Patterned Sling Implant and Method

• US 20110124956A1
• Filed: 12/09/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ams Research Corporation (Endo International PLC)
• Inventors: Roll, Jessica L., Grant, Robert C., Mujwid, James R., Jagger, Karl A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,060,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 Support slings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0068 having a special mesh pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0072 Delivery tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0081 directly machined on the prosthetic surface, e.g. holes, grooves A61F2/30771 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes

Abstract

Embodiments of elongate pelvic implants and methods for treating pelvic conditions, such as incontinence, are provided. The implants can include a tissue support portion, one or more extension portions and one or more anchors. The implant is constructed as a unitary sling implant. The implant can be constructed or formed in a generally elongate shape to provide a lattice support structure of repeated cells.

Claims

1. A unitary patterned implant for treating incontinence in a patient, comprising:

a non-woven unitary elongate sling having;

a support portion including a plurality of strut members joined at and spanning out from a plurality of fixed junctions, the support portion defined along

a first plane;

first and second extension portions; and

at least one tissue anchor integrally formed with at least one of the first and second extension portions, the at least one tissue anchor having one or more deformable tines adapted for fixation to soft tissue of the patient.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one tissue anchor extends out generally transverse from the first plane of the support portion.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one anchor extends out generally in plane with the first plane of the support portion.

4. The implant of claim 3, wherein the at least one anchor is substantially equal in thickness to at least one of the first and second extension portions.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one anchor includes two opposing end anchors.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strut members are sinusoidal shaped to define a plurality of pinwheel cell configurations.

7. The implant of claim 1, further including a transition strength zone extending between the at least one anchor and one of the first and second extension portions of the implant.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one anchor includes a body lumen adapted to receive the distal end of a needle tool.

9. The implant of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strut members includes one or more edge retention features extending to provide tissue engagement.

10. The implant of claim 1, wherein the support portion is generally wider than the first and second extension portions.

11. A unitary patterned implant system for treating incontinence in a patient, comprising:

a non-woven unitary elongate sling including;

a support portion having a plurality of undulating strut members joined at and spanning out from a plurality of fixed junctions;

first and second extension portions;

first and second end anchors extending from respective first and second extension portions, the first and second anchors having extending flexible tines adapted for fixation to soft tissue of the patient; and

an introducer needle tool having a handle portion and a needle, wherein the needle includes a distal tip adapted to selectively engage with the first or second end anchors to facilitate deployment and tissue fixation.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second end anchors are substantially equal in thickness to the first and second extension portions.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of undulating strut members are sinusoidal shaped to define a plurality of pinwheel cell configurations.

14. The system of claim 11, further including a transition strength zone extending between the first and second end anchors and the first and second extension portions of the implant.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one of the first and second end anchors includes a body lumen adapted to receive the distal tip of the introducer needle tool.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of undulating strut members include one or more edge retention features extending to provide tissue engagement.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the support portion is generally wider than the first and second extension portions.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the support portion is generally narrower than the first and second extension portions.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the introducer needle tool includes an actuation mechanism in operable communication with the distal tip to facilitate selective disengagement of the first or second end anchors.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the needle of the introducer needle tool is generally curved.