Systems and methods for sling delivery and placement
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorsMichael S. H. Chu, Brian Charles MacLean, Kenneth J. Daignault, Michael G. McGrath
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices and methods for delivering and placing a surgical sling without resorting to an abdominal incision are disclosed.
Claims26
A system for treating urinary incontinence in a patient, comprising:
- a first elongated delivery device having a proximal end and a distal end, a first aperture through a sidewall of the delivery device proximal to the distal end wherein the aperture is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the delivery device, a second aperture located near the proximal end, and a lumen extending between the first and second apertures,
- a sling assembly including a sling at least partially enclosed by a sleeve, the sling, assembly having a first end threaded through into the first aperture, through the lumen and out the second aperture of the first elongated delivery device, wherein the sling has a first end that extends into the lumen of the first elongated delivery device;
- an operator actuatable cutting device located in the lumen for cutting off a portion of at least one of the sling and the sleeve;
- a second elongated delivery device having a proximal end and a distal end, a first aperture located near the distal end, a second aperture located near the proximal end, and a lumen extending between the first and second apertures, and
- the sling assembly has a second end threaded through into the first aperture, through the lumen and out the second aperture of the second elongated delivery device;
- and a handle having proximal and distal ends, and wherein the proximal ends of the first and second elongated delivery devices intersect with the distal end of the handle to form a substantially “Y”-shaped delivery system configuration.
1, wherein the sling assembly includes a tabbed spacer located along a bottom surface of the sleeve, and the tabbed spacer engages a portion of the bottom surface of the sleeve to inhibit the sleeve from sliding off the sling, without first cutting through the tabbed spacer.
A method for implanting a sling under a urethra in a body of a patient, the method comprising:
- threading an end of a sleeve at least partially enclosing a sling through an aperture near a distal end of a delivery device, through a lumen extending along at least a portion of a length of the delivery device, and out an aperture near a proximal end of the delivery device;
- inserting the distal end of the delivery device through an incision in a vaginal wall to a first side of the urethra;
- sliding the sleeve off the sling through the lumen of the delivery device out of the body of the patient;
- and
- leaving the sling in the body of the patient to support the urethra.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.