Patent ID: 8684909

Claim:
A method of treating vaginal vault prolapse, the method comprising providing a surgical kit for treating a patient, the surgical kit comprising a sling capable of supporting tissue, at least one soft tissue anchor coupled to the sling, and a soft tissue anchor inserter capable of engaging the at least one soft tissue anchor and inserting the at least one soft tissue anchor through an incision in a patient and inserting the at least one soft tissue anchor into the patient's sacrospinous ligament, the tissue anchor inserter comprising: a handle, a needle extending away from the handle and being capable of supporting the at least one soft tissue anchor, and a plunger disposed in a bore extending generally axially through the needle and operatively coupled to a release located at the handle, wherein the release can be actuated to cause the plunger to release the at least one soft tissue anchor from the tissue inserter, creating an incision in the patient, placing the sling to support tissue of a vaginal vault, using the soft tissue anchor inserter to engage the at least one soft tissue anchor and insert the at least one soft tissue anchor and the sling through the incision and to insert the at least one soft tissue anchor into the patient's sacrospinous ligament.