Patent ID: 8911347

Claim:
A method for supporting the urethra of a patient to treat urinary incontinence, comprising: introducing a surgical implant through an incision in an upper wall of the patient's vagina, the surgical implant including a suburethral support, first and second soft tissue anchors connected to first and second opposite ends of the suburethral support, wherein each anchor has a central portion extending between a proximal end and a distal end with a tip on the distal end, and a plurality of projections extending from the central portion at longitudinally spaced locations along a length of the central portion between the proximal and distal ends, and a flexible filamentary member; inserting the first soft tissue anchor into soft tissue on a first side of the urethra without penetrating the abdominal wall, including causing projections on the first anchor to engage the tissue at a plurality of spaced locations; inserting the second soft tissue anchor into soft tissue on a second side of the urethra without penetrating the abdominal wall, including causing projections on the second anchor to engage the tissue at a plurality of spaced locations; adjusting the position of the suburethral support below the patient's urethra; and coupling the filamentary member to the proximal end of the first anchor and extending the filamentary member from the proximal end of the first anchor to the first end of the suburethral support with the support at an adjusted position.