Patent ID: 8821369

Claim:
A method of treating urinary incontinence by providing support to a urethra of a patient, the method comprising: making a vaginal incision for providing access for placement of a mesh support device below a urethra of a patient without penetrating an abdominal wall of the patient, the mesh support device including a sling portion having a first end and a second end, a first soft tissue anchor connected to the first end, and a second soft tissue anchor connected to the second end; delivering the mesh support device through the vaginal incision using an introducer such that the sling portion is suspended from the first and second anchors under the urethra to treat urinary incontinence, the introducer including a curved elongate shaft having a distal portion for connecting with the first anchor and a proximal portion connected to a handle; passing a suture coupled to and extending from one of the first soft tissue anchor and the second soft tissue anchor through an aperture in a distal end of the introducer and advancing the introducer over the suture until the first soft tissue anchor or the second soft tissue anchor is located at the distal end of the introducer; delivering the first soft tissue anchor into soft tissue on a first side of the urethra and the second soft tissue anchor into soft tissue on a second side of the urethra; positioning the sling under the urethra of the patient; and suspending the sling from the first and second soft tissue anchors.