Method and Apparatus for Securing a Urethral Sling to Pubic Bone

A surgical kit comprising:

• a urethral sling (30) having opposed sling sides (36, 38) and extending between a first sling end (32) adapted to be coupled to a first pubic bone (24) and a second sling end (34) adapted to be coupled to a second pubic bone (26) to fix the urethral sling in a sub-urethral location to support the urethra (20) and alleviate incontinence, the urethral sling having or capable of having a sling opening (40) formed through the sling adjacent the first and second sling ends;
• at least one bone anchor (64) having a bone fixation mechanism adapted to be affixed to pubic bone and an elongated anchor suture (84, 85, 87;
• 250;
• 350) adapted to be passed through a urethral sling opening (40) to enable advancement of the urethral sling (30) over the suture body and toward a pubic bone (24;
• 26) after the bone anchor is affixed to the pubic bone;
• and
• at least one suture retainer (100;
• 160;
• 200;
• 270;
• 300;
• 310;
• 340) having a retainer body (102;
• 162;
• 204, 214;
• 272;
• 304;
• 312;
• 342) and a retainer bore (104, 108;
• 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174;
• 220;
• 222;
• 224;
• 226;
• 228;
• 230;
• 274;
• 306, 308;
• 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330;
• 344) through the retainer body, the retainer bore sized and shaped to receive and engage the suture adjacent the urethral sling to apply retentive force through the retainer body against the urethral sling to retain a portion of the urethral sling proximate the pubic bone.