ADJUSTABLE TENSION INCONTINENCE SLING ASSEMBLIES
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems for providing support to body tissue to alleviate incontinence are disclosed that comprise an elongated incontinence sling having a central support portion adapted to be positioned to support any one of the urethra or anus and first and second sling end portions extending from the central support portion through body tissue and a tension adjustment mechanism acting on or within one or both of the sling end portions. The sling tension adjustment mechanism comprises one or more of a sling tensioning suture or band, a tensioning device coupled to a suture or band free end, a tissue anchor coupled to one or more of a suture free end and a sling end, a mesh fold, a suture tube, and a sling sheath in various combinations.
35 Citations
39 Claims
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1-23. -23. (canceled)
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24. A method of providing support to body tissue to alleviate incontinence comprising:
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providing an elongated incontinence sling having a central support portion adapted to be positioned to support any one of the urethra or anus having first and second sling end portions extending from the central support portion through body tissue, a tension adjustment suture coupled to at least one of the sling end portions between the central support portion and the sling end and extending along the sling end portion, and from the sling end portion to a suture free end, and tensioning means coupled to the suture free end adapted to be manipulated to release or apply tension through the sling end portion to the central support portion; implanting the incontinence sling disposing the central support portion in operative relation to the one of the urethra or anus; and actuating the tensioning means to change tension in the central support portion applied to the urethra or anus. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification