INCONTINENCE IMPLANT WITH SOFT TISSUE ANCHORS AND LENGTH NOT ALLOWING ABDOMINAL WALL PENETRATION

• US 20110245594A1
• Filed: 06/14/2011
• Published: 10/06/2011
• 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 8,932,202 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
• 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
• 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 treating female urinary incontinence comprises a suburethral support and first and second polymer soft tissue anchors. The suburethral support has a first end portion and a second end portion located opposite the first end portion. Each of the first and second soft tissue anchors is connected to a respective one of the first and second opposite end portions of the suburethral support. The first and second anchors are configured to penetrate and retain in soft tissue. A length of the implant between the first and second soft tissue anchors is configured to allow the suburetnral support to be positioned below a urethra of a patient and to allow the anchors to be retained in soft tissue on first and second sides of the urethra without the anchors penetrating the abdominal wall.

Claims

1. A surgical implant for treating female urinary incontinence, comprising:

a suburethral support having a first end portion and a second end portion located opposite ihe first end portion; and

first and second soft tissue anchors formed of polymer material, each of the first and second soft tissue anchors being connected to a respective one of the first and second opposite end portions of the suburethral support, wherein the first and second anchors are configured to penetrate and retain in soft tissue, and wherein a length of the implant between the first and second soft tissue anchors is configured to allow the suburethral support to be positioned below a urethra of a patient and to allow the anchors to be retained in soft tissue on first and second sides of the urethra without the anchors penetrating the abdominal wall.

2. The surgical implant of claim 1 wherein the first and second soft tissue anchors include a conical head.

3. The surgical implant of claim 2 wherein the first and second soft tissue anchors include one or more radially extending retaining structures.

4. A method for using the surgical implant of claim 3 to treat female urinary incontinence, including:

introducing the surgical implant through an incision made on a wall of the patient'"'"'s vagina;

inserting the first tissue anchor into soft tissue on the first side of the urethra of the patient without penetrating the abdominal wail and engaging the radially extending retaining structures with the soft tissue;

inserting the second tissue anchor into soft tissue on the second side of the urethra of the patient without penetrating the abdominal wall and engaging the radially extending retaining structures with the soft tissue; and

positioning the suburethral support below the urethra of the patient.

5. The surgical implant of claim 2 wherein the conical heads of the first and second soft tissue anchors have sharp points.

6. The surgical implant of claim 1 wherein the first and second soft tissue anchors include flat heads.

7. A method for using the surgical implant of claim 1 to treat female urinary incontinence, including:

introducing the surgical implant through an incision made on the patient'"'"'s vagina;

inserting the first soft tissue anchor into soft tissue on a first side of a urethra of the patient without penetrating the abdominal wall;

inserting the second soft tissue anchor into soft tissue on a second side of the urethra of the patient without penetrating the abdominal wall; and

positioning the suburethral support below the urethra of the patient.

8. The surgical implant of claim 1 and further including first and second suspending members connecting the first and second soft tissue anchors to the opposite end portions of the suburethral support.

9. The surgical implant of claim 8 wherein the first soft tissue anchor and first suspending member are integrally formed polymer members, and the second soft tissue anchor and second suspending member are integrally formed polymer members.

10. The surgical implant of claim 8 wherein the first and second soft tissue anchors include a conical head.

11. A female urinary incontinence device, comprising:

a support having first and second opposite end portions; and

first and second soft tissue anchors, each of the first and second soft tissue anchors connected to a respective one of the first and second opposite end portions of the support, wherein the first and second soft tissue anchors are configured to be secured in soft tissue, and wherein a length of the implant allows the support to be positioned below a urethra of a patient and allows the anchors to be retained in soft tissue on first and second sides of the urethra without the anchors penetrating the abdominal wall.

12. The female urinary incontinence device of claim 11 wherein the first and second soft tissue anchors include a conical head.

13. The female urinary incontinence device of claim 12 wherein the first and second soft tissue anchors include one or more radially extending retaining structures.

14. A method of treating urinary incontinence with the female urinary incontinence device of claim 13, the method comprising:

introducing the surgical implant through an incision in a wail of a vagina;

inserting the first soft tissue anchor into soft tissue on the first side of the urethra without penetrating the abdominal wall and engaging the radially extending retaining structures with the soft tissue;

inserting the second soft tissue anchor into soft tissue on the second side of the urethra without penetrating the abdominal wall and engaging the radially extending retaining structures with the soft tissue; and

positioning the support below the urethra of the patient.

15. The female urinary incontinence device of claim 12 wherein the conical heads of the first and second soft tissue anchors have sharp points.

16. The female urinary incontinence device of claim 11 wherein the first and second soft tissue anchors include flat heads.

17. A method of treating urinary incontinence with the female urinary incontinence device of claim 11, the method comprising:

introducing the surgical implant through an incision in a wall of a vagina;

inserting the first soft tissue anchor into soft tissue on the first side of the urethra without penetrating the abdominal wall;

inserting the second soft tissue anchor into soft tissue on the second side of the urethra without penetrating the abdominal wall; and

positioning the support below the urethra of the patient.

18. The surgical implant of claim 11 wherein the soft tissue anchors are metal.

19. The surgical implant of claim 11 wherein the soft tissue anchors are formed of absorbable material.