Patent ID: 8177708
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A method for treating urinary incontinence in a male patient, comprising: (i) providing an implantable device having a body member including a top and a bottom, at least first and second elongated extension members and at least third and fourth elongated extension members; (ii) making a vertical perineal incision in a midline, dissecting laterally to expose periutheral fat above a bulbar urethral complex of the patient and down to pubic rami bilaterally leaving periutheral tissue intact; (iii) providing a first introducer having an introducer tip; (iv) placing said first introducer around a first pubic ramus by starting from within the vertical perineal incision from outside-in, medially, and through an obturator membrane corresponding to said first pubic ramus; (v) guiding said introducer tip of said first introducer through an obturator foramen corresponding to said first pubic ramus; (vi) attaching one of said at least first and second elongated extension members to said introducer tip of said first introducer and then pulling said first introducer back out by reversing a path that said first introducer had followed from outside-in until said one of said at least first and second elongated extension members is free and can be grasped; (vii) placing said first introducer around a second pubic ramus by starting from within the vertical perineal incision from outside-in, medially, and through an obturator membrane corresponding to said second pubic ramus; (viii) guiding said introducer tip of said first introducer through an obturator foramen corresponding to said second pubic ramus; (ix) attaching another of said at least first and second elongated extension members to said introducer tip of said first introducer and then pulling said first introducer back out by reversing a path that said first introducer had followed from outside-in until said another of said at least first and second elongated extension members is free and can be grasped; (x) pulling said at least first and second elongated extension members so that said bottom of said body member is placed just inferior to a level of the bulbar urethral complex and over a pubic symphysis of the patient, superiorly; (xi) suturing said at least first and second elongated extension members that extend through each of said obturator foramen, to each other; (xii) making an opposing pair of abdominal incisions above the pubic symphysis and lateral to the midline; (xiii) providing a second introducer, said second introducer having a curved body extending from a handling end to an introducer tip; (xiv) passing said second introducer prepubically from above, entering a first of said pair of abdominal incisions and passing out through said perineal incision lateral to the periutheral tissue; (xv) attaching one of said at least third and fourth elongated extension members to said second introducer and then pulling said second introducer back out by reversing a path that said second introducer had followed and out from said first abdominal incision; (xvi) passing said second introducer prepubically from above, entering a second abdominal incision and passing out through said perineal incision lateral to the periutheral tissue; (xvii) attaching another of said at least third and fourth elongated extension members to said second introducer and then pulling said second introducer back out by reversing a path that said second introducer had followed and out from said second incision; (xviii) pulling said at least third and fourth elongated extension members such that said body member of said implantable device is over said pubic symphysis, superiorly; and (ixx) securing said at least third and fourth elongated extension members within the patient's body.