Apparatus and method for laparoscopic urethropexy
First Claim
1. A template for guiding at least one suture through the periurethral fascia and vaginal mucosa adjacent a patient'"'"'s urethra during a urethropexy procedure, wherein said at least one suture is attached to an anchor secured within the body of said patient above the patient'"'"'s urethra, said template comprising:
- (a) first and second wing members extending laterally from opposite sides of the template; and
(b) at least one suture guide aperture positioned in each of said wing members at a predetermined location;
said template configured to be alignable within the vagina of a patient such that one of said wing members will be positioned adjacent either side of said urethra with said at least one guide aperture in each wing member positioned such that a suture may be retrieved from within the patient'"'"'s body through said at least one aperture.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A template for guiding at least one suture through the periurethral fascia and vaginal mucosa adjacent a patient'"'"'s urethra during a urethropexy procedure, wherein the at least one suture is attached to an anchor secured within the body of the patient above the patient'"'"'s urethra, is provided. The template comprises first and second wing members extending laterally from opposite sides of the template; and at least one suture guide aperture positioned in each of the wing members at a predetermined location; the template configured to be alignable within the vagina of a patient such that one of the wing members will be positioned adjacent either side of the urethra with the at least one guide aperture in each wing member positioned such that a suture may be retrieved from within the patient'"'"'s body through the at least one aperture. A method for performing a urethropexy procedure employing this template is also provided.
347 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A template for guiding at least one suture through the periurethral fascia and vaginal mucosa adjacent a patient'"'"'s urethra during a urethropexy procedure, wherein said at least one suture is attached to an anchor secured within the body of said patient above the patient'"'"'s urethra, said template comprising:
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(a) first and second wing members extending laterally from opposite sides of the template; and (b) at least one suture guide aperture positioned in each of said wing members at a predetermined location; said template configured to be alignable within the vagina of a patient such that one of said wing members will be positioned adjacent either side of said urethra with said at least one guide aperture in each wing member positioned such that a suture may be retrieved from within the patient'"'"'s body through said at least one aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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8. A template for guiding suture tails through the periurethral tissue on either side of a patient'"'"'s urethra during a urethropexy procedure, wherein at least one of said sutures is attached to an anchor secured within the body of said patient above the patient'"'"'s urethra, said template comprising:
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(a) a trough of arcuate cross-section, said trough having a length and first and second ends; (a) first and second wing members extending substantially horizontally away from opposite sides of said trough; and (b) at least one suture guide aperture positioned in each of said wing members at a predetermined location; said template configured so as to be alignable within the vagina of a patient such that the patient'"'"'s urethra will be positioned within said trough, and such that one of said wing members will be positioned adjacent either side of said urethra with said guide aperture in each wing member positioned a predetermined distance from the urethra and the UVJ. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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20. A surgical method for performing a urethropexy procedure, said surgical method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a template for guiding sutures through the periurethral fascia and vaginal mucosa adjacent the urethra, said template having at least first and second suture guide apertures; (b) providing at least One anchor, said anchor having a suture extending therefrom, said suture having first and second tails; (c) securing said anchor within the abdominal cavity of a patient;
(d) positioning said template within the vagina of the patient such that said first guide aperture is positioned against the vaginal mucosa adjacent the urethra;(d) pulling said first tail of said suture through the periurethral fascia, the vaginal mucosa, and said first guide aperture into the vagina; (e) pulling said second tail of said suture through the periurethral fascia, the vaginal mucosa, and said second guide aperture into the vagina; and (f) tying said first and second tails to one another within the vagina. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification