Systems and methods for delivering a medical implant to an anatomical location in a patient

• US 8,167,786 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2010
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Chu, Michael S. H., Intoccia, Alfred P. Jr., Moore, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US12/776,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20100222641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 600 29- 31, 600/37, 128/897, 128/898, 606/1, 606/139, 606/144, 606/148, 606/191, 606/222, 606/223
• US Class Current: 600/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• 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 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• 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 2017/06019 by means of a suture-receiving lateral eyelet machined in the needle lateral opening for attaching suture to suture anchor A61B2017/0414
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06042 located close to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06076 helically or spirally coiled for sutures A61B2017/06171
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0608 J-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06085 having a blunt tip blunt dissectors A61B2017/320044
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• 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 2002/0072 Delivery tools therefor

Abstract

Medical implant delivery devices and systems are disclosed. In general, an exemplary delivery device comprises a shaft and a handle. An exemplary system includes any number of the following: a delivery device, a sling assembly, guide members, and connectors that interconnect the above. Embodiments of all the above components and their combinations are disclosed. Methods of using the above system in trans-obturator approaches are disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for treating urinary incontinence, comprising:

a flexible sleeve having first and second ends;

a knitted mesh sling at least partially within the flexible sleeve;

a first dilator attached to the first end of said sleeve and a second dilator attached to the second end of said sleeve, each of said first and second dilators comprising;

a cylindrical portion attached to said sleeve and having a substantially constant diameter, and

a conical portion extending from said cylindrical portion;

a first association loop extending from said conical portion of said first dilator, and a second association loop extending from said conical portion of said second dilator, each of said first and second association loops being deformable;

a delivery device comprising;

a handle;

a shaft having a curved portion terminating in a substantially conical tip;

first and second straight sections, the first straight section extending along a first axis from a distal end of said handle, and the second straight section extending along a second axis different from the first axis; and

a first L-slot in a distal end of said shaft and configured to receive at least one of said first and second association loops.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second straight section comprises a diameter that decreases distally.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the shaft further comprises a curved section between said first and second straight sections.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the curved section between said first and second straight sections has a substantially constant diameter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said handle comprises a distal portion that is wider than a portion of said handle immediately proximal of said distal portion.