IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,347,812
Granted Patent B2
US 7,347,812 · App. 10/804,718 · Granted Mar 25, 2008

Prolapse repair

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,347,812
App. No.
10/804,718
Granted
Mar 25, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

Surgical instruments for prolapse repair are disclosed. The surgical instruments have straight portions and helical portions.

Claims (33)

1. A surgical instrument for inserting an implant for treating female prolapse, the surgical instrument comprising:

a handle;

a needle portion having a straight portion emerging from the handle and a generally helical portion having a distal end region, wherein the straight portion of the instrument has a longitudinal axis and the helical portion has an axis that is not parallel to the axis of the straight portion, and

wherein the needle portion is sized and shaped so that the distal end region may initially be moved through a patient's obturator foramen toward the region of the patient's ischial spine, and then toward a vaginal incision in the region of the vaginal apex, so that an implant may be received by the distal end of the needle and moved from the vaginal incision through the patient's obturator foramen.

2. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the generally helical portion comprises a left handed helical portion.

3. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the generally helical portion comprises a right handed helical portion.

4. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the needle portion has a generally circular cross section with a diameter of less than about 5.5 mm and more than about 0.5 mm.

5. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the straight portion of the instrument has a longitudinal axis and the helical portion has a length, measured along the longitudinal axis of the straight portion, of more than 2 inches and less than twelve inches.

6. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the helical portion has a width of more than about 1 inch and less than about nine inches.

7. A surgical instrument according to claim 6 wherein the helical portion has a pitch of at least 2 inches and a radius of at least 0.5 inches.

8. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the axis of the straight portion and the axis of the helical portion form an angle of about 8 degrees.

9. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the distal end portion of the instrument points away from the handle and at an acute angle relative to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the straight portion of the instrument.

10. An assembly of surgical instruments for treating female prolapse, the assembly comprising:

a first surgical instrument comprising a handle; a needle portion having a straight portion emerging from the handle and a generally right handed helical portion having a distal end region, wherein the straight portion of the instrument has a longitudinal axis and the helical portion has an axis that is not parallel to the axis of the straight portion, and wherein the needle portion is sized and shaped so that the distal end region may initially be moved through a patient's obturator foramen toward the region of the patient's ischial spine, and then toward a vaginal incision in the region of the vaginal apex;

a second surgical instrument comprising a handle; a needle portion having a straight portion emerging from the handle and a generally left handed helical portion having a distal end region, wherein the straight portion of the instrument has a longitudinal axis and the helical portion has an axis that is not parallel to the axis of the straight portion, and wherein the needle portion is sized and shaped so that the distal end region may initially be moved through a patient's obturator foramen toward the region of the patient's ischial spine, and then toward a vaginal incision in the region of the vaginal apex; and an implant for treating the prolapse; and

an implant suitable for the treatment of vaginal prolapse.

11. An assembly of surgical instruments according to claim 10 further including a pair of dilating connectors and insertion sleeves surrounding the implant.

12. A surgical procedure for correcting human vaginal prolapse comprising:

providing a first surgical instrument comprising a handle; a needle portion having a straight portion emerging from the handle and a generally right handed helical portion having a distal end region, wherein the straight portion of the instrument has a longitudinal axis and the helical portion has an axis that is not parallel to the axis of the straight portion;

providing a second surgical instrument comprising a handle; a needle portion having a straight portion emerging from the handle and a generally left handed helical portion having a distal end region, wherein the straight portion of the instrument has a longitudinal axis and the helical portion has an axis that is not parallel to the axis of the straight portion;

providing an implant suitable for the treatment of vaginal prolapse;

creating a vaginal incision;

incising the patient's skin in the region of the patient's obturator foramen on a first side of the patient,

passing the distal end portion of the first surgical instrument through the obturator foramen and then through the vaginal incision;

associating the implant with the first surgical instrument; incising the patient's skin in the region of the patient's obturator foramen on a second side of the patient,

passing the distal end portion of the second surgical instrument through the obturator foramen and then through the vaginal incision;

associating the implant with the second surgical instrument;

moving the distal end portion of the first surgical instrument from the vaginal incision through the patient's obturator foramen with an end of the implant associated with the distal end portion;

moving the distal end portion of the second surgical instrument from the vaginal incision through the patient's obturator foramen with an end of the implant associated with the distal end portion; and

attaching the implant to the vagina.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the step of creating a vaginal incision includes the step of creating a vaginal incision in a region of the apex of the vagina.

