Patent ID: 8162814
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A surgical procedure for treating a patient, comprising the steps of: making at least one incision; providing a sling having at least one soft tissue anchor; and using a tissue anchor inserter to place the at least one soft tissue anchor initially through the at least one incision and then into a patient's soft tissue; wherein the step of placing the at least one soft tissue anchor into a patient's soft tissue comprises placing the at least one soft tissue anchor into the patient's sacrospinous ligament, associating the at least one soft tissue anchor with a needle of the soft tissue anchor inserter and activating a release on the soft tissue anchor inserter to deploy the at least one soft tissue anchor from the needle and into the patient's soft tissue, and further comprising the step of providing a plunger capable of axial movement within the needle of the soft tissue anchor inserter wherein activating the release axially moves the plunger which deploys the at least one soft tissue anchor from the needle.