Surgical articles and methods for treating pelvic conditions

1. A pelvic implant assembly comprising

a support portion and an extension portion,

a self-fixating tip connected to the extension portion, the self-fixating tip comprising

a base comprising a proximal base end, a distal base end, and a length extending between the proximal base end and the distal base end, the proximal base end being connected to the extension portion,

the base comprising an internal channel extending from the proximal base end at least partially along a length of the base toward the distal base end,

a fixed lateral extension extending from the base, the fixed lateral extension comprising a solid extension body fixed to the base along the length of the base, the solid extension body supporting the lateral extension to prevent the lateral extension from deflecting or moving relative to the base during and after implantation into soft tissue, wherein the solid extension body comprises boundaries that include a leading edge on a distal side of the solid extension body, and a trailing edge on a proximal side of the solid extension body, wherein the trailing edge has a thickness greater than a thickness at the leading edge.

2. The pelvic implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the self-fixating tip has a length measured from the proximal base end to the distal base end, in the range from 0.4 to 1.0 centimeter.

3. The pelvic implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the self-fixating tip includes two or more lateral extensions, all lateral extensions extending in a different direction from locations that are at a same length-wise position of the base.

4. The pelvic implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the leading edge extends away from the base and proximally to meet a trailing edge at a pointed lateral extension tip.

5. The pelvic implant assembly of claim 4 wherein the trailing edge includes a portion having a thickness in the range from 0.2 to 1.5 millimeters.

6. In combination, the pelvic implant assembly of claim 1 and an insertion tool, the insertion tool comprising a handle and a needle extending from the handle, the needle comprising a proximal end attached to the handle and a distal end, the distal end comprising a tip that is adapted to engage the self-fixating tip and to pass the self-fixating tip through tissue by pushing the self-fixating tip.

7. The pelvic implant assembly of claim 1 , wherein the implant assembly is a urethral sling comprising a mesh strip and two self-fixating tips, one self-fixating tip fixed at each end of the mesh strip.

8. The pelvic implant assembly of claim 7 wherein the sling has a length in the range from 6 to 10 centimeters.

9. The pelvic implant assembly of claim 1 , wherein the self-fixating tip is fixedly attached to the extension portion.

10. The pelvic implant assembly of claim 1 comprising two implant pieces, each implant piece comprising a distal end and a connecting end, each distal end comprising the extension portion, and each connecting end comprising the support portion.

11. The pelvic implant assembly of claim 10 wherein the self-fixating tip is fixedly secured to the distal end of each implant piece.

12. The pelvic implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the lateral extension has a length in the range from 0.5 to 5 millimeters.

13. The pelvic implant assembly of claim 1 wherein the solid extension body includes dimensions of length along the length of the base, width in a direction laterally away from a longitudinal axis of the base, and thickness perpendicular to the length and the width, wherein a width of the solid body is greater than a thickness of the solid body.

14. A method of treating a pelvic condition, the method comprising

providing an implant comprising

a support portion and an extension portion,

a self-fixating tip connected to the extension portion, the self-fixating tip comprising

a base comprising a proximal base end, a distal base end, and a length extending between the proximal base end and the distal base end, the proximal base end being connected to the extension portion,

the base comprising an internal channel extending from the proximal base end at least partially along a length of the base toward the distal base end,

a fixed lateral extension extending from the base, the fixed lateral extension comprising a solid extension body fixed to the base along the length of the base, the solid extension body supporting the lateral extension to prevent the lateral extension from deflecting or moving relative to the base during and after implantation into soft tissue, wherein the solid extension body comprises boundaries that include a leading edge on a distal side of the solid extension body, and a trailing edge on a proximal side of the solid extension body, wherein the trailing edge has a thickness greater than a thickness at the leading edge,

providing an insertion tool comprising a handle and a needle extending from the handle, the needle comprising a proximal end attached to the handle and a distal end, the distal end comprising a needle distal end that removably engages the self-fixating tip,

engaging the needle distal end with the self-fixating tip,

inserting the needle distal end and self-fixating tip through a perineal or vaginal incision in a patient, and

