Apparatus and method for treating female urinary incontinence
AssigneeGyne Ideas Limited
InventorJames Browning
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Abstract
The present invention provides a surgical implant and method for supporting the urethra, the implant comprising a suburethral support suspended between two soft tissue anchors that do not penetrate the lower abdominal wall and are attached at either side of the sururethral support. The soft tissue anchors retain each anchor in soft tissue, suspending each side of the suburethrasl support. The suburethral support passes under the urethra to support the urethra. The implant has uses including treating urinary incontinence and uterovasginal prolapse.
Claims36
1-27. (canceled)
A surgical implant to support a urethra, the surgical implant comprising:
- a suburethral support comprising first and second ends and first and second attachment tabs located, respectively, at the first and second ends;
- first and second soft tissue anchors;
- each of the first and second soft tissue anchors comprising:
- retaining means for retaining a respective soft tissue anchor in fibro-fatty soft tissue of a retropubic space;
- and
- suspending means, integral with the respective soft tissue anchor, for suspending the suburethral support from the respective soft tissue anchor,
- wherein the suspending means are permanently attached to one of the first and second attachment tabs of the suburethral support, and
- wherein, in use, the suburethral support is capable of being passed under the urethra and the soft tissue anchors are configured to be anchored in the fibro-fatty soft tissue of the retropubic space without penetrating a rectus sheath.
A surgical implant to support a urethra, the surgical implant comprising:
- a suburethral support comprising first and second ends and at least one jamming slot disposed, respectively, at each of the first and second ends;
- first and second soft tissue anchors;
- each of the first and second soft tissue anchors comprising:
- retaining means for retaining a respective soft tissue anchor in fibro-fatty soft tissue of a retropubic space;
- and
- suspending means, integral with the respective soft tissue anchor, for suspending the suburethral support from the respective soft tissue anchor,
- wherein the suspending means are permanently attached to one of the first and second ends of the suburethral support by cooperation with the respective at least one jamming slot, and
- wherein, in use, the suburethral support is capable of being passed under the urethra and the soft tissue anchors are configured to be anchored in the fibro-fatty soft tissue of the retropubic space without penetrating a rectus sheath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.