Apparatus and method for treating female urinary incontinence
First Claim
1. A surgical implant for supporting the urethra, the implant including at least two fixing zones and a supporting zone, the supporting zone being interposed between the fixing zones and the fixing zones each having at least one retaining means for anchoring the fixing zones in the tissues of the retropubic space without penetrating the rectus sheath such that in use the supporting zone passes under the urethra.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a surgical implant and method for supporting the urethra, the implant comprising: comprising at least one fixing zone that can be fixed in the fibrofatty tissue of the retropubic space. In use the implant supports the urethra such that increased intra-abdominal pressure is transmitted to the sub urethral pressure space to promote occlusion of the urethra at periods of increased intra-abdominal pressure. The implant of the present invention has uses including treating urinary incontinence and uterovaginal prolapse.
300 Citations
35 Claims
- 1. A surgical implant for supporting the urethra, the implant including at least two fixing zones and a supporting zone, the supporting zone being interposed between the fixing zones and the fixing zones each having at least one retaining means for anchoring the fixing zones in the tissues of the retropubic space without penetrating the rectus sheath such that in use the supporting zone passes under the urethra.
- 2. A surgical implant for supporting the urethra comprising an anchor strip, the anchor strip comprising at least one fixing zone having at least one retaining means wherein in use a first portion of the anchor strip is retained in tissues of the retropubic space above the endopelvic fascia and a second portion of the anchor strip extends into a urethral pressure compartment below the endopelvic fascia and thereby supports, but does not pass under, the urethra.
-
25. (canceled)
-
26. (canceled)
- 27. A tool for inserting a surgical implant, the tool comprising an elongate shaft including a semi-blunt point at a first end and holding means to for releasably mounting the surgical implant on the shaft.
-
32. A method of supporting a urethra comprising:
-
introducing a surgical implant into at least one incision made on an upper wall of the vagina;
inserting a first end of the surgical implant behind a first side of the urethra;
locating a first fixing zone of the surgical implant into tissues of the retropubic space fascia without penetrating the rectus sheath;
inserting a second end of the surgical implant behind a second side of the urethra; and
locating a second fixing zone of the surgical implant into the tissues of the retropubic space without penetrating the rectus sheath, such that the supporting zone passes under the urethra. - View Dependent Claims (34)
-
-
33. A method of transmitting intra-abdominal pressure to the urethra comprising:
-
introducing a first anchor strip into at least one incision made on an upper wall of the vagina;
inserting a first portion of the first anchor strip behind a first side of the urethra;
locating a first portion including a fixing zone of the first anchor strip into tissues of the retropubic space above the endopelvic fascia without penetrating the rectus sheath;
locating a second portion of the first anchor strip alongside the urethra in the suburethral pressure compartment below the endopelvic fascia;
inserting a second anchor strip behind a second side of the urethra;
locating a first portion including a fixing zone of the second anchor strip into the tissues of the retropubic space above the endopelvic fascia without penetrating the rectus sheath; and
locating a second portion of the second anchor strip alongside the urethra in the suburethral pressure compartment below the endopelvic fascia.
-
-
35. (canceled)
Specification