the forceps to grasp soft support tissue between the two opposing jaws to produce a bulge of soft support tissue between the insertion location and the exit location,

passing the dart through the soft support tissue, and

engaging the dart and the receiver.

15. A pelvic implant system comprising a pelvic implant, a dart insertion tool, and a receiver, the pelvic implant comprising a tissue support portion, an extension portion, and a dart connected to the extension portion, the dart comprises insertion tool engaging means capable of engaging a distal end of the dart insertion tool, and receiver engaging means capable of engaging the receiver.

16. A method for treating a pelvic condition, the method comprising

providing an implant comprising a tissue support portion, an extension portion, and a dart attached to the extension portion,

placing the tissue support portion in contact with pelvic tissue,

extending the extension portion to soft support tissue,

inserting the dart into the soft support tissue at a surface of the soft support tissue,

passing the dart through soft support tissue, and

causing the dart to exit the soft support tissue from a surface on the same side of the soft support tissue into which the dart was inserted.

17. A method according to claim 16 comprising

pushing the dart into soft support tissue at an insertion location on a surface of the soft support tissue,

pushing a receiver into the soft support tissue at an exit location at a surface of the soft support tissue on the same side of the soft support tissue as the insertion location,

engaging the dart and the receiver at a location within the soft support tissue, and

using the receiver to pull the dart through the soft support tissue and to cause the dart to exit the soft support tissue at the exit location.

18. A method according to claim 16 comprising

pushing the dart into soft support tissue at an insertion location on a surface of the soft support tissue,

placing a receiver at a surface of the soft support tissue, the surface being on the same side of the soft support tissue as the insertion location,

passing the dart through soft support tissue,

causing the dart to exit the soft support tissue at an exit location, to cause the dart to engage the receiver at a location external to the soft support tissue.

19. A method for treating a pelvic condition, the method comprising

providing an implant comprising a tissue support portion and an extension portion,

placing the tissue support portion in contact with pelvic tissue,

extending the extension portion to soft support tissue,

inserting the extension portion into the soft support tissue at an insertion location,

passing the extension portion through the soft support tissue, and

causing the extension portion to exit the soft support tissue at an exit location on the same side of the soft support tissue as the insertion location,

wherein the distance between the insertion location and the exit location is not greater than 2.5 centimeters.

22-31. -31. (canceled)