Patent ID: 7112171

Claim:
A kit for treating incontinence by implantation of a sling extending between first and second sling ends in a body pathway comprising: an elongate needle that is sized and shaped to extend between a needle insertion end and a needle end opposite the insertion end to enable advancement of the insertion end through an abdominal incision in a patient's body and then through the patient's body tissue to emerge from a vaginal incision thereby creating a body pathway, a coupler having an axis and extending between a first end and a second end and formed having a lumen extending axially into the coupler from an opening in the coupler second end, the lumen configured to receive and connect with the insertion end of the elongate needle following emergence from the vaginal incision by moving the insertion end of the elongate needle into at least a portion of the lumen, and sling association means for coupling the coupler to one of the first and second sling ends to enable passage of a portion of the sling through the body pathway as the elongate needle is retracted from the abdominal incision.