SLING WITH SUPPORT AND SUSPENDING MEMBERS FORMED FROM SAME POLYMER

• US 20110237865A1
• Filed: 06/14/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coloplast A/S
• Original Assignee: Coloplast A/S
• Inventors: Browning, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,801,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/30
• 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 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: 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 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• 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 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0007 for adjusting length

Abstract

A sling for treating urinary incontinence includes a suburethral support and first and second elongated suspending members. The suburethral support has opposite ends, is formed from a polymer and has first physical properties including a density, a length and a width. The first and second suspending members are formed from the same polymer as the suburethral support and have second physical properties including a density, a length and a width. The density of the suspending members is different than the density of the suburethral support. The first and second suspending members are each formed separately from and attached to one of the opposite ends of the suburethral support. The length of each of the suspending members is greater than the length of the suburethral support, and the width of each of the suspending members is less than the width of the suburethral support.

Claims

1. A sling for treating urinary incontinence, including:

a suburethral support having opposite ends, formed from a polymer and having first physical properties including a density, a length and a width; and

first and second elongated suspending members formed from the same polymer as the suburethral support and having second physical properties including a density, a length and a width, wherein the density of the suspending members is different than the density of the suburethral support, the first and second suspending members are each formed separately from and attached to one of the opposite ends of the suburethral support, the length of each of the suspending members is greater than the length of the suburethral support, and the width of each of the suspending members is less than the width of the suburethral support.

2. The sling of claim 1 wherein:

the suburethral support includes an attachment tab on each of the opposite ends; and

each of the first and second suspending members is engaged with one of the attachment tabs of the suburethral support.

3. The sling of claim 2 wherein the first and second suspending members are solid members and have a density that is greater than the density of the suburethral support.

4. The sling of claim 3 wherein each of the first and second suspending members pinch one of the attachment tabs.

5. The sling of claim 3 and further including a melt joint to engage each of the first and second suspending members to one of the attachment tabs.

6. The sling of claim 3 wherein the suburethral support is free from pores.

7. The sling of claim 2 wherein the first and second suspending members are mesh members.

8. The sling of claim 2 wherein the suburethral support is free from pores.

9. The sling of claim 8 wherein the first and second suspending members are solid members.

10. The sling of claim 9 wherein each of the first and second suspending members pinch one of the attachment tabs.

11. The sling of claim 9 and further including a melt joint to engage each of the first and second suspending members to one of the attachment tabs.

12. The sling of claim 2 wherein the suburethral support is porous.

13. The sling of claim 12 wherein the suburethral support includes a mesh member.

14. The sling of claim 13 wherein the first and second suspending members are solid members.

15. The sling of claim 14 wherein each of the first and second suspending members pinch one of the attachment tabs.

16. The sling of claim 14 and further including a melt joint to engage each of the first and second suspending members to one of the attachment tabs.

17. The sling of claim 12 wherein the first and second suspending members are solid members.

18. The sling of claim 1 wherein the suburethral support is porous.

19. The sling of claim 18 wherein the suburethral support includes a mesh member.

20. The sling of claim 19 wherein the first and second suspending members are solid members.

21. The sling of claim 20 wherein each of the first and second suspending members pinch one of the attachment tabs.

22. The sling of claim 20 and further including a melt joint to engage each of the first and second suspending members to one of the attachment tabs.

23. The sling of claim 18 wherein the first and second suspending members are solid members.