Systems, methods and devices relating to implantable supportive slings

• US 8,628,465 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Mamo, George, Weiser, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): KUHLMAN, CATHERINE BURK
• Application Number:
  US11/152,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20060089525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,136 Days
• Field of Search: 600/37, 600 29- 31, 606/1, 606/139, 606/314, 606151-158
• 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 17/06066 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 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 2017/0427 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 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0456 Surface features on the anchor, e.g. ribs increasing friction between the suture and the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0459 Multiple holes in the anchor through which the suture extends and locking the suture when tension is applied
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0462 One way system, i.e. also tensioning the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• 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: A61F 2/0045 Support slings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 : for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 : with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0007 : for adjusting length

Abstract

The invention provides, in various embodiments, aspects of soft tissue anchors, adjustable length/tension slings, interconnects between slings and soft tissue anchors, delivery devices and systems for implanting supportive slings, and methods relating to anchoring, adjusting and implanting supportive slings.

Claims

1. A system for the treatment of urinary incontinence, comprising:

a sling having first and second ends;

first and second anchors, wherein the first end of the sling interfits within a slot in the first anchor, and the second end of the sling interfits within a slot in the second anchor,

each of said first and second anchors comprising a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a through lumen extending therebetween, each of said first and second anchors further comprising at least one barb projecting radially therefrom; and

a delivery device for delivering said sling within the body of a patient, said delivery device comprising a shaft comprising a distal section that has an outer diameter that is less than a diameter of said shaft at a location immediately proximal to the distal section, wherein the distal section of said shaft is configured to extend through the through lumen of each of said first and second anchors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second anchors are soft tissue anchors.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second anchors consist of a polymer material.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one barb has a pointed tip.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said sling comprises tanged edges.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said shaft is formed substantially in a single plane.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said shaft comprises a straight section and a curved section distal to said straight section.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said straight section of said shaft has an outside diameter that is substantially constant.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a shoulder at the intersection between said distal section and said location immediately proximal to said distal section.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein each of said first and second anchors are configured to abut said shoulder during delivery thereof into the patient.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said sling comprises polypropylene.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said sling has a mesh configuration.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said delivery device further comprises a handle proximal to said shaft.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said delivery device is configured to deliver each of said first and second anchors within the patient.

15. A system for the treatment of urinary incontinence, comprising:

a mesh sling comprising polypropylene and having first and second ends;

first and second soft tissue anchors, wherein the first end of the sling interfits within a slot in the first anchor and the second end of the sling interfits within a slot in the second anchor,

each of said first and second soft tissue anchors consisting of a polymer material and comprising a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a through lumen extending therebetween, each of said first and second soft tissue anchors further comprising at least one barb projecting radially therefrom, each of said barbs having a pointed tip; and

a delivery device for delivering said sling within the body of a patient, said delivery device comprising a shaft comprising a distal section that has an outer diameter that is less than a diameter of said shaft at a location immediately proximal to the distal section, wherein the distal section of said shaft is configured to extend through the through lumen of each of said first and second soft tissue anchors, said shaft being formed substantially in a single plane and comprising a straight section and a curved section distal to said straight section.