Surgical instrument and method for the treatment of urinary incontinence

1. A surgical assembly comprising:

a surgical introducer having a handle portion and a needle portion extending outwardly to a free distal end from a first end of the handle portion, and having at least a first retaining device having a projection extending outwardly from the handle portion to a tapered free distal end and in a direction toward a proximal end of the handle;

first and second sheath elements each having a proximal end, a closed distal end that is tapered and capable of penetrating tissue, a channel extending therein from an opening at the proximal end to the closed distal end, and a side aperture extending into said channel, said side aperture being defined by a peripheral edge and dimensioned to receive therethrough the projection of the first retaining device;

an implant comprised of a substantially flat, flexible, biocompatible material, and having first and second ends coupled to the proximal ends of the first and second sheath elements respectively;

wherein the channels of the first and second sheath elements are dimensioned to slidably receive therein through the side aperture the needle portion of the introducer, and wherein for each of the first and second sheath elements when the needle portion of the introducer is so received therein, the sheath element completely encloses therein at least the distal free end of the needle portion, and the peripheral edge of the side aperture is capable of being removably coupled to the retaining device to thereby prevent sliding movement of the sheath element relative to the introducer.

2. The surgical assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the needle portion has an outer diameter of approximately 3.0 mm and the channel of the sheath element has a diameter of approximately 3.2 mm.

3. The surgical assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the sheath element has an outer diameter of approximately 4.2 mm.

4. The surgical assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the needle portion outer diameter is substantially constant along the length of the needle portion, and wherein the channel diameter is substantially constant along the length of the sheath element.

5. The surgical assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the needle portion is comprised of stainless steel and the sheath element is comprised of a medical grade plastic selected from the group consisting of urethane, polyethylene, and polypropylene.

6. The surgical assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the needle portion has a contour, and wherein the sheath element is configured to follow said needle portion contour.

7. The surgical assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the side apertures of the sheath elements are located in a proximal end region of the sheath elements.

8. A surgical assembly comprising:

a surgical introducer having a handle portion having opposing distal and proximal ends, and a needle portion having a substantially constant outer diameter and extending outwardly to a free distal end from the distal end of the handle portion, and having at least a first retaining device having a projection extending outwardly from the handle portion to a tapered free distal end and in a direction toward the proximal end of the handle;

first and second sheath elements each having a proximal end, a closed distal end that is tapered and capable of penetrating tissue, a channel extending therein from an opening at the proximal end to the closed distal end, and a side aperture extending into said channel at a predetermined point along a length thereof, said side aperture being defined by a peripheral edge and dimensioned to receive therethrough the first retaining device;

an implant comprised of a substantially flat, flexible, biocompatible material, and having first and second ends coupled to the proximal ends of the first and second sheath elements respectively;

wherein the channels of the first and second sheath elements are dimensioned to slidably receive therein through the side aperture the needle portion of the introducer, and wherein, the needle portion of the introducer is removably received within the first sheath element and the peripheral edge of the side aperture of the first sheath element is removably coupled to the retaining device to thereby prevent sliding movement of the first sheath element relative to the introducer.

9. The surgical assembly according to claim 8 , including first and second retaining devices positioned on opposing sides of the handle portion.

10. The surgical assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the needle portion has an outer diameter of approximately 3.0 mm and the channel of the sheath element has a diameter of approximately 3.2 mm.

11. The surgical assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the sheath element has an outer diameter of approximately 4.2 mm.

12. The surgical assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the channel of the sheath element has a substantially constant diameter along its length.

13. The surgical assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the needle portion is comprised of stainless steel and the sheath element is comprised of a medical grade plastic selected from the group consisting of urethane, polyethylene, and polypropylene.

14. The surgical assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the needle portion has a contour, and wherein the sheath element is configured to follow said needle portion contour.

15. The surgical assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the side apertures of the sheath elements are located in a proximal end region of the sheath elements.