Transobturator surgical articles and methods

1. A surgical assembly for treating incontinence comprising: a first surgical instrument for use on a right side of a patient, the first surgical instrument comprising a handle portion and a substantially helical needle portion having substantial structure in three dimensions and a distal end, the needle portion having a portion that is sized and shaped to extend between an incision substantially adjacent the obturator foramen on the patient's right side and a vaginal incision;

a second surgical instrument for use on a left side of a patient, the second surgical instrument comprising a handle portion and a substantially helical needle portion having substantial structure in three dimensions and a distal end, the needle portion having a portion that is sized and shaped to extend between an incision substantially adjacent the obturator foramen on the patient's left side and a vaginal incision; and

a sling assembly including a mesh material.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sling assembly comprises a synthetic material.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sling assembly comprises a knitted polypropylene material.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sling assembly comprises a sheath.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the sling assembly comprises a non-synthetic material.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mesh material comprises a woven or knitted material.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mesh material comprises interlinked fibers that form multiple junctions.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the needle portions of the first and second surgical instruments have structure near the distal ends for associating the first and second surgical instruments with the sling assembly.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the needle portions of the first and second surgical instruments further comprise substantially straight spacer portions along an elongate axis of the handles.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the substantially helical needle portions of the first and second surgical instruments are variable spiral portions.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the needle portions of the first and second surgical instruments include a substantially circular cross sectional shape with a diameter of less than about 4 mm.

12. The surgical assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle portion of the first surgical instrument includes indicia indicating the first surgical instrument is for use on the right side of the patient, and

the handle portion of the second surgical instrument includes indicia indicating the second surgical instrument is for use on the left side of the patient.

13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle portions of the first and second surgical instruments are detachable from the substantially helical needle portions.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle portions of the first and second surgical instruments consist of a single handle adapted to removably attach to the substantially helical needle portions of the first and second surgical instruments.

15. A surgical assembly for treating incontinence comprising: a first surgical instrument for use on a right side of a patient, the first surgical instrument comprising a handle portion, and a needle portion having a substantially straight portion projecting from the handle and a variable spiral portion with a distal end, the variable spiral portion being sized and shaped to extend between an incision substantially adjacent the obturator foramen on the patient's right side and a vaginal incision;

a second surgical instrument for use on a left side of a patient, the second surgical instrument comprising a handle portion, and a needle portion having a substantially straight portion projecting from the handle and a variable spiral portion with a distal end, the variable spiral portion being sized and shaped to extend between an incision substantially adjacent the obturator foramen on the patient's left side and a vaginal incision; and

a sling assembly including a mesh material.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the variable spiral portions of the first and second surgical instruments have a tissue clearance depth of greater than about 1.5 inches and less than about 2.5 inches.

17. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the variable spiral portions of the first and second surgical instruments have a maximum width of greater than about 1.25 inches and less than about 3 inches.

18. A surgical assembly for treating incontinence comprising: a first substantially helical needle having a leading end, a trailing end and substantial structure in three dimensions, the needle having a portion that is sized and shaped to extend between an incision substantially adjacent the obturator foramen on a patient's right side and a vaginal incision;

a second substantially helical needle having a leading end, a trailing end and substantial structure in three dimensions, the needle portion having a portion that is sized and shaped to extend between an incision substantially adjacent the obturator foraxnen on the patient's left side and a vaginal incision;

a handle removably attachable to the trailing ends of the first and second substantially helical needles; and

a sling assembly including a mesh material.

19. The surgical assembly of claim 18 wherein the handle is removably attachable to the leading ends of the first and second substantially helical needles.

20. A method of treating incontinence in a patient comprising the steps of:

creating a vaginal incision,

creating an incision substantially adjacent the patient's obturator foramen,

providing an elongate, substantially helical surgical instrument comprising first and second ends, with at least one of the ends having a securement surfaces,

providing a sling assembly having an implantable sling for treating the incontinence, the sling assembly having surfaces complementary to the securement surfaces.

passing the instrument between the incisions,

then snap fitting the instrument to the sling assembly to provide a substantially permanent attachment between the instrument and the assembly,

then passing the implantable material through tissue from the vaginal incision toward the incision substantially adjacent the patient's obturator foramen.

21. A method of treating incontinence in a patient comprising the steps of:

creating a vaginal incision,

creating an incision substantially adjacent the patient's obturator foranien,

providing a substantially helical, elongate surgical instrument comprising first and second ends, the instrument having substantial structure in three dimensions,

providing an implant for treating the incontinence,

passing the instrument between the incisions,

then associating the implant with the instrument, and

passing the implant through tissue and through the patient's obturator foramen with the instrument.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the step of passing the implant through tissue includes the step of passing the implant along a substantially three dimensional path.

23. A method according to claim 21 wherein the step of providing an elongate surgical instrument includes the step of providing an instrument with an elongate handle portion having an axis, and

the step of passing the instrument between the incisions includes the step of rotating the instrument about the axis of the handle portion.

24. A method of treating incontinence in a patient comprising the steps of:

creating a vaginal incision,

creating an incision substantially adjacent the patient's obturator foramen,

providing an elongate surgical instrument comprising a handle portion,, a needle portion having a substantially straight portion projecting from the handle portion and a variable spiral portion with a distal end,

providing an implant for treating the incontinence,

passing at least a portion of the variable spiral portion between the incisions by initially passing the distal end through the incision substantially adjacent the patient's obturator foramen and then through the vaginal incision,

then associating the implant with a portion of the instrument that has emerged from the vaginal incision, and

then moving the distal end of the instrument with the implant associated therewith from the vaginal incision toward the patient's obturator foramen to pass the implant through tissue.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the step of associating the implant with a portion of the instrument that has emerged from the vaginal incision includes the step of using a suture to tie the implant to an eyelet in the distal end of the needle.

26. A method of treating incontinence in a patient comprising the steps of:

creating a vaginal incision,

creating an incision substantially adjacent the patient's obturator foramen,

providing a substantially helical, elongate surgical instrument comprising a pair of ends,

providing an assembly having an implant for treating incontinence,

initially passing one end of the instrument initially through the vaginal incision toward the incision substantially adjacent the patient's obturator foramen in a path through the patient's obturator foramen until one end of the instrument emerges from the incision substantially adjacent the patient's obturator foramen, leaving the other end of the needle projecting from the vaginal incision,

then associating the end of the instrument that projects from the vaginal incision with the assembly, and

then moving the instrument Out of the patient's body to pass the implant through tissue from the vaginal incision toward the incision substantially adjacent the patient's obturator foramen to place the implant in a therapeutically effective position.