Sling assembly with secure and convenient attachment

• US 7,112,171 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2003
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David Staskin
• Original Assignee: Ams Research Corporation (Endo International PLC)
• Inventors: Neisz, Johann J., Rocheleau, Gary A., Nachreiner, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert, Samuel G.
• Application Number:
  US10/616,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20040015057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 600 29- 32, 128/DIG.25, 128897-898, 606222-227, 745/48
• US Class Current: 600/37
• 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 17/42 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 for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• 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 blunt dissectors A61B2017/320044
• 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 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

Abstract

Surgical articles that are conveniently and securely coupled are disclosed. Improved surgical procedures are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A kit for treating incontinence by implantation of a sling extending between first and second sling ends in a body pathway comprising:

an elongate needle that is sized and shaped to extend between a needle insertion end and a needle end opposite the insertion end to enable advancement of the insertion end through an abdominal incision in a patient'"'"'s body and then through the patient'"'"'s body tissue to emerge from a vaginal incision thereby creating a body pathway,

a coupler having an axis and extending between a first end and a second end and formed having a lumen extending axially into the coupler from an opening in the coupler second end, the lumen configured to receive and connect with the insertion end of the elongate needle following emergence from the vaginal incision by moving the insertion end of the elongate needle into at least a portion of the lumen, and

sling association means for coupling the coupler to one of the first and second sling ends to enable passage of a portion of the sling through the body pathway as the elongate needle is retracted from the abdominal incision.

2. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the needle insertion end and the lumen are mutually shaped and dimensioned to resist separation under an axially applied Separation Force of at least about fifteen pounds.

3. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the needle insertion end and the lumen are mutually shaped and dimensioned to resist separation under an axially applied Separation Force of at least about thirty pounds.

4. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the needle insertion end and the lumen are mutually shaped and dimensioned to require an axially applied Insertion Force of no more than about fifteen pounds.

5. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the needle insertion end and the lumen are mutually shaped and dimensioned to require an axially applied Insertion Force of no more than about ten pounds.

6. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the needle insertion end and the lumen are mutually shaped and dimensioned to require an axially applied Insertion Force of no more than about eight pounds.

7. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the sling includes an insertion sheath and the first end of the coupler is attached to the sheath by the sling association means.

8. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the insertion end of the needle is substantially blunt.

9. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said needle insertion end comprises predetermined needle surfaces, and said coupler comprises complementary internal surfaces of said lumen allowing for interlocking of said needle surfaces and said lumen surfaces to provide a firm engagement and attachment between said elongate needle and said coupler.

10. A coupler for use in an incontinence procedure that utilizes a sling extending between first and second sling ends and an elongate needle that is sized and shaped to extend between a needle insertion end and a needle end opposite the insertion end enabling advancement of the insertion end through an abdominal incision in a patient'"'"'s body and then through the patient'"'"'s body tissue to emerge from a vaginal incision thereby creating a body pathway, the coupler comprising:

an elongate coupler body having an axis and extending between a first body end and a second body end and formed having a lumen extending axially from an opening in the second body end, the lumen bounded by surfaces configured to receive and connect with the insertion end of the elongate needle inserted into the body lumen by moving the coupler body and the insertion end of the needle together in a substantially axial fashion, and

sling association means at the first body end fixedly attached to one of the first and second slina ends for coupling the elongated coupler body to the one of the first and second sling ends to enable passage of a portion of the sling through the body pathway as the elongate needle is retracted from the abdominal incision.

11. The coupler according to claim 10, wherein the needle insertion end and the lumen are mutually shaped and dimensioned to require an axially applied Separation Force of at least about fifteen pounds when connected to said needle.

12. The coupler according to claim 10, wherein the needle insertion end and the lumen are mutually shaped and dimensioned to resist separation under an axially applied Separation Force of at least about thirty pounds.

13. The coupler according to claim 10, wherein the needle insertion end and the lumen are mutually shaped and dimensioned to require an axially applied Insertion Force of no more than about fifteen pounds.

14. The coupler according to claim 10, wherein the needle insertion end and the lumen are mutually shaped and dimensioned to require an axially applied Insertion Force of no more than about ten pounds.

15. The coupler according to claim 10, wherein the needle insertion end and the lumen are mutually shaped and dimensioned to require an axially applied Insertion Force of no more than about eight pounds.

16. A coupler for use in an incontinence procedure that utilizes a sling extending between first and second sling ends and an elongate needle that is sized and shaped to extend between a needle insertion end and a needle end opposite the insertion end enabling advancement of the insertion end through an abdominal incision in a patient'"'"'s body and then through the patient'"'"'s body tissue to emerge from a vaginal incision thereby creating a body pathway, the coupler comprising:

an elongate coupler body having an axis and extending between a first end and a second end,

means for connecting the coupler to the insertion end of the needle by moving the second end of the coupler body and the insertion end of the needle together in a substantially axial fashion, and

a sling association structure at the first end of the coupler body fixedly attached to one of the first and second sling ends to enable passage of a portion of the sling through the body pathway as the elongate needle is retracted from the abdominal incision.