Incontinence implant with soft tissue anchors and length not allowing abdominal wall penetration

• US 8,932,202 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2011
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coloplast A/S
• Original Assignee: Coloplast A/S
• Inventors: Browning, James
• Primary Examiner(s): LACYK, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US13/159,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20110245594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 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 comprises a suburethral support and first and second polymer soft tissue anchors. The suburethral support has a first end portion and a second end portion located opposite the first end portion. Each of the first and second soft tissue anchors is connected to a respective one of the first and second opposite end portions of the suburethral support. The first and second anchors are configured to penetrate and retain in soft tissue. A length of the implant between the first and second soft tissue anchors is configured to allow the suburetnral support to be positioned below a urethra of a patient and to allow the anchors to be retained in soft tissue on first and second sides of the urethra without the anchors penetrating the abdominal wall.

Claims

1. A method of treating female urinary incontinence, the method comprising:

providing a surgical implant including a suburethral support having a first end portion and a second end portion located opposite the first end portion, and first and second soft tissue anchors formed of polymer material, each of the first and second soft tissue anchors being connected to a respective one of the first and second opposite end portions of the suburethral support, wherein the first and second anchors include one or more radially extending retaining structures allowing the first and second anchors to penetrate and retain in soft tissue of a patient;

introducing the surgical implant through an incision made on a wall of the patient'"'"'s vagina;

inserting the first tissue anchor into soft tissue on the first side of the urethra of the patient without penetrating the abdominal wall and engaging the radially extending retaining structures with the soft tissue;

inserting the second tissue anchor into soft tissue on the second side of the urethra of the patient without penetrating the abdominal wall and engaging the radially extending retaining structures with the soft tissue; and

positioning the suburethral support below the urethra of the patient, with a length of the surgical implant between the first and second anchor being sufficient for the suburethral support to be positioned below the urethra of the patient without either of the first and second anchors penetrating the abdominal wall.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising providing each of the first and second soft tissue anchors with a conical head.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising providing the conical heads of the first and second soft tissue anchors with sharp points.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising providing each of the first and second soft tissue anchors with a flat head.

5. A method of treating female urinary incontinence, the method comprising:

providing a surgical implant including a suburethral support having a first end portion and a second end portion located opposite the first end portion, and first and second soft tissue anchors formed of polymer material, each of the first and second soft tissue anchors being connected to a respective one of the first and second opposite end portions of the suburethral support, wherein the first and second anchors include a structure allowing the first and second anchors to penetrate and retain in soft tissue of a patient;

introducing the surgical implant through an incision made on the patient'"'"'s vagina;

inserting the first soft tissue anchor into soft tissue on a first side of a urethra of the patient without penetrating the abdominal wall;

inserting the second soft tissue anchor into soft tissue on a second side of the urethra of the patient without penetrating the abdominal wall; and

positioning the suburethral support below the urethra of the patient, with a length of the surgical implant between the first and second anchors being sufficient for the suburethral support to be positioned below the urethra of the patient without either of the first and second anchors penetrating the abdominal wall.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising providing the surgical implant with first and second suspending members connecting the first and second soft tissue anchors to the opposite end portions of the suburethral support.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the first soft tissue anchor and first suspending member are integrally formed polymer members, and the second soft tissue anchor and second suspending member are integrally formed polymer members.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein each of the first and second soft tissue anchors includes a conical head.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the structure allowing the first and second anchors to penetrate and retain in soft tissue of the patient is provided by one or more radially extending retaining structures provided on each of the first and second soft tissue anchors.

10. The method of claim 5 comprising providing each of the first and second soft tissue anchors with a flat head.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein each of the first and second soft tissue anchors comprises metal.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein each of the first and second soft tissue anchors is formed of absorbable material.

13. The method of claim 8 comprising providing the conical heads of the first and second soft tissue anchors with sharp points.