SYSTEM FOR INTRODUCING SOFT TISSUE ANCHORS

• US 20110282136A1
• Filed: 06/01/2011
• Published: 11/17/2011
• 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 8,574,148 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 system for providing support to an anatomical structure of the pelvis includes first and second soft tissue anchors, a suburethral support, an introducer, and a filament. The first soft tissue anchor has a proximal end and a distal end and includes a base having a hollow tubular structure, a plurality of barbs, and a tip. The sub-urethral support portion has first and second ends, the first and second soft tissue anchors extending from the first and second ends of the sub-urethral support portion. The introducer has an elongate shaft and a handle, the elongate shaft having a proximal end at the handle and a distal end with an aperture extending through the distal end. The filament extends through the hollow tubular section of the first soft tissue anchor and through the aperture in the distal end of introducer.

Claims

1. A system for providing support to an anatomical structure of the pelvis, the system comprising:

a surgical implant including;

a first soft tissue anchor having a proximal end and a distal end, the first soft tissue anchor including a base having a hollow tubular structure, a plurality of barbs, and a tip;

a second soft tissue anchor; and

a sub-urethral support portion having first and second ends, the first and second soft tissue anchors extending from the first and second ends of the sub-urethral support portion; and

an introducer having an elongate shaft and a handle, the elongate shaft having a proximal end at the handle and a distal end with an aperture extending through the distal end; and

a filament extending through the hollow tubular section of the first soft tissue anchor and through the aperture in the distal end of introducer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first soft tissue anchor has an introducer aperture extending through the first soft tissue anchor from the base and out the tip.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the elongate shaft defines a narrowed portion toward the distal end of the elongate shaft that forms an abutment where the elongate shaft widens from the narrowed portion, the narrowed portion being passed through the introducer aperture of the first soft tissue anchor such that the distal end of the elongate shaft protrudes from the distal end of the first soft tissue anchor and the first soft tissue anchor rests on the abutment to limit movement of the first soft tissue anchor down the elongate shaft of the introducer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the surgical implant further comprises:

a first suspending portion formed of mesh material and extending from the first end of the sub-urethral support portion to the first soft tissue anchor, the first suspending portion being secured to the base of the first soft tissue anchor and having a reduced width relative to the sub-urethral support portion.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first suspending portion is formed of a polypropylene mesh.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the first suspending portion defines a width from 3 to 5 mm.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the first suspending portion is formed of mesh material having smooth edges.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the bases of each of the first and second soft tissue anchors defines a first section and a second section, the second section having a greater outer diameter than the first section.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the sub-urethral support portion includes a visual marker indicating a center of the sub-urethral support portion.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the tip of the first soft tissue anchor is tapered toward the distal end of the first soft tissue anchor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the distal end of the first soft tissue anchor is substantially flat.