Granted Patent B2

US 8,449,447 · App. 12/836,286 · Granted May 28, 2013

Abstract

Claims (22)

1. A sling for use in treating anal incontinence comprising a central portion structured to be positioned posteriorly to the rectum and/or anus of a patient and attached to at least two arms extending therefrom, said central portion having a sub-rectal extension element extending therefrom that is sized and structured for attachment to a coccyx of the patient.

2. The sling of claim 1 , wherein the central portion comprises an inflatable sac.

3. The sling of claim 2 , wherein at least one arm is formed of mesh.

4. The sling of claim 2 , wherein at least one arm is formed of tension-free vaginal tape.

5. The sling of claim 2 , wherein at least one arm terminates with a filament.

6. The sling of claim 5 , wherein the filament comprises a suture.

7. A sling comprising:

a central portion having a saddle shaped inflatable sac attached thereto, wherein the saddle shape is a hyperbolic paraboloid that defines a first preformed curve structured to allow the sling to arc between obturator regions and a second preformed curve structured to complement an ano-rectal angle of a patient, said central portion having a sub-rectal extension element extending therefrom that is sized and structured for attachment to a coccyx of the patient; and

at least two arms extending from the central portion, the arms formed of mesh or tension-free vaginal tape.

8. The sling of claim 7 , wherein the inflatable sac further comprises an access port for inflating and/or deflating the sac.

9. The sling of claim 7 , wherein the inflatable sac includes a plurality of compartments that are structured to be inflated separately through a corresponding plurality of access ports.

10. The sling of claim 2 , wherein the inflatable sac further comprises a port for inflating and/or deflating the sac.

11. The sling of claim 1 , wherein each of the arms includes serrations that are structured for maintaining the sling in position after implantation within a patient.

12. The sling of claim 1 , further comprising at least one bone anchor associated with each arm for attaching the arms to respective portions of bone.

13. The sling of claim 1 , wherein the central portion includes one or more anti-roll elements structured to prevent the central portion from rolling underneath the rectum and/or anus.

14. The sling of claim 13 , wherein the one or more anti-roll elements are attached to the central portion in a direction that is substantially transverse to the length of the sling.

15. The sling of claim 1 , wherein the sling arms are formed from a synthetic mesh material and the central portion is formed from a natural material.

16. The sling of claim 1 wherein said central portion has a hyperbolic paraboloid shape with first a second curves, said first curve configured to arc between obturator regions and said second curve configured to complement the patient's ano-rectal angle.

17. A sling for use in treating anal incontinence comprising a central portion attached to at least two arms extending therefrom, the central portion including a plurality of compartments that are structured to be inflated separately through a corresponding plurality of access ports, wherein said central portion includes a sub-rectal extension element extending therefrom that is sized and structured for attachment to a coccyx of the patient.

18. The sling of claim 17 wherein said central portion comprises an inflatable sac.

19. The sling of claim 18 , wherein the sling includes four arms extending from the inflatable sac.

20. The sling of claim 18 , wherein said sub-rectal extension element extends from the inflatable sac.

Assignments (8)