inserting the self-fixating tip into tissue in the pelvic region.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein

the pelvic condition is selected from the group consisting of female urinary incontinence, male urinary incontinence, and anterior vaginal prolapse, and

the tissue is obturator internus muscle.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the self-fixating tip includes two or more fixed lateral extensions, all lateral extensions extending in a different direction from locations that are at a same length-wise position of the base.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the implant comprises a first implant piece comprising the support portion, the extension portion, and the self-fixating tip, the implant comprising a second implant piece comprising a second support portion, a second extension portion, and a second self-fixating tip, the method comprising:

placing the first implant piece on a first side of a patient with the self-fixating tip engaged at tissue of a first obturator foramen and the support portion below a urethra, and

placing the second implant piece on a second side of the patient with the second self-fixating tip engaged at tissue of a second obturator foramen and the second support portion below the urethra.

18. The method of claim 17 comprising attaching the support portion to the second support portion below the urethra.

19. A method of treating a pelvic condition in a patient, the method comprising:

creating a single incision through the vagina or perineal floor;

dissecting tissue near a tissue to be supported;

providing a pelvic implant comprising

a support portion and an extension portion,

a self-fixating tip connected to the extension portion, the self-fixating tip comprising

a base comprising a proximal base end, a distal base end, and a length extending between the proximal base end and the distal base end, the proximal base end being connected to the extension portion,

the base comprising an internal channel extending from the proximal base end at least partially along a length of the base toward the distal base end, and

a fixed lateral extension extending from the base, the fixed lateral extension comprising a solid extension body fixed to the base along the length of the base, the solid extension body supporting the lateral extension to prevent the lateral extension from deflecting or moving relative to the base during and after implantation into soft tissue, wherein the solid extension body comprises boundaries that include a leading edge on a distal side of the solid extension body, and a trailing edge on a proximal side of the solid extension body, wherein the trailing edge has a thickness greater than a thickness at the leading edge,

passing the pelvic implant through the incision,

implanting the self-fixating tip at tissue of the pelvic region.

20. The method of claim 19 comprising:

dissecting tissue beneath the tissue to be supported;

implanting the self-fixating tip at the obturator foramen on one side of the patient;

implanting a second self-fixating tip at the obturator foramen on a second side of the patient, whereby the implant is suspended between the two obturator foramen;

positioning a portion of the implant below the urethra to support the urethra.

21. The method of claim 20 comprising positioning the first and second self-fixating tips in the obturator internus muscle without puncturing the obturator membrane.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein implanting the self-fixating tip at the obturator foramen comprises engaging the self-fixating tip with an end of an insertion tool and pushing the self-fixating tip into tissue of the obturator foramen.

23. The method of claim 19 comprising adjusting the implant to provide a desired position and amount of support for the urethra by selecting one or more of: a point of insertion of the self-fixating tip within the obturator foramen, and a depth of insertion of the self-fixating tip within the obturator foramen.

24. The method of claim 19 comprising treating a condition selected from the group consisting of incontinence, enterocele, cystocele, rectocele, and vaginal vault prolapse in a female; and incontinence in a male.

25. The method of claim 19 comprising implanting a self-fixating tip in fibrous tissue selected from the group consisting of: the uterosacral ligament, the coccygeous muscle, the sacrospinous ligament, the iliococcygeous muscle, the obturator internus muscle, and the obturator externus muscle.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein the self-fixating tip includes two or more fixed lateral extensions, all lateral extensions extending in a different direction from locations that are at a same length-wise position of the base.

27. The method of claim 19 , wherein the pelvic implant comprising a first implant piece comprising the support portion, the extension portion, and the self-fixating tip, and a second implant piece comprising a second support portion, a second extension portion, and a second self-fixating tip, the method comprising

placing the first implant piece on a first side of a patient with the self-fixating tip engaged at tissue of a first obturator foramen and the support portion below a urethra, and

placing the second implant piece on a second side of the patient with the second self-fixating tip engaged at tissue of a second obturator foramen and the second support portion below the urethra.

28. The method of claim 27 comprising attaching the support portion to the second support portion below the urethra.