Patent ID: 6932759

Claim:
A surgical instrument for treating a patient suffering from female urinary stress incontinence, comprising: a) a tape for implanting into the lower abdomen of a female to provide support to the urethra, said tape having a pair of ends; b) a curved anesthesia needle having a curvature and length permitting said curved anesthesia needle to extend along a pathway through the patient's abdominal wall, over the pubic bone, past the urethra and through the vaginal wall, such that anesthesia can be applied by the curved anesthesia needle along the pathway, said curved anesthesia needle also adapted to function as a guide element and having a distal end; c) a curved needle element attached to proximate to one end of said tape, said needle element including a curved shaft having a distal; and d) connecting means for removably connecting said distal end of said curved anesthesia needle to said distal end of said needle element.