Patent ID: 9717580
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61F

Claim:
1. A surgical method for treating a pelvic floor disorder, comprising: providing a sling having first and second ends to define a sling length, an intermediate portion adapted to support the urethra or the bladder neck, a translucent sheath covering at least a portion of the first end and the second end, and a continuous tensioning suture having a suture length adapted to contiguously extend from the first end, to the intermediate portion and to the second end to extend substantially along the entire longitudinal length of the sling, with the continuous tensioning suture interlaced with the sling, including interlaced through a plurality of mesh filaments substantially at a midpoint juncture of the longitudinal length of the sling and the suture length of the continuous tensioning suture, to provide an undulation along the longitudinal length of the sling such that an end of the suture extends out from the sheath at the second end of the sling, and the sheath includes one or more position markings; providing a delivery device having a distal portion adapted for releasable attachment to the first end or second end of the sling; attaching the distal portion of the delivery device to the first end of the sling; delivering the first end of the sling to a therapeutically effective location in the pelvic region of a patient; fixing the first end of the sling into the tissue of the patient; detaching the delivery device from the first end of the sling; attaching the distal portion of the delivery device to the second end of the sling; delivering the second end of the sling to a therapeutically effective location in the pelvic region of the patient, the location being generally contralateral to the fixated location of the first end of the sling; fixing the second end of the sling into the tissue of the patient; removing the sheath; and clamping across a width of the sling with a clamp tool such that a length of the tensioning suture and the width of the sling are secured in the clamp tool, the clamp tool including a slot adapted to guide a blade for cutting suture.