Patent ID: 8172745

Claim:
A method of treating anal incontinence in a patient comprising: providing a sling having a central portion, a first arm, and a second arm, the first and second arms extending from opposing ends of the central portion; creating a subcutaneous tunnel between a first buttock incision and an opposite second buttock incision in the patient; mechanically widening the subcutaneous tunnel to create a pocket for the central portion of the sling; grasping the first arm of the sling and pulling the first arm through both the first and second buttock incisions so that the central portion of the sling rests underneath an ano-rectum of the patient; inserting an introducer needle through a first thigh incision formed in the patient and then advancing the introducer needle through the first buttock incision; attaching the first arm of the sling to the introducer needle and pulling the first arm back through the first thigh incision; inserting the introducer needle through a second opposite thigh incision formed in the patient and then advancing the introducer needle through the second buttock incision; and attaching the second arm of the sling to the introducer needle and pulling the second arm back through the second thigh incision, attaching said sling to the body of said patient to support the ano-rectum.