Medical slings
The invention involves a medical sling, which maintains its shape during placement, and related method. In one embodiment, the invention features a sling having a first portion, a second portion and an intermediate portion, located longitudinally between the first and second portions. The sling further includes a first elongated member extending longitudinally along the first portion and a second elongated member extending longitudinally along the second portion; and the first and second elongated members being separated by the intermediate portion of the sling.
1 . A sling comprising:
a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion located longitudinally between the first and second portions;
a first elongated member extending longitudinally along the first portion;
a second elongated member extending longitudinally along the second portion; and
the first and second elongated members being separated by the intermediate portion of the sling.
2 . The sling according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second elongated members comprise a substantially rigid material.
3 . The sling according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second elongated members is integral with the portions of the sling along which the members extend.
4 . The sling according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate portion is about 1 cm to about 15 cm in length.
5 . The sling according to claim 1 , wherein intermediate portion is about 1 cm to about 7 cm in length.
6 . The sling according to claim 1 , further comprising a tensioning device located in the intermediate portion of the sling.
7 . The sling according to claim 6 , wherein the tensioning device comprises a looped thread.
8 . The sling according to claim 7 , wherein the thread is attached to one or both of the first and second elongated members.
9 . The sling according to claim 1 , wherein the sling is non-perforated.
10 . The sling according to claim 1 , wherein the sling is a mesh.
11 . A sling comprising a first edge structurally strengthened to increase sling rigidity.
12 . The sling according to claim 11 , comprising a second edge structurally strengthened to increase sling rigidity.
13 . The sling according to claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the first edge is detanged.
14 . The sling according to claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the second edge is detanged.
15 . The sling according to claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the first edge and the second edge is detanged.
16 . A method of making a sling for implantation at an anatomical site in a patient, the method comprising:
securing to the sling a first elongated member extending longitudinally along a first portion of the sling; and
securing to the sling a second elongated member extending longitudinally along a second portion of the sling, the first and second portions being separated by an intermediate portion.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the first and second elongated members comprise a substantially rigid material.
18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the intermediate portion is about 1 cm to about 15 cm in length.
19 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein intermediate portion is about 1 cm to about 7 cm in length.
20 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the sling is perforated.
21 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein sling is a mesh.
22 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the sling comprises a synthetic material.
23 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the sling comprises a mammalian tissue.
24 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the sling comprises a combination of a synthetic material and a mammalian tissue.
25 . A method of making a sling, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a sling having first and second edges, and
treating at least a portion of at least one of the first and second edges to increase structural rigidity of the sling.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the treating comprises smoothing the portion of the at least one of the first and second edges.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the smoothing comprises melting the portion of the at least one of the first and second edges.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the melting is performed with a heating element.
29 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the at least one of the first or second edges comprises tangs and treating at least the portion comprising smoothing the portion to substantially remove the tangs.
30 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the sling is formed from a non-perforated material.
31 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the sling is formed from a perforated material.