PELVIC IMPLANT WITH SELECTIVE LOCKING ANCHOR

• US 20110237873A1
• Filed: 06/01/2011
• 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 8,512,223 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 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 surgical implant for supporting pelvic anatomy includes a first suspending member, a second suspending member, a first anchor, a second anchor, and a suburethral sling. The first and second suspending members have proximal and distal portions. The first anchor is connected to the distal portion of the first suspending member and the second anchor is connected to the distal portion of the second suspending member. The suburethral sling is configured to support a urethra of a patient and includes a first coupling mechanism configured to receive the proximal portion of the first suspending member and to releasably secure the proximal portion of the first suspending member to the suburethral sling.

Claims

1. A surgical implant for supporting pelvic anatomy, the implant comprising:

a first suspending member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a second suspending member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a first anchor connected to the distal portion of the first suspending member;

a second anchor connected to the distal portion of the second suspending member; and

a suburethral sling configured to support a urethra of a patient and including a first coupling mechanism configured to receive the proximal portion of the first suspending member and to releasably secure the proximal portion of the first suspending member to the suburethral sling.

2. The surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the suburethral sling has a first portion toward a first end of the suburethral sling and a second portion toward a second end of the suburethral sling, the first end being opposite to the second end, the first portion including the first coupling mechanism.

3. The surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the suburethral sling has a first end and a second end opposite the first end and wherein the first coupling mechanism includes a first attachment tab on the first end of the suburethral sling.

4. The surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the first coupling mechanism includes a jamming slot.

5. The surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the first coupling mechanism includes a plurality of jamming slots.

6. The surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the first coupling mechanism includes an aperture.

7. The surgical implant of claim 6, wherein the coupling mechanism further comprises a securing element and the aperture is configured to receive the securing element to releasably secure the first suspending member by releasably trapping the proximal portion of the first suspending member.

8. The surgical implant of claim 7, wherein the securing element of the first coupling mechanism is adapted to releasably trap the first suspending member between an edge of the securing element and an outer perimeter of the aperture.

9. The surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the suburethral sling defines a length and the jamming slot extends perpendicular to the length of the suburethral sling.

10. A method of treating urinary incontinence, comprising:

introducing a surgical implant into a patient, wherein the surgical implant comprises;

a first suspending member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion coupled to a first anchor; and

a suburethral sling having a first coupling feature configured to selectively lock the proximal end portion of the first suspending member to the suburethral sling;

securing the first suspending member on a first side of a urethra of the patient by inserting the first anchor into soft tissue of a pelvic space;

slidably receiving the proximal end portion of the first suspending member with respect to the first coupling feature of the suburethral sling such that the suburethrtal sling is positioned approximately below the urethra of the patient; and

locking the first suspending member to the suburethral sling using the first coupling feature.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising unlocking the first suspending member from the suburethral sling, adjusting the position of the suburethral sling, and re-locking the first suspending member to the suburethral sling using the first coupling feature.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first coupling feature includes a jamming slot, and wherein locking the first suspending member to the suburethral support using the first coupling feature comprises locking the first suspending member within the jamming slot.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the jamming slot includes an apex, and wherein locking the first suspending member to the suburethral support using the first coupling feature comprises pinching the first suspending member using the apex of the jamming recess.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein securing the first anchor is performed before the step of sliding the suburethral sling with respect to the first suspending member.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the first coupling feature comprises an opening and wherein locking the first suspending member includes extending the proximal portion of the first suspending member through the opening and tying the first suspending member to the suburethral support.

16. A method of supporting a urethra, comprising:

pulling a first suspending member through a first locking element on a support ling;

moving the support sling, relative to the first suspending member, to a supporting position below the urethra; and

engaging the first suspending member with the first locking element to secure the supporting sling below the urethra.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first suspending member has a distal end, and wherein moving the support sling comprises increasing a length of the first suspending member between the support sling and the distal end of the first suspending member.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising disengaging the first suspending member from the first locking element, adjusting the support sling, and re-engaging the first suspending member with the first locking element.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first locking element includes an aperture.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first locking element includes a jamming slot.