Method for correction of urinary and gynecological pathologies including treatment of incontinence

• US 6,691,711 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ams Research Corporation (Endo International PLC)
• Inventors: Raz, Shlomo, Beyar, Mordechay, Globerman, Oren
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Matthews, William H
• Application Number:
  US10/252,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 600/29, 600/30, 600/31, 600/37, 128/898
• US Class Current: 128/898
• 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 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 Support slings

Abstract

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for treatment of male incontinence and a method for female cystocele repair in which a sling material is positioned between the descending rami of the pubic bone. In such an operation a “hammock-like” sling material is positioned below the urethra in males, or below the posterior bladder wall in the case of cystocele in females.

Claims

1. A surgical procedure for treating a female patient'"'"'incontinence comprising the steps of:

placing an incision in the vagina;

providing a sling anchor;

providing a sling,

associating the sling anchor with the sling;

using a sling anchor inserter to place a sling anchor initially through the vaginal incision and then into the patient'"'"'retropubic space; and

anchoring the sling anchor in fascia without creating an abdominal incision.

2. A surgical procedure according to claim 1 wherein the step of associating the sling anchor with the sling occurs after the step of using a sling anchor inserter to place a sling anchor initially through the vaginal incision and then into the patient'"'"'s retropubic space.

3. A surgical procedure according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing a sling anchor comprises the step of providing a substantially cylindrical body having a bore therethrough and a threaded suture.

4. A surgical procedure according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing a sling anchor comprises the step of providing a clip.

5. A surgical procedure according to claim 1 wherein the step of anchoring the sling anchor comprises the step of anchoring the sling anchor just above the patient'"'"'s periostium near a superior rami and the patient'"'"'pubic symphysis.

6. A surgical procedure according to claim 1 wherein the step of anchoring the sling anchor in fascia comprises the step of anchoring the sling anchor in fascia without using any bone anchor.