Patent ID: 8864646

Claim:
A sling system for treating urinary incontinence in a patient, comprising: a sling assembly including; an elongate mesh implant having a central portion and extension portions, wherein the central portion is positionable under the urethra of a patient and the extension portions are extendable away from the urethra; a dilator; a needle device to facilitate deployment of the sling assembly within the patient including; an elongate needle having a needle length, an interior lumen, and an elongate member having a distal end and movable with the interior lumen, wherein the elongate member is adapted for operable engagement with the mesh implant, and the distal end includes a snap engagement feature to selectively engage the dilator; and a handle having an actuation mechanism, the actuation mechanism having an actuator and a spring member in operable communication with the elongate member, wherein the spring member biases the elongate member in an extended position a distance out from the elongate needle less than half the needle length, and the actuator is adapted to retract the elongate member within the elongate needle.