Patent ID: 8047981

Claim:
A sling for implantation in a patient, comprising: a single piece of material having first and second transverse ends, and first and second longitudinal edges, wherein at least a portion of the first edge comprises a pattern of projections that extend laterally from the edge, a portion of the first edge on both sides of the a midpoint of a long axis of the sling is free of projections, at least one of the projections forms a laterally extending point which comprises at least two laterally extending, non-parallel sides, wherein the two sides form an angle of ninety degrees or less, and wherein the projections anchor the sling when the sling is implanted in the patient's tissues; and top and bottom surfaces comprising a pattern of ridges, wherein the ridges form at least one trough that extends continuously from the first edge to the second edge and terminates at the second edge, and wherein the pattern of ridges includes a ridge that has a different surface property than a surface property of a projection included in the pattern of projections; and a tensioning device, extending beyond at least one of the first and second ends of the piece of material.