Adjustable surgical implant for treating urinary incontinence

• US 8,123,673 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2011
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coloplast A/S
• Original Assignee: Coloplast A/S
• Inventors: Browning, James
• Primary Examiner(s): LACYK, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US13/165,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20110237869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 600 29- 31, 600/37, 128/DIG.25, 128897-898, 606139-144, 606151-158, 606232-233
• 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 17/06109 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 for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0435 the barbs being separate elements mechanically linked to the anchor, e.g. by pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• 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 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0007 for adjusting length

Abstract

A surgical implant for treating female urinary incontinence. The implant comprises an elongate polymer material suburethral support having a length and a width, first and second elongate and porous polymer material suspending members having a length and a width extending from opposite ends of the suburethral support, and first and second polymer tissue anchors having conical tips and wings on the first and second suspending members. The width of the suspending members is less than the width of the suburethral support. The length of the second suspending member between the suburethral support and the second anchor is adjustable.

Claims

1. A surgical implant for treating female urinary incontinence, comprising:

an elongate polymer material suburethral support having a length and a width;

first and second continuous elongate and porous polymer material suspending members having a length and a width extending from opposite ends of the suburethral support, wherein the width of the suspending members is less than the width of the suburethral support; and

first and second polymer tissue anchors having conical tips and wings on the first and second suspending members, wherein the length of the second suspending member between the suburethral support and the second anchor is adjustable; and

adjustment structure configured to engage the second suspending member at a movable location along the length of the second suspending member to fix the length of the second suspending member between the suburethral support and the second anchor.

2. The surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the adjustment structure further includes:

an aperture through which the second suspending member extends; and

an element for positioning with respect to the aperture to trap the suspending member between an edge of the aperture and the element to fix the length of the second suspending member.

3. The surgical implant of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second elongate and porous polymer material suspending members is a different material than the polymer material of the suburethral support.

4. The surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the suspending members are fixedly joined to the opposite ends of the suburethral support.

5. The surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the material of the suspending members has smooth edges.

6. The surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the length of the suburethral support is from 15 to 35 mm and the width of the suburethral support is from 5 to 15 mm.

7. The surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the suspending members are formed of a polypropylene mesh.

8. The surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the width of each suspending member is from 3 to 5 mm.

9. The surgical implant of claim 1 and further comprising an introducer tool, wherein the introducer tool includes:

a handle; and

an elongate and curved body extending from the handle and having a distal end for releasably engaging the first and second tissue anchors of the surgical implant.

10. The surgical implant of claim 2, wherein the aperture is in the suburethral support.