Patent ID: 7658743
Filing Date: 2010-02-09
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method for treating female urinary incontinence, comprising the steps of: providing a tape that is at least partially enclosed within a sheath that is removably applied to the tape, the sheath including two opposite ends, a longitudinal axis, and a perforation intermediate the opposite ends and generally transverse to the longitudinal axis; passing first and second ends of the tape into a female patient's body via the patient's vagina; positioning the tape between the patient's vaginal wall and the patient's urethra; extending the first and second ends of the tape over the patient's pubic bone and through her abdominal wall such that at least a portion of the tape forms a supportive loop beneath the urethra and such that the first and second ends of the tape extend outside of the patient's body; adjusting the position and tension of the supportive loop to achieve a clinically acceptable degree of urinary continence; separating the sheath, at the perforation, into two separate sheath portions, each of which is independently removable from the tape; and removing each sheath portion from the tape after the first and second ends of the tape are passed through the patient's abdominal wall and extend outside of the patient's body.