Transobturator surgical articles and methods

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

creating a first incision in a position below the patient's urethra, and first and second pelvic incisions, wherein each pelvic incision is substantially aligned with the patient's obturator foramen;

associating a first end of an implant for treating urinary incontinence with a first surgical instrument; and

passing the first surgical instrument and the first end of the implant for treating urinary incontinence from the first incision through one obturator foramen to the first pelvic incision;

associating a second end of the implant for treating urinary incontinence with a second surgical instrument; and

passing the second surgical instrument and the second end of the implant for treating urinary incontinence through the first incision and the second pelvic incision such that the implant for treating urinary incontinence then extends from the first pelvic incision to the second pelvic incision, through both obturator foramen and adjacent to the patient's urethra.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first surgical instrument exhibits a variable right-handed spiral form, and

the second surgical instrument exhibits a variable left-handed spiral form.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first surgical instrument exhibits a variable right-handed helix form, and

the second surgical instrument exhibits a variable left-handed helix form.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first surgical instrument exhibits a two-dimensional curve, and

the second surgical instrument exhibits a two-dimensional curve that is the same as the two-dimensional curve of the first surgical instrument.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second surgical instrument comprises an eyelet to associate the first and second surgical instrument respectively with the first and second end of the implant for treating urinary incontinence.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of adjusting tension of the implant for treating urinary incontinence after positioning adjacent to the patient's urethra and extending through each obturator foramen.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of tightening the tension of the implant for treating urinary incontinence after positioning adjacent to the patient's urethra and extending through each obturator foramen.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of loosening the tension of the implant for treating urinary incontinence after positioning adjacent to the patient's urethra and extending through each obturator foramen.

9. A method for treating urinary incontinence, comprising the steps of:

making a first incision adjacent a patient's urethra and first and second pelvic incisions each substantially aligned with the patient's obturator foramen;

associating a first end of an implant for treating urinary incontinence with a surgical instrument;

passing the surgical instrument and the first end of the implant for treating urinary incontinence from the first incision through one obturator foramen to the first pelvic incision;

associating a second end of the implant for treating urinary incontinence with the surgical instrument; and

passing the surgical instrument and the second end of the implant for treating urinary incontinence from the first incision through another obturator foramen to the second pelvic incision such that the implant is positioned adjacent to the patient's urethra and extending through each obturator foramen.

10. The method for treating urinary incontinence of claim 9 , further comprising the step of adjusting tension of the implant for treating urinary incontinence after positioning adjacent to the patient's urethra and extending through each obturator foramen.

11. The method for treating urinary incontinence of claim 10 further comprising the step of loosening the tension of the implant for treating urinary incontinence after positioning adjacent to the patient's urethra and extending through each obturator foramen.

12. The method for treating urinary incontinence of claim 10 , further comprising the step of tightening the tension of the implant for treating urinary incontinence after positioning adjacent to the patient's urethra and extending through each obturator foramen.

13. A method for treating urinary incontinence, comprising the steps of:

making a first incision adjacent a patient's urethra and first and second pelvic incisions each substantially aligned with the patient's obturator foramen;

passing a first end of a surgical instrument from the first incision through one obturator foramen to the first pelvic incision;

associating a first end of an implant for treating urinary incontinence with a second end of the surgical instrument;

using the surgical instrument to pass the first end of the implant for treating urinary incontinence from the first incision through one obturator foramen to the first pelvic incision;

passing the first end of the surgical instrument from the first incision through another obturator foramen to the second pelvic incision;

associating a second end of the implant for treating urinary incontinence with the second end of the surgical instrument;

using the surgical instrument to pass the second end of the implant for treating urinary incontinence from the first incision through another obturator foramen to the second pelvic incision such that the implant is positioned adjacent to the patient's urethra and extending through each obturator foramen.

14. The method for treating urinary incontinence of claim 13 , further comprising the step of adjusting tension of the implant for treating urinary incontinence after positioning adjacent to the patient's urethra and extending through each obturator foramen.

15. The method for treating urinary incontinence of claim 14 , further comprising the step of tightening the tension of the implant for treating urinary incontinence after positioning adjacent to the patient's urethra and extending through each obturator foramen.

16. The method for treating urinary incontinence of claim 14 , further comprising the step of loosening the tension of the implant for treating urinary incontinence after positioning adjacent to the patient's urethra and extending through each obturator foramen.