Tuck and fold fascia shortening for incontinence
First Claim
1. A therapy for incontinence comprising:
- engaging an endopelvic support tissue with a probe;
manipulating the engaged tissue with the probe to form a fold having a first portion of the tissue adjacent to a second portion of the tissue along a fold depth, the fold depth being within a predetermined range;
affixing the adjacent first and second tissue portions together with the probe to decrease a dimension of the tissue such that incontinence is inhibited.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved devices, methods, and systems for the surgical treatment of urinary incontinence generally enhance the support provided by the natural tissues of the pelvic floor without directly applying compressive pressure against the urethra. The invention provides probes for forming plications in the endopelvic fascia that are displaced laterally on either side of the midline. These probes can impose a predetermined level of trauma to the plicated tissues so as to promote the formation of adhesions. Adhesions can maintain the enhanced support provided by the plication after reabsorption of a temporary fastener (such as a reabsorbable suture, staple, or the like). The plicating probe draws the tissue inward to provide a uniform plication within a predetermined size range.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A therapy for incontinence comprising:
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engaging an endopelvic support tissue with a probe; manipulating the engaged tissue with the probe to form a fold having a first portion of the tissue adjacent to a second portion of the tissue along a fold depth, the fold depth being within a predetermined range; affixing the adjacent first and second tissue portions together with the probe to decrease a dimension of the tissue such that incontinence is inhibited. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A therapy for incontinence of a patient, the patient having endopelvic fascia extending laterally on first and second sides of a urethra, the therapy comprising:
affixing a first surface region of the endopelvic fascia on the first side of the urethra to a second surface region of the endopelvic fascia on the first side of the urethra with a first fastener so as to decrease an effective length of the first side wherein the shortened effective length of the endopelvic fascia enhances the support of the urethra such that incontinence is inhibited. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A therapy for incontinence comprising:
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decreasing a first effective length of an endopelvic fascia between a urethra and a first arcus tendinous fascia pelvis; decreasing a second effective length of the endopelvic fascia between the urethra and a second arcus tendinous fascia pelvis; and wherein the first and second lengths are separated from the urethra so as to avoid directly compressing the urethra, thereby inhibiting incontinence without obstructing voluntary voiding.
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Specification