Patent ID: 8753259

Claim:
A method of implanting a sling at an anatomical site in a body of a patient comprising: providing a sling comprising: an implantable supportive sling having a central mesh portion flanked by a first lateral mesh portion and a second lateral mesh portion, the sling having a first longitudinally extending edge and a second longitudinally extending edge opposite the first longitudinally extending edge, the sling being sized and shaped for providing a urethral platform, and a biocompatible dissolvable protective treatment along each of the first longitudinally extending edge and the second longitudinally extending edge within the first lateral mesh portion of the sling and the second lateral mesh portion of the sling, the central mesh portion being devoid of the biocompatible dissolvable protective treatment, the biocompatible dissolvable protective treatment being absorbable into a patient's tissues subsequent to implantation; introducing the sling through a vaginal incision of the patient; positioning the first lateral mesh portion through a first obturator membrane of the patient; positioning the second lateral mesh portion through a second obturator membrane of the patient; and positioning the central mesh portion adjacent a urethra of the patient.