Claims
- 1. A sling for insertion into a patient comprising:
a surgical sling adapted to support the urethra in its normal anatomic position and to prevent abnormal urethral descent under intraabdominal pressure; said surgical sling comprising a length of material having a longitudinal axis, and a latitudinal axis; wherein said material has a first elongation property along said longitudinal axis, and a second elongation property along said latitudinal axis. said first and second elongation property being different from each other.
- 2. The sling as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second elongation property is greater than said first elongation property.
- 3. The sling as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first elongation property is approximately 8% elongation beyond a normal state of said sling material when said sling material is subjected to a tension of approximately 5 lbs.
- 4. The sling as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second elongation property is approximately 36% elongation beyond a normal state of said sling material when said sling material is subjected to a tension of approximately 5 lbs.
- 5. The sling as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first elongation property is in the range of approximately 24%-28% elongation beyond a normal state of said sling material when said sling is subjected to a tension of approximately 20 lbs.
- 6. The sling as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second elongation property is in the range of approximately 65%-75% elongation beyond a normal state of said sling material when said sling is subjected to a tension of approximately 20 lbs.
- 7. The sling as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sling is coated with a substance that enhances biocompatibility.
- 8. The sling as set forth in claim 7, wherein said material comprises a surgical mesh material.
- 9. The sling as set forth in claim 8, wherein said substance is silicone.
- 10. The sling as set forth in claim 9, wherein said coated mesh has a thickness within the range of approximately 0.024″ (0.61 mm) to 0.036″ (0.914 mm).
- 11. The sling as set forth in claim 7, wherein said material is impregnated with therapeutic agent.
- 12. The sling as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first elongation property is in the range of approximately 19.5-21.5% elongation beyond a normal state of said sling material when said sling material is subject to a tension of approximately 20 lbs.
- 13. The sling as set forth in claim 12 wherein said second elongation property is in the range of approximately 120-130% elongation beyond a normal state of said sling material when said sling material is subject to a tension of approximately 20 lbs.
- 14. The sling as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first elongation property is approximately 2.5% elongation beyond a normal state of said sling material when said sling material is subject to a tension of approximately 5 lbs.
- 15. The sling as set forth in claim 7, wherein said second elongation property is approximately 65% elongation beyond a normal state of said sling material when said sling material is subject to a tension of approximately 5 lbs.
- 16. The sling as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first elongation property is approximately 10.5% elongation beyond a normal state of said sling material when said sling material is subject to a tension of approximately 5 lbs.
- 17. The sling as set forth in claim 7, wherein said second elongation property is approximately 25% elongation beyond a normal state of said sling material when said sling material is subject to a tension of approximately 5 lbs.
- 18. A method of making a sling for treating urinary incontinence comprising:
providing a mesh material suitable for constructing a sling for supporting a urethra, said mesh having a first elongation property in a longitudinal direction and a second, different, elongation property in a latitudinal direction; providing a coating dispersion; coating said mesh material with said coating dispersion; and manipulating said mesh material during said coating so as to create a predetermined value for said first and second elongation properties in said mesh material.
- 19. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said coating is performed using a silicone dispersion.
- 20. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said mesh material is held in pre-tension in a longitudinal direction during said coating.
- 21. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said mesh material is held in pre-tension in a latitudinal direction during said coating.
- 22. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said manipulating of said mesh includes holding said mesh in pre-tension.
- 23. A method according to claim 18, wherein the step of coating said mesh material includes the step of continuously coating an elongate strip of said material.
- 24. A method according to claim 18 further including the step of blowing fluid such as air on the coated mesh material.
- 25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the step of blowing air includes the step of using pulsed air.
- 26. A sling for insertion into a patient comprising:
a surgical sling adapted to support the urethra in its normal anatomic position and to prevent abnormal urethral descent under intraabdominal pressure; said surgical sling comprising a length of material having a longitudinal axis, and a latitudinal axis; wherein said sling comprises a plurality of regions along its longitudinal axis and wherein each region contains differing elongation properties from an immediately adjacent region.
- 27. A sling as set forth in claim 26, wherein said sling material has a coated central region having an increased longitudinal elongation property and a somewhat decreased latitudinal elongation property as compared to elongation properties of said central region in a normal state.
- 28. A sling as set forth in claim 27, wherein said sling material has a coated intermediate region on either side of said central region, each of said intermediate regions having a decreased longitudinal elongation property and an increased latitudinal elongation property as compared to elongation properties of each of said intermediate regions in a normal state.
- 29. A sling as set forth in claim 28, wherein said sling material has a coated end region adjacent each intermediate region, each of said end regions having a decreased longitudinal elongation property and an increased latitudinal elongation property as compared to elongation properties of each of said end regions in a normal state.
- 30. A method of restoring urethral anatomy in a patient suffering from urinary incontinence comprising the steps of:
providing a silicone coated sling, inserting a silicone coated sling into the patient's pelvic cavity; manipulating said sling so as to pass under a central region of the patient's urethra; attaching each end portion of the sling to a posterior/inferior region of a right and a left pubic bone of the patient; and positioning the sling so as to restore and stabilize the urethra to a position that maintains urinary continence by orienting said sling such that said sling has a first elasticity in a direction spanning across the urethra and a second, different elasticity in a direction along the axis of said urethra.
- 31. A method according to claim 30 wherein the step of providing the silicone coated sling includes the step of providing a sling wherein the first elasticity is more than the second elasticity.
- 32. A method according to claim 30 wherein the step of providing the silicone coated sling includes the step of providing a sling wherein the first elasticity is less than the second elasticity.
- 33. A method of placing a sling in a patient for the treatment of urinary incontinence comprising:
inserting a sling into the patient's pelvic cavity, the sling having indicia capable or indicating tension in the sling; manipulating said sling such that it passes underneath a central region of the patient's urethra; tensioning said sling until said sling achieves a predetermined tension as indicated by visual indicia present on said sling; and, securing said sling within said patient.
- 34. A method according to claim 33, wherein tensioning said sling includes observing visual indicia in the form of a predetermined width reduction in said sling.
- 35. A method according to claim 33, wherein tensioning said sling includes observing visual indicia having the form of a geometric pattern.
- 36. A method according to claim 33, wherein tensioning the sling includes observing a geometric pattern having the form of a distortion in a hole pattern of the sling material.
- 37. A method according to claim 33, wherein tensioning the sling includes observing a geometric pattern in the form of a distorted shape integrated onto the sling.
- 38. A method according to claim 33, wherein tensioning said sling includes observing visual indicia in the form of words.
- 39. A sling suitable for use in a sling procedure to treat urinary incontinence comprising:
a mesh material having a predetermined length and a width; said mesh material having predetermined elongation properties; said mesh having a predetermined visual indicia present on said mesh corresponding to the presence of a predetermined tension in said sling, said predetermined visual indicia being absent from said mesh when said sling is free from tension.
- 40. A sling according to claim 39, wherein said visual indicia is a predetermined width of said sling.
- 41. A sling according to claim 39, wherein said visual indicia is a predetermined geometrical pattern of said sling.
- 42. A sling according to claim 41, wherein said predetermined geometrical pattern is a hole pattern in said mesh.
- 43. A sling according to claim 41, wherein said predetermined geometrical pattern is a geometrical shape integrated onto said mesh.
- 44. A sling according to claim 39, wherein said visual indicia is a word present on said sling.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/230,647, filed Sep. 7, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60230647 |
Sep 2000 |
US |