DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR INTRODUCING SOFT TISSUE ANCHORS
First Claim
1. A system for treating urinary incontinence by providing support to a urethra of a patient, the system comprising:
- suburethral support formed of a mesh material and being substantially rectangular in shape, the suburethral support defining a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion located opposite the second end portion;
a first soft tissue anchor coupled to the first end portion of the suburethral support and a second soft tissue anchor coupled to the second end portion of the suburethral support, the first soft tissue anchor having a base, an apex opposite the base, and a plurality of barbs adapted for soft tissue anchoring;
a first filament connected to the base of the first soft tissue anchor; and
an introducer having an elongate shaft and a handle, the elongate shaft having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the elongate shaft being coupled at the proximal portion to the handle, the distal portion of the elongate shaft defining an aperture adapted to receive the first filament, the distal portion of the elongate shaft having a terminal end adapted to engage with the first soft tissue anchor such that the apex of the first soft tissue anchor extends distal to the terminal end of the introducer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for treating urinary incontinence by providing support to a urethra of a patient, the system comprising:
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suburethral support formed of a mesh material and being substantially rectangular in shape, the suburethral support defining a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion located opposite the second end portion; a first soft tissue anchor coupled to the first end portion of the suburethral support and a second soft tissue anchor coupled to the second end portion of the suburethral support, the first soft tissue anchor having a base, an apex opposite the base, and a plurality of barbs adapted for soft tissue anchoring; a first filament connected to the base of the first soft tissue anchor; and an introducer having an elongate shaft and a handle, the elongate shaft having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the elongate shaft being coupled at the proximal portion to the handle, the distal portion of the elongate shaft defining an aperture adapted to receive the first filament, the distal portion of the elongate shaft having a terminal end adapted to engage with the first soft tissue anchor such that the apex of the first soft tissue anchor extends distal to the terminal end of the introducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for treating urinary incontinence by providing support to a urethra of a patient, the method comprising:
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making a vaginal incision for securing a suburethral support under a urethra of a patient, the suburethral support being formed of a mesh material, defining a substantially rectangular outer profile, and having a first end portion and a second end portion; passing a first filament through an aperture of a first introducer, the first filament being connected to a base of a first soft tissue anchor, the first soft tissue anchor including a plurality of barbs and an apex opposite the base, the first introducer having an elongate shaft and a handle, the elongate shaft having a distal portion with a terminal end and a proximal portion coupled to the handle, the distal portion of the elongate shaft defining the aperture adapted to receive the first filament; releasably coupling the first soft tissue anchor with the first introducer by advancing the first introducer over the first filament until the first soft tissue anchor engages the terminal end of the distal portion of the elongate shaft such that the apex of the first soft tissue anchor extends distal to the terminal end of the introducer; inserting the first soft tissue anchor through the vaginal incision and penetrating soft tissue by pressing the apex of the first soft tissue anchor into the soft tissue on a first side of the urethra using the first introducer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification