Patent ID: 8801593

Claim:
A method of treating anal incontinence in a patient comprising: providing an elongate flexible support member having two opposed ends, a flexible tape extending between the two opposed ends, the flexible tape forming a central portion and two elongate extension portions between the two ends; establishing a pathway in tissue of the patient extending about the patient's anal sphincter and extending into the patient's perineum, comprising the steps of making a left buttock incision in the patient's left buttock at a left pathway end, making a right buttock incision in the patient's right buttock at a right pathway end, making an incision in a posterior vaginal wall that extends into the perineum, establishing a left passage of said pathway extending between said left buttock incision and said vaginal incision, and establishing a right passage of said pathway extending between said right buttock incision and said vaginal incision, wherein said pathway extends from the left pathway end, through the perineum, to the right pathway end; and implanting the elongate flexible support member in and extending along said pathway to support the anal sphincter.