Self-anchoring sling and introducer system
First Claim
1. A surgical system for treating urinary incontinence, the system comprising:
- an introducer needle having a first section that is substantially straight and which defines a first flat, a second flat opposite the first flat, and a latch receptacle formed into the first section, the introducer needle also having a second section extending from the first section, the second section being substantially curved; and
a handle including a housing with a needle opening configured to receive the first section of the introducer needle and a latching mechanism that includes a latch member, the latching mechanism configured to engage the latch receptacle of the introducer needle upon insertion of the first section of the introducer needle into the needle opening of the housing, and the latching mechanism being elastically biased such that when the latch member engages the latch receptacle of the introducer needle upon insertion of the first section of the introducer needle into the needle opening of the housing, the latching mechanism produces an audible click.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical system for treating urinary incontinence includes an introducer needle and a handle. The introducer needle has a first section that is straight and is provided with a first flat, a second flat opposite the first flat, and a latch receptacle formed into the first section. The introducer needle has a second section extending from the first section, with the second section being curved. The handle includes a housing with a needle opening configured to receive the first section of the introducer needle and a latching mechanism that includes a latch member. The latching mechanism is configured to engage the latch receptacle of the introducer needle.
465 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A surgical system for treating urinary incontinence, the system comprising:
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an introducer needle having a first section that is substantially straight and which defines a first flat, a second flat opposite the first flat, and a latch receptacle formed into the first section, the introducer needle also having a second section extending from the first section, the second section being substantially curved; and a handle including a housing with a needle opening configured to receive the first section of the introducer needle and a latching mechanism that includes a latch member, the latching mechanism configured to engage the latch receptacle of the introducer needle upon insertion of the first section of the introducer needle into the needle opening of the housing, and the latching mechanism being elastically biased such that when the latch member engages the latch receptacle of the introducer needle upon insertion of the first section of the introducer needle into the needle opening of the housing, the latching mechanism produces an audible click. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A surgical method for treating urinary incontinence, the method comprising:
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removably securing an introducer needle to a handle by inserting the introducer needle into the handle, the handle including a biased latching mechanism with a latch member, the latching member engaging a latch receptacle of the introducer needle upon insertion of the introducer needle into the handle; advancing the introducer needle along a path in a body of the patient that extends through a vaginal wall and an abdominal wall of the patient; releasing the introducer needle from the handle; securing a urethral sling to the introducer needle; and drawing the urethral sling along the path through the vaginal wall and the abdominal wall of the patient by pulling the introducer needle along the path. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A surgical method for treating urinary incontinence, the method comprising:
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advancing an introducer needle along a path in a body of a patient that extends through a vaginal wall and an abdominal wall of the patient, the introducer needle being removably secured to a handle, the handle including a biased latching mechanism with a latch member, the latching member engaging a latch receptacle of the introducer needle; releasing the introducer needle from the handle by removing the latching member from the latch receptacle; securing a urethral sling to the introducer needle; and drawing the urethral sling along the path through the vaginal wall and the abdominal wall of the patient by pulling the introducer needle along the path. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification