Surgical articles and methods

• US 7,048,682 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David Staskin
• Original Assignee: American Medical Systems Incorporated (Endo International PLC)
• Inventors: Neisz, Johann J., Bouchier, Mark S., Anderson, Kimberly A., Rocheleau, Gary A., Morningstar, Randy L., Lund, Robert E., Moore, Terence M., Vandersloot, Vicki R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert, Samuel G.
• Application Number:
  US10/280,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20030050530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 112/222, 112/225, 112/226, 606/222, 606/223, 600/30, 600/37, 128/DIG.25
• US Class Current: 600/30
• 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 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• 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 17/06004 Means for attaching suture to needle tipping A61B17/06195; connecting wire to other metallic objects B21F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/30 Surgical pincettes without pivotal connectionsfor holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; wound clamps A61B17/08 ; hand-held gripping tools without pivotal connections in general B25B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3211 Surgical scalpels, knives; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00946 malleable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06009 having additional means for releasably clamping the suture to the needle, e.g. actuating rod slideable within the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06014 spring-loaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06042 located close to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06085 : having a blunt tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 : Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/3001 : for sharps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/02 : Devices for expanding tissue, e.g. skin tissue implements for holding wounds open, surgical tractors A61B17/02; implantable mammary prosthesis A61F2/12; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 : Support slings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 : Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0068 : having a special mesh pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0072 : Delivery tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 : for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 : with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0007 : for adjusting length

Abstract

Surgical instruments, implantable articles and surgical procedures disclosed for treating medical disorders, particularly incontinence. Improved surgical sling procedures are disclosed. Novel surgical instruments and kits for use in sling procedures are also disclosed. The present invention affords options for surgeons with concomitant advantages to the patient and the healthcare provider.

Claims

1. A surgical kit assembly comprising:

a sling assembly comprising a sling mesh material and an adapter, the adapter having an end portion having a passageway,

a first type of needle having first and second end portions, at least one of the end portions being sized and shaped to engage complementary surfaces in the passageway of the end portion of the adapter to associate the needle with the sling assembly, and

a needle converter having a first end portion having surfaces that are sized and shaped to engage complementary surfaces in the passageway of the adapter to associate the needle converter with the adapter, the needle converter having a second end portion, opposite the first end portion, which second end portion has a means for attaching the needle converter to a second type of needle that is different than the first type of needle.