Implantable slings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9839504-B2
Application number	US-201414280759-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2014
Priority date	Jun 18, 2013
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure describes implantable slings suitable for use in a variety of medical applications, the implantable slings include at least one a biocompatible support member having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces including a first end, a second end, and a central region positioned therebetween, a first set of fixation elements positioned on the first end of the first surface, a second set of fixation elements positioned on the second end of the first surface, and a spacer positioned on the central region of the first surface for contacting a tissue in need of support.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of treating urinary stress incontinence comprising:
obtaining an implantable sling comprising a biocompatible support member having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces including a first end, a second end, and a central region positioned therebetween, a first set of fixation elements positioned on the first end of the first surface, a second set of fixation elements positioned on the second end of the first surface; a third set of fixation elements positioned on the second surface; and, a spacer positioned on the central region of the first surface, wherein the third set of fixation elements are positioned opposite the spacer;
positioning the spacer beneath a urethra;
attaching the first set of fixation elements to an obturator internus muscle on a first lateral side of the urethra and the second set of fixation elements to the obturator internus muscle on a second lateral side of the urethra.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the implantable sling further comprises an outer sheath positioned around an outer perimeter of the implantable sling and including a central cut-out for exposing the spacer to allow direct contact with tissue prior to removal of the outer sheath; and removal of the outer sheath occurs after positioning of the spacer beneath the urethra.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible support member comprises a non-absorbable material.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible support member comprises an absorbable material.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible support member comprises a knit mesh.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible support member further comprises a second spacer positioned on the first end of the second surface opposite the first fixation elements.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the biocompatible support member further comprises a third spacer positioned on the second end of the second surface opposite the second fixation elements.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the spacer, the second spacer, or the third spacer comprises an absorbable material.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the spacer, the second spacer, or the third spacer comprises a contoured surface designed to center tissue in need of support within the spacer.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of markings spaced equally apart from a center of the biocompatible support member.

11. An implantable sling for use in a medical application comprising:
a biocompatible support member having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces including a first end, a second end, and a central region positioned therebetween;
a first set of fixation elements positioned on the first end of the first surface;
a second set of fixation elements positioned on the second end of the first surface;
a third set of fixation elements positioned on the second surface; and,
a spacer positioned on the central region of the first surface, wherein the third set of fixation elements are positioned opposite the spacer.

12. The implantable sling of claim 11 , wherein the biocompatible support member comprises a non-absorbable material.

13. The implantable sling of claim 11 , wherein the biocompatible support member comprises an absorbable material.

14. The implantable sling of claim 11 , wherein the biocompatible support member comprises a knit mesh.

15. The implantable sling of claim 11 , further comprising a second spacer positioned on the first end of the second surface opposite the first fixation elements.

16. The implantable sling of claim 15 , further comprising a third spacer positioned on the second end of the second surface opposite the second fixation elements.

17. The implantable sling of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the spacer, the second spacer, or the third spacer comprises an absorbable material.

18. The implantable sling of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the spacer, the second spacer, or the third spacer comprises a contoured surface designed to center tissue in need of support within the spacer.

19. The implantable sling of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of markings spaced equally apart from a center of the biocompatible support member.

20. The implantable sling of claim 11 , further comprising an outer sheath positioned around an outer perimeter of the sling.

21. The implantable sling of claim 20 , wherein the outer sheath further comprises a central cut-out for exposing the spacer to allow direct contact with tissue prior to removal of the outer sheath.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Miller Jeffrey

Classifications

• A61F2210/0004

  bioabsorbable · CPC title

• A61F2220/0016

  with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes · CPC title

• A61F2/0063 Primary

  Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes · CPC title

• A61F2/0045

  Support slings · CPC title

• D10B2501/0632

  of the touch-and-close type · CPC title