Apparatus and method for treating female urinary incontinence
First Claim
1. A method of supporting a urethra comprising the steps of,introducing a surgical implant comprising first and second soft tissue anchors and a suburethral support portion therebetween into at least one incision made on an upper wall of a vagina, inserting the first soft tissue anchor on a first side of the urethra behind a pubic bone, and inserting the second soft tissue anchor on a second side of the urethra behind the pubic bone, such that the suburethral support portion is suspended from the first and second soft tissue anchors and supports the urethra, wherein each of the first and second soft tissue anchors is positioned in fibro-fatty soft tissue which comprise a retropubic space without penetrating the rectus sheath.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a surgical implant and method for supporting the urethra (118), the implant comprising: a suburethral support (10) suspended between two soft tissue anchors (30) that do not penetrate the lower abdominal wall and are attached at either side of the suburethral support (10). The soft tissue anchors (30) retain each anchor in soft tissue, suspending each side of the suburethral support (10). The suburethral support (10) passes under the urethra (118) to support the urethra The implant has uses including treating urinary incontinence and uterovaginal prolapse.
297 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of supporting a urethra comprising the steps of,
introducing a surgical implant comprising first and second soft tissue anchors and a suburethral support portion therebetween into at least one incision made on an upper wall of a vagina, inserting the first soft tissue anchor on a first side of the urethra behind a pubic bone, and inserting the second soft tissue anchor on a second side of the urethra behind the pubic bone, such that the suburethral support portion is suspended from the first and second soft tissue anchors and supports the urethra, wherein each of the first and second soft tissue anchors is positioned in fibro-fatty soft tissue which comprise a retropubic space without penetrating the rectus sheath.
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7. A method of supporting a urethra, comprising:
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introducing a surgical implant into at least one incision made in an upper wall of a vagina, the surgical implant comprising first and second ends and a suburethral support section therebetween;
inserting the first end of the surgical implant on a first side of the urethra and positioning the first end into fibro-fatty tissue of a retropubic space without penetrating a rectus sheath; and
inserting the second end of the surgical implant on a second side of the urethra and positioning the second end into the fibro-fatty tissue of the retropubic space without penetrating the rectus sheath such that the suburethral support section is positioned under the urethra and provides support thereto. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of supporting a urethra, comprising:
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making at least one incision in an upper wall of a vagina;
inserting a first end of a surgical implant into the at least one incision;
placing the first end of the surgical implant on a first side of the urethra and positioning the first end into fibro-fatty tissue of a retropubic space without penetrating through a rectus sheath;
inserting a second end of the surgical implant into the at least one incision;
placing the second end of the surgical implant on a second side of the urethra and positioning the second end into the fibro-fatty tissue of the retropubic space without penetrating through the rectus sheath; and
positioning a suburethral support section of the surgical implant under the urethra to provide support thereto.
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12. A method of supporting a urethra, comprising:
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mechanically coupling, with a surgical implant, a first tissue portion of a retropubic space on a first side of the urethra to a second tissue portion of the retropubic space on a second side of the urethra, wherein the urethra is positioned between the first and second tissue portions; and
orienting a portion of the surgical implant underneath the urethra to provide support thereto, wherein a rectus sheath is not penetrated. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of supporting a urethra, comprising:
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mechanically coupling, with a surgical implant, a first tissue portion of a retropubic space on a first side of the urethra to a second tissue portion of the retropubic space on a second side of the urethra, wherein the urethra is positioned between the first and second tissue portions; and
orienting a portion of the surgical implant underneath the urethra to provide support thereto, wherein the surgical implant is coupled to the rectus sheath in an orientation such that the rectus sheath does not significantly contribute to the mechanical coupling of the first tissue portion to the second tissue portion. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method of supporting a urethra, comprising:
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positioning a surgical implant in a retropubic space to mechanically couple a first tissue portion of the retropubic space on a first side of the urethra to a second tissue portion of the retropubic space on a second side of the urethra, wherein the urethra is positioned between the first and second tissue portions; and
positioning a portion of the surgical implant underneath the urethra to provide support thereto, wherein substantially all of the mechanical coupling is provided by interaction of the first and second tissue portions with respective portions of the surgical implant. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of supporting a urethra, comprising:
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positioning a surgical implant in a retropubic space to mechanically couple a first tissue portion of the retropubic space on a first side of the urethra to a second tissue portion of the retropubic space on a second side of the urethra, wherein the urethra is positioned between the first and second tissue portions; and
positioning a portion of the surgical implant underneath the urethra to provide support thereto, wherein the surgical implant is substantially held in place by interaction of the first and second tissue portions with respective portions of the surgical implant. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification