Adjustable tissue support member

• US 8,574,149 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2012
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Evans, Doug, Holsten, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorna, Carrie R
• Application Number:
  US13/524,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 600 29- 32, 600/37, 606/151, 606/157, 128/885, 128/897, 128/898
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0446 Means for attaching and blocking the suture in the suture anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0448 Additional elements on or within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• 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 2017/06042 located close to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 Support slings

Abstract

A tissue support system including an implantable tissue support member is described. The tissue support member includes a tissue support portion, a first arm having a first end joined to a first end of the tissue support portion, a second arm having a first end joined to a second end of the tissue support portion, the second arm defining a lumen, a first tissue anchor fixed to a second end of the first arm, a second tissue anchor slidably positioned over the second arm, and a locking member disposed in the lumen of the second arm between the second tissue anchor and a second end of the second arm.

Claims

1. A tissue support system including an implantable tissue support member comprising:

a tissue support portion;

a first arm having a first end joined to a first end of the tissue support portion;

a second arm having a first end joined to a second end of the tissue support portion, the second arm defining a lumen, the second arm being formed from a tubular knit construction of a mesh material;

a first tissue anchor fixed to a second end of the first arm;

a second tissue anchor slidably positioned over the second arm; and

a locking member disposed in the lumen of the second arm between the second tissue anchor and a second end of the second arm.

2. The tissue support system according to claim 1, wherein the second tissue anchor includes a head with a tissue penetrating tip and a base.

3. The tissue support system according to claim 2, wherein the base includes an aperture through which the second arm is positioned.

4. The tissue support system according to claim 3, wherein the aperture is normal to a longitudinal axis of the second tissue anchor.

5. The tissue support system according to claim 3, wherein the aperture resists unconstrained movement of the second arm therethrough.

6. The tissue support system according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is shaped to permit movement toward the second tissue anchor, but to resist movement away from the second tissue anchor.

7. The tissue support system according to claim 1, further comprising a stylet for introduction into the lumen of the second arm, and for urging the locking member in the direction of the second tissue anchor.

8. The tissue support system according to claim 1, further comprising an introducer needle capable of releasably securing the first and second tissue anchors.

9. The tissue support system according to claim 8, wherein the introducer needle comprises a shaft and a handle.

10. The tissue support system according to claim 9, wherein the shaft has a curved portion.

11. The tissue support system according to claim 10, wherein the shaft has a substantially helical shape.

12. The tissue support system according to claim 9, wherein the introducer needle comprises a collet at the distal end of the shaft.

13. The tissue support system according to claim 9, wherein the handle comprises a manually operable mechanism for releasing the first and second tissue anchors from the distal end of the shaft.

14. The tissue support system according to claim 1, wherein the tissue support portion comprises orientating indicia.

15. The tissue support system according to claim 14, wherein the orientating indicia comprises a colored feature in the center of the tissue support portion.

16. The tissue support system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second tissue anchors are shaped to penetrate tissue when urged in a first direction, and resist movement in a second direction opposite of the first direction.

17. The tissue support system according to claim 1, wherein the tissue support portion, the first arm, and the second arm are formed from mesh.

18. The tissue support system according to claim 17, wherein the tissue support portion is formed from a single layer of mesh.

19. The tissue support system according to claim 17, wherein the tissue support portion, the first arm, and the second arm are constructed from a unitary tubular member.

20. A tissue support system including an implantable tissue support member comprising:

a tissue support portion;

a first arm having a first end joined to a first end of the tissue support portion;

a second arm having a first end joined to a second end of the tissue support portion, the second arm defining a lumen;

the tissue support portion, the first arm, and the second arm constructed from a unitary tubular mesh member;

a first tissue anchor fixed to a second end of the first arm;

a second tissue anchor slidably positioned over the second arm; and

a locking member disposed in the lumen of the second arm between the second tissue anchor and a second end of the second arm.