# US 9,872,751 B2 · Implantable medical device and methods of delivering the implantable medical device

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- Number: US 9,872,751 B2
- Document ID: US9872751B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/199,605
- Filed: 2014-03-06
- Published: 2014-09-11
- Granted: 2018-01-23
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-11
- Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
- Applicants: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
- Inventors: Brent Palmisano; Sanda Nagale; Jamie Li; Mark W. Boden; Timothy P. Harrah
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872751B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/0063: {Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes}
- A61F 2/0045: {Support slings}
- A61B 2017/06052: {Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle}
- A61B 2017/06176: {with protrusions, e.g. barbs}
- A61F 2002/0072: {Delivery tools therefor}
- A61F 2220/0016: with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
- A61F 2230/006: Y-shaped
- 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

In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a mesh having an edge, a loop coupled to the edge of the mesh, and a suture coupled to at least one of the loop or the edge of the mesh, the suture having a barb. The loop can have an inner diameter smaller than a combined width of the suture and at least a portion of an outer portion of the barb.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus, comprising:
an implant including a mesh, the mesh having a first edge and a second edge, the second edge being opposite to the first edge;
a loop fixedly coupled to the first edge of the mesh, the loop being fixedly coupled to a first location of the first edge of the mesh, the loop having an inner diameter defining a loop opening;
a needle; and
a suture having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the suture being fixedly coupled to a second location of the first edge of the mesh, the second end portion of the suture being coupled to the needle, the suture having a portion defining a barb, the portion of the suture defining the barb being disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion,
wherein the needle and the portion of the suture defining the barb are configured to be inserted through bodily tissue.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portion of the suture defining the barb has a width that is greater than the inner diameter of the loop opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the barb is flexible such that the portion of the suture defining the barb is configured to be inserted through the loop opening in a first direction, the portion of the suture defining the barb configured to engage with the loop such that the portion of the suture defining the barb is substantially prevented from moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the loop is aligned along a plane that is aligned along a plane of the mesh.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the suture is a first suture, and the loop is formed by a second suture having a first end fixedly coupled to the first edge of the mesh and a second end fixedly coupled to the first edge of the mesh.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the implant or the loop has a barb.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein
the apparatus further comprises:
a second loop coupled to the second edge of the mesh.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a third loop coupled to the first edge of the mesh at a third location along the first edge of the mesh.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the suture and the loop are made of the same material as at least a portion of the implant.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the needle includes a curved portion.

### Claim 11

A method, comprising:
forming an opening in a tissue of a patient using a needle coupled to a portion of a suture having a barb during a medical procedure;
moving the portion of the suture through the opening in the tissue of the patient; and
moving the portion of the suture through a loop opening of a loop in a first direction, the loop being coupled to an edge of a mesh of an implant, the loop having an inner diameter defining the loop opening; and
engaging the barb with the loop as the suture is moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the suture being substantially prevented from moving through the loop opening in the second direction.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
pulling the portion of the suture, after the moving of the portion of the suture through the loop, to cause the implant to move toward the tissue.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
cutting the suture after the moving the portion of the suture through the loop.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the medical procedure is a sacrocolpopexy procedure.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the suture is made of the same material as at least a portion of the implant.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the suture is coupled to the edge of the mesh.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the suture is coupled to the loop.