Apparatus for the prevention of urinary incontinence in females

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10405959-B2
Application number	US-201715652459-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2017
Priority date	May 22, 2003
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus for treating urinary incontinence, comprising a node; a support section adapted for providing urethral support attached to the node; and, an anchoring section adapted for resisting movement of the apparatus attached to the node; wherein the node is no longer than 30% of the entire length of the apparatus comprising the node, support section and the anchoring section together.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus arranged around a central axis for treating urinary incontinence, said apparatus being sized and shaped for human intra-vaginal insertion, comprising:
a support section that continuously provides at least partial urethral support after insertion by stretching the vaginal wall and that also forms a cradle to provide at least partially occluding urethral support during a high stress incontinence event when the urethra descends against the cradle during the event, wherein the support section comprises a plurality of arms;
an anchoring section comprising a plurality of arms which radiate perpendicular to the central axis; and
a node connecting the anchoring section to the support section wherein the node is rotationally symmetrically located around the central axis, the central axis being along a long axis of the apparatus and the apparatus configured so that the long axis lies along a vagina when inserted therein; and
a separate cover configured to provide urethral support, thereby applying support to the urethra.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the support section also provides anchoring.

3. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover substantially encapsulates the apparatus.

4. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the support section is flexible.

5. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the node is flexible.

6. An apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a device displacer.

7. An apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said device displacer is attached to the cover.

8. An apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said device displacer is attached to the apparatus.

9. An apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an applicator adapted to insert said apparatus into a vagina.

10. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the length of the apparatus corresponding to the central axis is 25 mm or less.

11. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the width of the apparatus corresponding to the transverse of the central axis is 25 mm or less.

12. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the anchoring section provides stretching of the vaginal wall and wherein the anchoring section has a larger radius than the cradle.

13. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the anchoring section has a different radius than the support section.

14. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the cradle causes the urethra to kink as the urethra descends against the cradle during a pelvic floor lowering, high-stress incontinence event.

Assignees

• Kimberly Clark Co

Inventors

• Ziv Elan

Classifications

• A61F2/005 Primary

  with pressure applied to urethra by an element placed in the vagina · CPC title

• A61F2/0045 Primary

  Support slings · CPC title