Patent US5647836A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5647836A
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Method and means for treating female urinary incontinence
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1995-09-28
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Granted: 1997-07-15
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Expires: 2015-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A female urinary stress incontinence remedy in which endopelvic fascia attached to either side of the urethra is elevated and held in place by means of a pair of anchors comprised of upper and lower stays interconnected by suture and surgically positioned on either side of the urethra with the upper stay positioned above the rectus fascia and the lower anchor stay engaging the endopelvic fascia, exposed by aligned insisions in the vaginal wall.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph W. Blake, III
- 👤 Robert M Spitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:12
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/0401; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/0004; A61F2/0031; A61F2/0036; A61B2017/00743; A61B2017/00805; A61B2017/0417
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A method of treating female urinary stress incontinence comprising the steps of: a. making at least two incisions in the vaginal wall with one incision on each side of and parallel to the urethra, with each incision exposing endopelvis fascia, b. assembling at least two anchors with each anchor having an upper stay affixed to a suture and a lower stay having an opening for slidably receiving the suture, c. loading an anchor into a cannula, d. inserting the cannula into the vagina to pierce the endopelvic fascia exposed by the incision to the one side of the urethra and continuing on to pierce the rectus muscle and the rectus fascia above the pubis, e. discharging the upper stay above the rectus fascia, f. withdrawing the cannula leaving the upper stay in place with the suture extending from the stay through the rectus fascia, rectus muscle, and through the incision in the vaginal wall, g. drawing the lower stay up on the suture to elevate tissue in the vicinity of the urethra h. securing the lower stay to the suture when the correct degree of elevation is achieved, and i. repeating steps c through h through the incision on the other side of the urethra.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
205 words
A method of treating female urinary stress incontinence comprising the steps of: a. making at least two incisions in the vaginal wall with one incision on each side of and parallel to the urethra, with each incision exposing endopelvis fascia, b. assembling at least two anchors with each anchor having an upper stay affixed to a suture and a lower stay having an opening for slidably receiving the suture, c. loading an anchor into a cannula, d. inserting the cannula into the vagina to pierce the endopelvic fascia exposed by the incision to the one side of the urethra and continuing on to pierce the rectus muscle and the rectus fascia above the pubis, e. discharging the upper stay above the rectus fascia, f. withdrawing the cannula leaving the upper stay in place with the suture extending from the stay through the rectus fascia, rectus muscle, and through the incision in the vaginal wall, g. drawing the lower stay up on the suture to elevate tissue in the vicinity of the urethra h. securing the lower stay to the suture when the correct degree of elevation is achieved, and i. repeating steps c through h through the incision on the other side of the urethra.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 in which each incision is restricted to the epithelium of the vaginal wall.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of treating female urinary stress incontinence comprising the steps of: a. making two incisions in the vaginal wall with one incision on each side of the urethra, with each incision exposing endopelvic fascia, b. assembling two anchors with each anchor having an upper stay affixed to a suture and a lower stay having an opening for slidably receiving the suture, c. positioning the upper stay above the rectus fascia by insertion through the endopelvic fascia exposed by the incision to the one side of the urethra and continuing on to pierce the rectus muscle and the rectus fascia above the pubis, with the suture extending from the upper stay through the rectus fascia, rectus muscle, and through the incision in the vaginal wall, d. drawing the lower stay up on the suture to elevate tissue in the vicinity of the urethra e. securing the lower stay to the suture when the correct degree of elevation is achieved, and f. repeating steps c through e through the incision on the other side of the urethra.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of treating female urinary stress incontinence comprising the steps of: a. making two incisions in the vaginal wall with one incision on each side of the urethra, with each incision exposing endopelvic fascia, b. assembling two anchors with each anchor having an upper stay affixed to a suture and a lower stay having an opening for slidably receiving the suture, c. positioning the upper stay above the rectus fascia by insertion through the endopelvic fascia exposed by the incision to the one side of the urethra and continuing on to pierce the rectus muscle and the rectus fascia above the pubis, with the suture extending from the upper stay through the rectus fascia, rectus muscle, and through the incision in the vaginal wall, d. drawing the lower stay up on the suture to elevate tissue in the vicinity of the urethra e. securing the lower stay to the suture when the correct degree of elevation is achieved, and f. repeating steps c through e through the incision on the other side of the urethra.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of treating female urinary stress incontinence comprising the steps of: a. making two incisions in the vaginal wall with one incision on each side of the urethra, with each incision restricted to the epithelium of the vaginal wall, b. assembling two anchors with each anchor having an upper stay affixed to a suture and a lower stay having an opening for slidably receiving the suture, c. positioning the upper stay above the rectus fascia by insertion through the incision to the one side of the urethra and continuing on to pierce the rectus muscle and the rectus fascia above the pubis, with the suture extending from the upper stay through the rectus fascia, rectus muscle, and through the incision in the vaginal wall, d. drawing the lower stay up on the suture to elevate tissue in the vicinity of the urethra e. securing the lower stay to the suture when the correct degree of elevation is achieved, and f. repeating steps c through e through the incision on the other side of the urethra.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of treating female urinary stress incontinence comprising the steps of: a. making two incisions in the vaginal wall with one incision on each side of the urethra, with each incision restricted to the epithelium of the vaginal wall, b. assembling two anchors with each anchor having an upper stay affixed to a suture and a lower stay having an opening for slidably receiving the suture, c. positioning the upper stay above the rectus fascia by insertion through the incision to the one side of the urethra and continuing on to pierce the rectus muscle and the rectus fascia above the pubis, with the suture extending from the upper stay through the rectus fascia, rectus muscle, and through the incision in the vaginal wall, d. drawing the lower stay up on the suture to elevate tissue in the vicinity of the urethra e. securing the lower stay to the suture when the correct degree of elevation is achieved, and f. repeating steps c through e through the incision on the other side of the urethra.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
An implant kit for treating female urinary stress incontinence comprising a pair of anchors, each anchor comprising an upper stay affixed to a length of suture, and a lower stay slidably received on the suture through an opening in the lower stay, the lower stay being deformable by crimping in the vicinity of the opening for securement to the suture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
An implant kit for treating female urinary stress incontinence comprising a pair of anchors, each anchor comprising an upper stay affixed to a length of suture, and a lower stay slidably received on the suture through an opening in the lower stay, the lower stay being deformable by crimping in the vicinity of the opening for securement to the suture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A kit as defined in claim 5 in which the stays are formed of biologically compatible plastic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A kit as defined in claim 6 in which the stays are formed of polypropylene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A kit as defined in claim 5 in which the stays are formed of biologically compatible metal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A kit as defined in claim 8 in which the stays are formed of titanium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
An implant kit for treating female urinary stress incontinence comprising a pair of anchor assemblies, each anchor assembly comprising an upper stay affixed to a length of suture, and a lower stay slidably received on the suture through an opening in the lower stay, the lower stay being deformable by crimping in the vicinity of the opening for securement to the suture, a cannula for receiving each anchor assembly for implanting each assembly, and a tool for crimping the lower stay for securement to the suture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
An implant kit for treating female urinary stress incontinence comprising a pair of anchor assemblies, each anchor assembly comprising an upper stay affixed to a length of suture, and a lower stay slidably received on the suture through an opening in the lower stay, the lower stay being deformable by crimping in the vicinity of the opening for securement to the suture, a cannula for receiving each anchor assembly for implanting each assembly, and a tool for crimping the lower stay for securement to the suture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-14 | 2001-01-13 | 2001-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-14 | 2005-01-13 | 2005-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-14 | 2009-01-13 | 2009-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |