Mesh for pelvic floor repair

• US 7,087,065 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Schwartz, Barbara, Leibowitz, Rebecca, Ulmsten, Ulf
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/263,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20030114866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 601/37, 600/37, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/151
• 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 2250/0017 differing in yarn density

Abstract

A woven mesh is provided for supporting tissue or an organ within a female patient'"'"'s pelvis, and a method for using the same. The mesh includes a central portion having a width, a length, first and second ends, and first and second side edges, and first and second wing portions extending from the first and second ends of the central portion respectively. The first and second wing portions each have a width, a length, and first and second peripheral edges. The width of the wing portions are each greater than the width of the central portion, and when positioned within the female patient, the central portion is positioned below and supports the tissue or organ. A mesh is also provided having woven fibers with voids therebetween, and having a central portion and first and second ends. The average size of the voids at least in the central portion is at least 25–50 mm², and when positioned within the patient, the central portion is positioned below and supports the tissue or organ.

Claims

1. A mesh for use in supporting tissue or an organ within a female patient'"'"'s pelvis comprising:

a central portion having a width, a length, first and second ends, and first and second side edges; and

first and second wing portions extending from the first and second ends of the central portion, the first and second wing portions each having a width, a length, first and second ends, and first and second peripheral edges,

wherein the width of the first and second wing portions are each greater than the width of the central portion and wherein, when implanted in the female patient, the central portion is positioned beneath and supports the tissue or organ, and

wherein the mesh further comprises a plurality of woven synthetic fibers having voids therebetween, and wherein the voids are larger in size in the central portion than in the wing portions.

2. The mesh according to claim 1, wherein the voids in the central portion have an average size of at least about 25–

50 mm², and wherein the voids in the wing portions have an average size of less than about 3 mm².

3. The mesh according to claim 1, wherein the voids progressively increase in size from the outer edge of the wing portions to a central region of the central portion.

4. A method for supporting tissue or an organ within a female patient'"'"'s pelvis, comprising:

providing a mesh having a central portion having a width, a length, first and second ends, and first and second side edges, and having first and second wing portions extending from the first and second ends of the central portion, the first and second wing portions each having a width, a length, first and second ends, and first and second peripheral edges, wherein the width of the first and second wing portions are each greater than the width of the central portion;

inserting the mesh into the female patient so that substantially only the central portion is in contact with vaginal tissue, and so that the wing portions are fixated to non-vaginal tissue to thereby provide support for the vaginal tissue.