Method and apparatus for treating pelvic organ prolapse

1. A method for repair of pelvic organ prolapse in a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

using a first needle to establish a first pathway in tissue on a first side of said prolapsed organ, said pathway extending between an external perirectal region to a region of an ischial spine of the patient, said first needle comprising a tip, a straight portion, a first radius, and a second radius distinct from the first radius, wherein the first radius and the second radius are located between the straight portion and the tip;

positioning a support member in a position to reposition said prolapsed organ in said organ's anatomically correct location, said support member comprising a support portion having a first and second end, first end portion, and second end portion, said first end portion and second end portion respectively attached to said first end and said second end;

connecting said first end portion to the tip of the first needle;

introducing said first end portion through said first pathway by removing the first needle from the first pathway;

using a second needle to establish a second pathway in tissue on a contralateral side of said prolapsed organ, said pathway extending between an external perirectal region to a region of an ischial spine of the patient, said second needle comprising a tip, a straight portion, a first radius, and a second radius distinct from the first radius, wherein the first radius and the second radius are located between the straight portion and the tip;

connecting said second end portion to the tip of the second needle; and,

introducing said second end portion through said second pathway by removing the second needle from the second pathway,

adjusting said first end portion and said second end portion so that said support member is in a therapeutic relationship to a tissue of said prolapsed organ that is to be supported;

wherein said pelvic organ prolapse is a vaginal vault prolapse, and

wherein the step of using a first needle to establish a first pathway in tissue on a first side le a said prolapsed organ, said pathway extending between an external perirectal region to a region of an ischial spine of the patient, said first needle comprising a tip, a straight portion, a first radius, and a second radius distinct from the first radius, wherein the first radius and the second radius are located between the straight portion and the tip, comprises the steps of:

making a midline incision in an apex of a vagina;

dissecting to a region of an ischial spine;

making a first incision lateral and posterior to the rectum in a skin of a buttock;

rotating the first needle about the first radius to pass the first needle from said first incision toward said vaginal incision, wherein the second radius is in contact with the vaginal incision;

palpating a tip of said needle distal and inferior to an ischial spine; and

passing said needle through a coccygeous muscle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of connecting said first end portion to the tip of the first needle comprises the step of pressing the first end portion to the tip of the first needle using a fastening tool.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of using a second needle to establish a second pathway in tissue on a contralateral side of said prolapsed organ, said pathway extending between an external perirectal region to a region of an ischial spine of the patient, comprises the steps of:

making a second incision lateral and posterior to the rectum in a skin of a buttock on the contralateral side respective to said first incision;

rotating the second needle about a first radius to pass the second needle from said second incision toward said vaginal incision;

palpating a tip of said second needle distal and inferior to an ischial spine; and

passing said needle through a coccygeous muscle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of introducing said first end portion through said first pathway by removing the first needle from the first pathway, comprises the step of removing said first needle from an incision in said patient's external perirectal region through a tissue on a side of said prolapsed organ through to said region of an ischial spine of the patient to form said first pathway.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of introducing said second end portion through said second pathway by removing the second needle from the second pathway comprises the step of retracting back through said second pathway a second needle to which said second end portion has been connected.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of adjusting said end portions so that said support member is in a therapeutic relationship to a tissue of said prolapsed organ that is to be supported further comprises:

attaching said support member to a vaginal wall with sutures;

ensuring a vaginal vault is in an appropriate anatomical position; and

adjusting said support member by manipulation of said end portions.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first radius of curvature of the first needle is between the tip of the first needle and the second radius of curvature of the first needle, and the first radius of curvature of the first needle is between about 2 inches and about 4 inches and the second radius of curvature of the first needle is between about 4 inches and about 6 inches.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the straight section of the first needle is between about 3 inches and about 7 inches.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the straight section of the first needle is between about 5.5 inches and about 6.5 inches.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the first radius of curvature of the second needle is between the tip of the second needle and the second radius of curvature of the second needle, and the first radius of curvature of the second needle is between about 2 inches and about 4 inches and the second radius of curvature of the second needle is between about 4 inches and about 6 inches.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the straight section of the second needle is between about 3 inches and about 7 inches.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the straight section of the second needle is between about 5.5 inches and about 6.5 inches.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the support member comprises self-fixating supporting mesh, and a mesh knit of an end portion is different from a mesh knit of the support portion.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the support portion comprises first and second sides located opposite one another, a first end and a second end opposite one another and located between the two sides, and a first pair of end portions extending from a portion of the sides proximate the first end and a second pair of end portions extending from a portion of the sides proximate the second end.

15. The method of claim 14 , comprising a third pair of end portions extending from the sides of the support portion between the first and second pairs of end portions.

16. A method for repair of pelvic organ prolapse in a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

using a first needle to establish a first pathway in tissue on a first side of said prolapsed organ, said pathway extending between an external perirectal region to a region of an ischial spine of the patient, said first needle comprising a tip, a straight portion, a first radius, and a second radius distinct from the first radius, wherein the first radius and the second radius are located between the straight portion and the tip;

positioning a support member in a position to reposition said prolapsed organ in said organ's anatomically correct location, said support member comprising a support portion having a first and second end, first end portion, and second end portion, said first end portion and second end portion respectively attached to said first end and said second end;

connecting said first end portion to the tip of the first needle;

introducing said first end portion through said first pathway by removing the first needle from the first pathway;

using a second needle to establish a second pathway in tissue on a contralateral side of said prolapsed organ, said pathway extending between an external perirectal region to a region of an ischial spine of the patient, said second needle comprising a tip, a straight portion, a first radius, and a second radius distinct from the first radius, wherein the first radius and the second radius are located between the straight portion and the tip;

connecting said second end portion to the tip of the second needle;

introducing said second end portion through said second pathway by removing the second needle from the second pathway; and

adjusting said first end portion and said second end portion so that said support member is in a therapeutic relationship to a tissue of said prolapsed organ that is to be supported;

wherein the first radius of curvature of the first needle is between the tip of the first needle and the second radius of curvature of the first needle, and the first radius of curvature of the first needle is between about 2 inches and about 4 inches and the second radius of curvature of the first needle is between about 4 inches and about 6 inches.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the straight section of the first needle is between about 3 inches and about 7 inches.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the straight section of the first needle is between about 5.5 inches and about 6.5 inches.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the first radius of curvature of the second needle is between the tip of the second needle and the second radius of curvature of the second needle, and the first radius of curvature of the second needle is between about 2 inches and about 4 inches and the second radius of curvature of the second needle is between about 4 inches and about 6 inches.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the straight section of the second needle is between about 3 inches and about 7 inches.

21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the straight section of the second needle is between about 5.5 inches and about 6.5 inches.