14. A method according to claim 12 wherein the step of passing the distal end portion of the first surgical instrument through the obturator foramen and then through the vaginal incision includes the step of passing the distal end of the instrument through the inferior part of the obturator membrane in the region of the obturator foramen above the ischio-pubic ramus.

15. A method according to claim 12 , wherein said straight portion of said provided first and second surgical instruments each have a longitudinal axis, and said helical portion of said provided first and second surgical instrument each have an axis that is not parallel to the axis of the straight portion.

Assignments (17)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2024
From: ENDO BIOLOGICS LIMITED; ENDO OPERATIONS LIMITED
To: COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 068469/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2024
From: ENDO BIOLOGICS LIMITED; ENDO OPERATIONS LIMITED
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 068461/0692 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2024
From: ENDO USA, INC.
To: ENDO OPERATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 067245/0492 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: ACTIENT PHARMACEUTICALS LLC; ASTORA WOMEN’S HEALTH HOLDINGS, LLC; ASTORA WOMEN’S HEALTH LLC; AUXILIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC; AUXILIUM US HOLDINGS, LLC; BIOSPECIFICS TECHNOLOGIES CORP.; BIOSPECIFICS TECHNOLOGIES LLC; DAVA INTERNATIONAL, LLC; DAVA PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC; ENDO GENERIC HOLDINGS, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS PAR PHARMACEUTICALS COMPANIES, INC.); ENDO PHARMACEUTICALS INC.; ENDO PHARMACEUTICALS SOLUTIONS INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS INDEVUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.); GENERICS BIDCO I, LLC; GENERICS INTERNATIONAL (US), INC.; PAR PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.; PAR STERILE PRODUCTS, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS JHP PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC); QUARTZ SPECIALTY PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC; SLATE PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC; VINTAGE PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
Reel/Frame 067240/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: ACTIENT PHARMACEUTICALS LLC; ASTORA WOMEN’S HEALTH LLC; AUXILIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC; AUXILIUM US HOLDINGS, LLC; BIOSPECIFICS TECHNOLOGIES CORP.; BIOSPECIFICS TECHNOLOGIES LLC; DAVA INTERNATIONAL, LLC; DAVA PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC; ENDO PHARMACEUTICALS INC.; ENDO PHARMACEUTICALS SOLUTIONS INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS INDEVUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.); GENERICS BIDCO I, LLC; GENERICS INTERNATIONAL (US), INC.; PAR PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.; PAR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, INC.; PAR STERILE PRODUCTS, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS JHP PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC); QUARTZ SPECIALTY PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC; SLATE PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC; VINTAGE PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
Reel/Frame 067239/0491 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2024
From: ASTORA WOMEN’S HEALTH, LLC
To: ENDO USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 067202/0768 →
CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Sep 17, 2021
From: ASTORA WOMEN'S HEALTH LLC; ENDO PHARMACEUTICALS SOLUTIONS INC.; ENDO PHARMACEUTICALS INC.; PAR PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057538/0978 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: ASTORA WOMEN'S HEALTH, LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 042743/0278 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING PARTY DATA; PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 037300 FRAME 0199. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Feb 25, 2016
From: AMS RESEARCH CORPORATION
To: AMS RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 037916/0028 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 11, 2016
From: APHRODITE WOMEN'S HEALTH, LLC
To: ASTORA WOMEN'S HEALTH, LLC
Reel/Frame 037473/0919 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2016
From: AMS RESEARCH, LLC
To: APHRODITE WOMEN'S HEALTH, LLC
Reel/Frame 037473/0745 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 15, 2015
From: AMS RESEARCH CORPATION
To: AMS RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 037300/0199 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2015
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: AMERICAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, LLC; AMS RESEARCH, LLC; LASERSCOPE
Reel/Frame 036285/0146 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 20, 2014
From: ENDO PHARMACEUTICALS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ENDO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; AMS RESEARCH CORPORATION; AMERICAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; LASERSCOPE
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032491/0440 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2014
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: AMS RESEARCH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032380/0053 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 22, 2011
From: AMS RESEARCH CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 026632/0535 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2004
From: MELLIER, GEORGES
To: AMS RESEARCH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 015850/0848 →