Mesh material to repair hernias

A surgically implantable device, comprising:

• a body;
• at least one suture thread extendably mounted to the body, wherein the suture thread has a proximal end attached to the body, and a distal region removably attached to the body;
• a suture housing disposed on the body, wherein the distal region of the suture thread is removably contained within said suture housing and wherein the distal region of the suture thread is removably attached to the body by heat bonding or an adhesive;
• and
• a pull-tab connected to the at least one suture thread for pulling the suture thread from the suture housing.

A surgically implantable device, comprising:

• a surgically implantable patch;
• at least one suture assembly attached to the patch, wherein the suture assembly comprises at least one suture housing;
• at least one suture thread having a proximal end attached to the patch and a distal region removably disposed within the suture housing;
• and
• a pull-tab attached to the suture thread for completely removing the suture thread from the suture housing.

A suture assembly for attaching a surgical implant to a patient, comprising:

• a suture thread;
• a suture housing attached to the surgical implant and removably containing the suture thread;
• and
• a pull-tab attached to the suture thread, wherein the pull-tab is adapted to be engaged and pulled for completely removing the suture thread from the suture housing.

A method of surgically securing a surgically implantable device to a patient, comprising the steps of:

• a) selecting a surgically implantable device comprising a body, at least one suture thread extendably mounted to the body, wherein the suture thread has a proximal end attached to the body, and a distal region removably attached to the body, a suture housing disposed on the body, wherein the distal region of the suture thread is removably contained within said suture housing, and a pull-tab operably connected to the at least one suture thread;
• b) attaching the surgically implantable device to a surgical tool for insertion into a patient;
• c) inserting the surgically implantable device through an incision in the patient;
• d) placing the surgically implantable device so as to place the at least one suture thread adjacent to a selected tissue of the patient;
• e) acquiring the at least one suture thread by means of a pull-tab attached thereon;
• f) moving the at least one suture thread through the tissue;
• and
• g) securing the at least one suture thread so as to attach the surgically implantable device to the patient.

A method of inserting a surgically implantable device into a patient, the device including a body, a retractable thread with a proximal end attached to the body and a distal end disposed inside a housing that is affixed to the body, and a pull tab attached to the thread capable of completely removing the thread from the housing, the method comprising:

• inserting the surgically implantable device into the patient;
• pulling the pull tab with an insertion tool;
• completely removing the distal end of the thread from the housing by the pull tab;
• and
• attaching the surgically implantable device to the patient with the thread.