System for attaching a urethral sling to a suture

• US 6,245,082 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2000
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gellman, Barry N., Brenneman, Rodney, Appell, Rodney, Morin, Armand A., Sauvageau, David, Pintauro, William
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US09/500,722
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 600/29, 600/30, 606/151, 606/213, 606/214, 606/215, 606/72, 606/144, 606/232
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0206 with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements
• 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 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06 Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials puncturing needles A61B17/34; hypodermic needles A61M5/32 ; sewing needles D05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1611 the two jaw elements being integral with respective elongate shaft elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1739 specially adapted for particular parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1796 for holes for sutures or flexible wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3439 with means for changing the inner diameter of the cannula, e.g. expandable A61B17/3423, A61B17/3431 take precedence; catheters A61M25/0662
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/4241 Instruments for manoeuvring or retracting the uterus, e.g. during laparoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00424 ergonomic, e.g. fitting in fist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 : Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0453 : threaded elements, e.g. set screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0462 : One way system, i.e. also tensioning the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/047 : having at least one proximally pointing needle located at the distal end of the instrument, e.g. for suturing trocar puncture wounds starting from inside the body J-shaped suture needles A61B2017/0608
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 : abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 : for measuring dimensions, e.g. length

Abstract

The invention provides a driver and methods for advancing needles, cannulas, and other medical devices through the pubic bone. The driver may be used in connection with a driver frame assembly for proper positioning and stabilization of the driver, and with other devices for creating a cavity in the urethral floor and for positioning medical devices therein. The invention also provides simple connections for attaching a suture to a device within the cavity in the urethral floor or in the vagina, and also for attaching sutures to the pubic bone.

Claims

1. A system for attaching a urethral sling to a suture comprising:

a urethral sling and a connector, said sling having a ring member, said ring member being attached to said sling, said ring member including a central opening, wherein said central opening and said connector are adapted to cooperate in allowing unidirectional passage of said connector through said central opening, said opening and said connector being further adapted to cooperate to prevent retrograde passage of said connector through said central opening.

2. A system for attaching a urethral sling to a suture as in claim 1, wherein said ring member includes at least two flanges.

3. A system for attaching a urethral sling to a suture as in claim 2, wherein said connector includes a conical tip attached to a cylindrical portion and the circumference of said conical tip is larger than the circumference of said cylindrical portion.

4. A system for attaching a urethral sling to a suture as in claim 3, wherein said conical tip attached to a cylindrical portion is adapted to cooperate with said ring member.

5. A system for attaching a urethral sling to a suture as in claim 4, wherein said flanges are adapted to move aside upon penetration of said conical tip through said central opening.

6. A system for attaching a urethral sling to a suture as in claim 4, wherein said flanges are adapted to resist retrograde movement of said connector after said connector is positioned through said ring member.

7. A system for attaching a urethral sling to a suture as any one of claims 4-6, wherein said cylindrical portion includes a means for connecting said cylindrical portion to a suture.

8. A system for attaching a urethral sling to a suture as in claim 7, further comprising a suture.

9. A system for attaching a urethral sling to a suture as in claim 1, wherein said connector includes a leading cylinder and a rear cylinder.

10. A system for attaching a urethral sling to a suture as in claim 9, wherein said leading cylinder and said rear cylinder are attached to each other by a flexible joint.

11. A system for attaching a urethral sling to a suture as in claim 10, wherein said leading cylinder and said rear cylinder assume a substantially parallel relative orientation when said flexible joint is distorted.

12. A system for attaching a urethral sling to a suture as in claim 11, wherein said leading cylinder and said rear cylinder assume substantially perpendicular relative orientation when said flexible joint is distorted.

13. A system for attaching a urethral sling to a suture as any one of claims 9-12, wherein said rear cylinder includes a means for connecting said rear cylinder to a suture.

14. A system for attaching a urethral sling to a suture as claim 13, further comprising a suture.