# US 2014/0155687 A1 · Atraumatic medical device anchoring and delivery system with enhanced anchoring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155687 A1 - Document ID: US20140155687A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/033,898 - Filed: 2013-09-23 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-30 - Assignees: Ian L. Goldman - Inventors: Ian L. Goldman; Yani Deros; Craig Ovans - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155687A1 ## CPC - A61F 2/0063: {Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes} - A61B 17/0401: {Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811)} - A61B 17/06109: {Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle} - A61F 2/0045: {Support slings} - A61B 2017/00805: {Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence} - A61B 2017/0432: {the separate member staying in the anchor after placement} - A61B 2017/0433: {the anchor or the separate member comprising threads, e.g. a set screw or a worm gear for moving spreading members} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Systems are delineated for treating urinary incontinence (UI). More generally, systems are delineated for providing medical treatment, wherein such systems include means for attaching a structure to a patient and removing the structure without damage to the structure or the patient. An exemplary system for providing medical treatment comprises a structure for attachment to a patient utilizing at least one retractable barb. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for providing medical treatment to a patient, the system comprising: a structure for attachment to the patient, the structure having a first end and a second, opposing end; a first aperture located near the first end of the structure, the first aperture including a first key for accepting the insertion of a first retractable barb and for establishing a desired alignment of the structure with respect to the first retractable barb; and a second aperture located near the second end of the structure, the second aperture including a second key for accepting the insertion of a second retractable barb and for establishing a desired alignment of the structure with respect to the second retractable barb. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises a mesh material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the structure comprises one or more regions including a biocompatible elastomeric material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3 wherein one of the one or more regions comprises a region centered along a longitudinal axis of the structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3 wherein one of the one or more regions comprises a region near the first end of the structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 wherein another of the one or more regions comprises a region near the second end of the structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein another of the one or more regions comprises a region near the first end of the structure and yet another of the one or more regions comprises a region near the second end of the structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3 wherein the biocompatible elastomeric material comprises one or more of a silicon-based material, a rubber-like material and a stretchable biomedical-grade polymer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more sutures coupled to the structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3 further comprising one or more sutures coupled to the structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the one or more sutures are integrated within the biocompatible elastomeric material and are woven between apertures formed by the mesh material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more sutures comprise a pair of sutures, each suture of the pair of sutures being integrated within the biocompatible elastomeric material and woven between the apertures formed by the mesh material to form a triangular pattern. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3 wherein the structure has an elliptical shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein each of the pair of sutures includes portions of the sutures extending from the structure, said portion of one of the pair of sutures exiting the structure near the first end of the structure and said portion of the other of the pair of sutures exiting the structure near the second end of the structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein each triangular pattern includes an apex which points to an end of the structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further including the first retractable barb and the second retractable barb. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein each retractable barb comprises: a pair of movable arms, each movable arm having a first and a second end, the first ends of the pair of movable arms being coupled together; a base member having a first end and a second end, each end of which is coupled in proximity to a second end of a respective one of the pair of movable arms; and wherein the pair of movable arms and the base member form a triangular structure having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface forming an aperture between the pair of movable arms and the base member for tissue growth. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein a portion of the outer surface is formed by outer surfaces of the movable arms wherein portions of the outer surfaces of the moveable arms are adapted for creating an incision in the patient. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18 wherein the portions of the outer surfaces of the movable arms that are adapted for creating the incision comprise concave-shaped cutouts in each movable arm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein each retractable barb may be selectively moved between a first configuration in which the triangular structure is shaped to improve capacity for creating an incision and inserting the retractable barb into the patient and a second configuration in which the triangular structure is shaped to improve holding capacity of the retractable barb within the patient. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 further including an alignment structure coupled to the base member for mating engagement and alignment with a respective key in a respective aperture in the structure for attachment to the patient. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein each retractable barb comprises a plastic material. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein a portion near the second end of each movable arm extends away from the base member to provide prongs for increased holding capacity within patient tissue. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 further including: a stem coupled to the base member, said stem including an aperture running lengthwise through the stem to permit insertion of a tool; and a pair of locking tabs coupled to the stem, the pair of locking tabs when moved into a first position, permitting actuation of the tool for moving one of the first and the second retractable barb, and when moved into a second position, preventing actuation of the tool for moving one of the first and the second retractable barb. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24 wherein the aperture within the stem includes an alignment structure to facilitate proper alignment and insertion of the tool through the aperture within the stem. