Devices for minimally invasive pelvic surgery

• US 8,727,962 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gellman, Barry N., Martin, William, Rackley, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): LACYK, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US11/894,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20080221386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,465 Days
• Field of Search: 600 29- 32, 600/37, 128897-899, 128/DIG.25, 606/119, 606/148, 606151-156, 606222-225
• US Class Current: 600/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3415 for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00349 Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue A61B17/06066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/061 hollow or tubular
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06104 interconnected at their distal ends, e.g. two hollow needles forming a loop for passing a suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22035 for retrieving or repositioning foreign objects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/25 Artificial sphincters and devices for controlling urinary incontinence

Abstract

The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, devices, and methods for treating urinary incontinence.

The present invention relates to prefabricated urethral suspension slings, methods of making the slings, methods of attaching suture to the slings, kits comprising the slings, and methods of using the slings to treat urinary incontinence. The slings comprise a biocompatible material having an elongate shape adapted for urethral suspension. The material has a central portion extending longitudinally between a first end portion and a second end portion. Each end portion of the sling contains at least one suture receiving site. The suture receiving sites are formed prior to surgery and may be reinforced through a variety of means. Sutures may be attached to the suture receiving sites during the manufacturing process or by the physician prior to or during surgery. Additionally, the end portions of the sling containing the suture receiving sites may be thicker than the central portion of the sling.

Claims

1. A system for treating urinary incontinence, comprising:

a urethral support sling including a bioabsorbable coating, the coating including at least one drug, the support sling including;

a first end portion;

a second end portion; and

a central portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion; and

an anchor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sling has a substantially flat shape.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sling has one or more pores or interstices.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the coating blocks one or more of the pores or interstices.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the coating facilitates tissue ingrowth into the sling.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the coating is collagenous.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the coating is a smooth layer of collagen.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the coating is polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, blends of polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid, gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, or combinations thereof.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pouch for covering only partially, the sling.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a shaft having a curved portion.

6. A system for treating urinary incontinence, comprising:

a urethral support sling including a bioabsorbable coating, wherein the coating includes one or more drugs; and

an anchor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more drugs are antibiotics, heparin, or immunosuppressant agents.

13. A system for treating urinary incontinence comprising;

a shaft having a curved portion and a distal end; and

a sling assembly comprising;

a urethral support sling including a bioabsorbable coating, the coating including at least one drug, the support sling including;

a first end portion;

a second end portion; and

a central portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion; and

an anchor; and

an end releasably attached to the distal end of the shaft.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the sling assembly further comprises a pouch that covers the sling only partially.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the sling is shorter in length than the pouch.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one end of the pouch is open.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the pouch has a flat shape.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the pouch is relatively flexible.

19. A method for treating female urinary incontinence comprising:

providing a urethral support sling including a bioabsorbable coating and an anchor, the coating including at least one drug, the support sling including;

a first end portion;

a second end portion; and

a central portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion; and

placing at least a portion of the sling including the coating under, a urethra of a patient to treat female urinary incontinence.