Spacer for sling delivery system
View Patent ↗The invention features systems, methods, and devices relating to delivering a sling to an anatomical site in the body of a patient.
1. A sling delivery system comprising;
an elongate sling;
a sleeve covering at least a portion of the sling; and
a spacer coupled to at least a portion of the sleeve, the spacer configured to position a portion of the sleeve away from the sling.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the spacer positions a portion of the sleeve away from an intermediate portion of the sling.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a first side and a second side and the spacer positions a portion of the second side of the sleeve away from the sling.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first side of the sleeve has a discontinuity.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the discontinuity is located opposite the spacer.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the spacer is located between the sling and the portion of the sleeve positioned away from the sling.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the spacer at least partially encloses the portion of the sleeve positioned away from the sling.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the spacer includes an indicator for identifying a portion of the spacer that includes a portion of the sleeve positioned away from the sling.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the sleeve positioned away from the sling is affixed to the spacer.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the sleeve is not affixed to any portion of the spacer other than an end of the spacer farthest from the sling.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is a separate component from the sleeve.
12. A method for delivering a sling, the method comprising;
delivering a sling assembly that comprises:
a sling;
a sleeve covering at least a portion of the sling; and
a spacer for positioning a portion of the sleeve away from the sling; and
cutting the spacer.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the portion of the sleeve is positioned such that cutting the spacer also cuts the sleeve to form two sleeve ends.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
removing each of the two sleeve ends after cutting the spacer.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the sleeve comprises first and second sides;
the spacer positions the second side of the sleeve away from the sling; and
the first side of the sleeve comprises a discontinuity.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein cutting the spacer also cuts the second side of the sleeve.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein cutting the spacer comprises a single incision.
18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
removing the spacer after cutting the spacer.
19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
removing the sleeve after cutting the spacer.
20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
manipulating the spacer to adjust the position of the sling assembly before cutting the spacer.
21. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
a portion of the sleeve positioned away from the sling is affixed to the spacer at an end of the spacer that is farthest from the sling; and
cutting the spacer comprises severing the end of the spacer from the spacer such that the sleeve is no longer affixed to the spacer.
22. A sling assembly comprising:
a sleeve;
an elongate sling, wherein the sleeve encloses at least a portion of the sling; and
a structure coupled to at least a portion of the sleeve, the structure configured to space a portion of the sleeve away from the sling.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the structure is a handle for positioning the sling assembly.
24. The system of claim 22 , wherein the structure is affixed to a portion of the sleeve positioned away from the sling.
25. The system of claim 22 , wherein the structure is a separate component from the sleeve.