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further including a pair of alignment members, each alignment member being coupled to a respective end of the structure for facilitating proper alignment and insertion of a tool for controlling each retractable barb. ### Claim 27 A system for providing medical treatment to a patient, the system comprising: a structure for attachment to the patient, the structure having a generally rectangular shape and having extending therefrom a plurality of arms, each arm including a proximal end coupled to the generally rectangular shape of the structure and a distal end; an aperture located near the distal end of each arm, each aperture including a key for accepting the insertion of a retractable barb and for establishing a desired alignment of the structure with respect to the retractable barb; and a plurality of apertures located near a perimeter portion of the generally rectangular shape of the structure, each aperture of the plurality of apertures including a key for accepting the insertion of a retractable barb and for establishing a desired alignment of the structure with respect to the retractable barb. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The system of claim 27 wherein the structure comprises a mesh material. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28 wherein the structure comprises one or more regions including a biocompatible elastomeric material. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The system of claim 29 wherein the biocompatible elastomeric material comprises one or more of a silicon-based material, a rubber-like material and a stretchable biomedical-grade polymer. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The system of claim 27 further comprising one or more sutures coupled to the structure. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The system of claim 29 further comprising one or more sutures coupled to the structure. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The system of claim 32 wherein each suture includes portions extending from the structure. ### Claim 34 (depends on 27) The system of claim 27 further including a retractable barb coupled to each aperture in the structure. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34 wherein each retractable barb comprises: a pair of movable arms, each movable arm having a first and a second end, the first ends of the pair of movable arms being coupled together; a base member having a first end and a second end, each end of which is coupled in proximity to a second end of a respective one of the pair of movable arms; and wherein the pair of movable arms and the base member form a triangular structure having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface forming an aperture between the pair of movable arms and the base member for tissue growth. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The system of claim 35 wherein a portion of the outer surface is formed by outer surfaces of the movable arms wherein portions of the outer surfaces of the moveable arms are adapted for creating an incision in the patient. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The system of claim 36 wherein the portions of the outer surfaces of the movable arms that are adapted for creating the incision comprise concave-shaped cutouts in each movable arm. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) The system of claim 35 wherein each retractable barb may be selectively moved between a first configuration in which the triangular structure is shaped to improve capacity for creating an incision and inserting the retractable barb into the patient and a second configuration in which the triangular structure is shaped to improve holding capacity of the retractable barb within the patient. ### Claim 39 (depends on 35) The system of claim 35 further including an alignment structure coupled to the base member for mating engagement and alignment with a respective key in a respective aperture in the structure for attachment to the patient. ### Claim 40 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34 wherein each retractable barb comprises a plastic material. ### Claim 41 (depends on 35) The system of claim 35 wherein a portion near the second end of each movable arm extends away from the base member to provide prongs for increased holding capacity within patient tissue. ### Claim 42 (depends on 35) The system of claim 35 further including: a stem coupled to the base member, said stem including an aperture running lengthwise through the stem to permit insertion of a tool; and a pair of locking tabs coupled to the stem, the pair of locking tabs when moved into a first position, permitting actuation of the tool for moving a respective retractable barb, and when moved into a second position, preventing actuation of the tool for moving a respective retractable barb. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The system of claim 42 wherein the aperture within the stem includes an alignment structure to facilitate proper alignment and insertion of the tool through the aperture within the stem. ### Claim 44 A retractable barb for attaching a portion of a medical device to a patient, the retractable barb comprising: a pair of movable arms, each movable arm having a first and a second end, the first ends of the pair of movable arms being coupled together; a base member having a first end and a second end, each end of which is coupled in proximity to a second end of a respective one of the pair of movable arms; and wherein the pair of movable arms and the base member form a triangular structure having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface forming an aperture between the pair of movable arms and the base member for tissue growth. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The system of claim 44 wherein a portion of the outer surface is formed by outer surfaces of the movable arms wherein portions of the outer surfaces of the moveable arms are adapted for creating an incision in the patient. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The system of claim 45 wherein the portions of the outer surfaces of the movable arms that are adapted for creating the incision comprise concave-shaped cutouts in each movable arm. ### Claim 47 (depends on 44) The system of claim 44 wherein the retractable barb may be selectively moved between a first configuration in which the triangular structure is shaped to improve capacity for creating an incision and inserting the retractable barb into the patient and a second configuration in which the triangular structure is shaped to improve holding capacity of the retractable barb within the patient. ### Claim 48 (depends on 44) The system of claim 44 further including an alignment structure coupled to the base member for mating engagement and alignment with a key in an aperture in the medical device for attachment to the patient. ### Claim 49 (depends on 44) The system of claim 44 wherein the retractable barb comprises a plastic material. ### Claim 50 (depends on 44) The system of claim 44 wherein a portion near the second end of each movable arm extends away from the base member to provide prongs for increased holding capacity within patient tissue. ### Claim 51 (depends on 44) The system of claim 44 further including: a stem coupled to the base member, said stem including an aperture running lengthwise through the stem to permit insertion of a tool; and a pair of locking tabs coupled to the stem, the pair of locking tabs when moved into a first position, permitting actuation of the tool for moving the retractable barb, and when moved into a second position, preventing actuation of the tool for moving the retractable barb. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The system of claim 51 wherein the aperture within the stem includes an alignment structure to facilitate proper alignment and insertion of the tool through the aperture within the stem. ### Claim 53 (depends on 44) The system of claim 44 further including an alignment member, the alignment member being coupled to the medical device for facilitating proper alignment and insertion of a tool for controlling the retractable barb.