# US 9,872,753 B2 · Medical sling with detachable sling elements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,872,753 B2 - Document ID: US9872753B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/773,974 - Filed: 2013-11-26 - Published: 2016-02-11 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-26 - Assignees: INNOVENTIONS, Inc. - Applicants: Innoventions Ltd. - Inventors: Daniel Yachia; Valentin Ponomarenko; Ortal Netanel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872753B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/0063: {Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes} - A61F 2/004: {inflatable} - A61F 2/0045: {Support slings} - A61N 1/0514: {Electrodes for the urinary tract} - A61N 1/0521: {Genital electrodes} - A61N 1/36007: {of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control} - A61F 2210/0076: multilayered, e.g. laminated structures - A61F 2220/0025: Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements - A61F 2220/0033: made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit - A61F 2220/0075: sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable - A61F 2250/0001: Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants - A61F 2250/0003: having an inflatable pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid or gas - A61F 2250/0007: for adjusting length - A61F 2250/0013: for adjusting fluid pressure - A61F 2250/0063: Nested prosthetic parts - A61F 2250/0071: breakable or frangible - A61N 1/3785: {generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement} - 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) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract Provided is an implantable sling for supporting a body organ. The sling may be used, for example, as a urethral sling, a puborectal sling or a surgical mesh for pelvic organ prolapsed repair. The sling of the invention has a first sling element, having a first sling body and two or more slender first projections extending from the first sling body. The sling may further include a second sling element having a second sling body and two or more slender second projections extending from the second sling body, and one or more detachable connections connecting the first sling element and the second sling element. In some embodiments, the connections are configured to tear when the first and second sling elements are pulled apart. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An implantable sling comprising: a) first and second opposing sling elements; b) a plurality of elongated projections connecting said first and second opposing sling elements; and, c) wherein each said elongated projection comprises at least one connection structure for separating said elongated projection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sling according to claim 1 wherein each said connection structure is configured to tear when the first and the second sling elements are pulled apart. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sling according to claim 2 wherein each said connection structure comprises at least one filament extending between the first and the second sling elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sling according to claim 1 wherein one or both the first sling element and the second sling element is inflatable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sling according to claim 4 wherein an inflatable sling element has a port for introducing an inflation material into the inflatable sling element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The sling according to claim 5 wherein a port of an inflatable sling element is positioned at a free end of the sling element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sling according to claim 1 comprising at least one of the following limitations: (i) wherein the sling is made from an inelastic flexible material; and, (ii) wherein the sling has a smooth outer surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sling according to claim 1 wherein the sling is embedded between layers of biodegradable or bioabsorbable mesh material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The sling according to claim 8 wherein the layers of mesh are attached to one another by means of a snap-fit attachment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sling according to claim 1 wherein said elongated projections are at least one of are wires or first filaments. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The sling according to claim 10 wherein said at least one wire or filament of one of said first elongated projections is woven with said at least one wire or filament of a second elongated projection. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A system comprising a sling according to claim 1 and a muscle stimulating device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12 wherein the muscle stimulation device is configured to stimulate one or both of the periurethral and pelvic muscles. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12 wherein the muscle stimulation device comprises: (a) one or more sensors that are of a type selected from a pressure sensor and a motion sensor, the one or more sensors being configured to monitor the pressure on the sling or motion of the sling; (b) one or more electrodes configured to be implanted in one or more selected from the periurethral and the pelvic muscles; and (c) a processor configured to: (i) analyze signals from the sensors to detect a sudden increase in one or both of the pressure on the sling and a sudden increase in the motion of the sling; and (ii) when a sudden increase in one or both of the pressure on the sling and the motion of the sling is detected, activating the electrodes to cause contraction of the muscles in which the electrodes are implanted. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14 further comprising means for: (a) generating electrical energy from natural body movements; (b) storing the electrical energy; and (c) activating the electrodes from the stored energy.