MEDICAL SLINGS
A medical sling made from material that is suitably shaped for use in a medical application has sides, portions of which are smoothed to prevent abrasion of surrounding tissue.
1 .- 34 . (canceled)
35 . A method for making a sling for urethral or pelvic organ support comprising:
providing a sling with at least one tanged portion; and
removing the tangs of the tanged portion to make a sling for urethral or pelvic organ support with at least one non-tanged portion.
36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the sling comprises a synthetic material.
37 . The method of claim 35 , comprising enclosing a portion of the sling in a sleeve.
38 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the sling comprises a bioabsorbable material.
39 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the sling includes a drug that is released to patient tissues.
40 . The method of claim 35 , wherein at least one tanged portion remains on the sling after removal of the at least one tanged portion.
41 . The method of claim 35 , wherein removing the tangs comprises smoothing or rounding the tangs.
42 . The method of claim 41 , wherein smoothing the tangs is performed by application of heat.
43 . The method of claim 42 , wherein the heat is applied by burning or melting.
44 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the sling comprises a first side and a second side and at least one side has at least one non-tanged portion.
45 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the first side and the second side each have at least one non-tanged portion.
46 . The method of claim 44 , wherein at least one side has at least one tanged portion.
47 . A method for increasing urethral sling rigidly comprising:
providing a sling with a first tanged portion; and
removing the tangs of the first tanged portion to increase sling rigidity thereby providing a sling
with at least one non-tanged portion.
48 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the sling comprises a synthetic material.
49 . The method of claim 47 , comprising enclosing a portion of the sling in a sleeve.
50 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the sling comprises a bioabsorbable material.
51 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the sling includes a drug that is released to patient tissues.
52 . The method of claim 47 , wherein at least one tanged portion remains on the sling after removal of the tangs of the first tanged portion.
53 . The method of claim 47 , wherein removing the tangs comprises smoothing or rounding the tangs.
54 . The method of claim 53 , wherein smoothing the tangs is performed by application of heat.
55 . The method of claim 54 , wherein the heat is applied by burning or melting.
56 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the sling comprises a first side and a second side and at least one side has at least one non-tanged portion.
57 . The method of claim 56 , wherein the first side and the second side each have at least one non-tanged portion.
58 . The method of claim 56 , wherein at least one side has at least one tanged portion.
59 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the sling comprises first and second opposing longitudinal edges and first and second opposing lateral edges, the longitudinal edges being longer than the lateral edges, wherein at least one tanged portion is located on a longitudinal edge.
60 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the sling comprises first and second opposing longitudinal edges and first and second opposing lateral edges, the longitudinal edges being longer than the lateral edges, wherein the first tanged portion if located on a longitudinal edge.