Patent ID: 6612977
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A method of implanting a sling to treat urinary incontinence in a female patient comprising the steps of:creating at least one incision in the vaginal region of the patient, creating at least one incision in the suprapubic region of the patient, providing first and second guide needles, creating a first pathway on a first side of the patient's urethra by initially passing the distal end of the first needle through the incised suprapubic region and then passing the distal end of the first needle through the incised vaginal region, creating a second pathway on a side of the patient's urethra generally opposite the first side by initially passing the distal end of the second needle through the incised suprapubic region and then passing the distal end of the second needle through the incised vaginal region, providing first and second connectors and a synthetic implantable material, each connector including a taper on the leading edge thereof, connecting one of the connectors to the distal end of the first needle after the first needle emerges from the incised vaginal region, connecting the other connector to the distal end of the second needle after the second needle emerges from the incised vaginal region, and moving the distal ends of the first and second needles and the connectors from the incised vaginal region toward the incised suprapubic region to implant the implantable material in a therapeutically effective position, wherein the moving step includes the step of, expanding the first and second pathways provided by the first and second needles with the tapered surfaces of the connectors.