Patent ID: 11918447
Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A method for implanting a tissue anchor attached to a supportive sling to an anatomical site within a body of a patient, the method comprising:
inserting an elongated dilator having a proximal end and a distal end and a through lumen extending there between into the body of the patient via an incision in a vaginal wall,
advancing the dilator until the distal end of the dilator reaches the anatomical site,
advancing an elongated guide member through the lumen of the dilator at least until a distal tip of the elongated guide member is exposed through the distal end of the dilator,
sliding the dilator proximally over the guide member to remove the dilator from the body of the patient,
advancing an anchor including a sidewall having an inner surface defining a lumen extending from a first end portion of the anchor to a second end portion of the anchor and attached to a sling over the guide member such that the anchor is disposed at the anatomical site, the sling being attached to an outer surface of the sidewall at a location between the first end portion of the anchor and the second end portion of the anchor,
removing the guide member, including the distal tip of the guide member, to leave the anchor implanted within the body of the patient at the anatomical site; and
pivoting the anchor horizontally.