Implantable Sling For The Treatment Of Male Incontinence And Method Of Using The Same

Abstract

An implantable sling for the treatment of male incontinence and method of implementing the same. The sling comprises a urethral support portion and at least one anchoring portion extending therefrom. The anchoring portion is operatively positioned through the obturator foramen and about at least one ramus portion of the pelvis such that the support portion of the implant is operatively positioned at or distal to the bulbar urethra to treat urinary incontinence. In a preferred embodiment, the implant will have first and second anchoring portions extending from the support portion with each respective one of said anchoring portions being operative to be secured about dedicated ones of the patient's pubic ramus. The implants may further be fabricated from tissues, synthetic materials or combinations thereof.

1 . An implant for use in the treatment of male urinary incontinence comprising: 
 a. a suburethral support portion operatively positionable at or distal to the bulbar urethral complex of a male patient; and    b. at least one anchor portion extending from said support portion, said anchor portion being operatively extensible through the obturator foramen of said patient and configurable to affix at at least one descending ramus of said male patient.    
   
   
       2 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein said implant comprises first and second anchor portions extending from said support portion, each respective anchor portions being operative to extend through said obturator foramen and become affixed with dedicated ones of said descending rami of said male patient.  
   
   
       3 . The implant of  claim 2  wherein said implant includes first and second anchor members that extend from said support portion in generally parallel relation.  
   
   
       4 . The implant of  claim 2  wherein said implant comprises first and second anchor portions extending in generally opposed directions from said support portion.  
   
   
       5 . The implant of  claim 3  wherein said implant further includes at least one aperture formed thereon for affixing a suture line to said implant.  
   
   
       6 . The implant of  claim 5  wherein said implant includes at least first and second apertures formed thereon for receiving sutures, said sutures being operative to engage with dedicated ones of said first and second anchor portions.  
   
   
       7 . The implant of  claim 3  wherein said implant includes third and fourth anchor portions extending across said support section in generally parallel relation to said first and second support portions, said third and fourth anchor portions being operatively connectable with dedicated ones of said first and second support portions.  
   
   
       8 . The implant of  claim 2  wherein said support portion has a width ranging from approximately 1.0 cm to 8.0 cm and a length ranging from 2.0 cm to 8.0 cm.  
   
   
       9 . The implant of  claim 2  wherein each respective one of said anchor portions has a length ranging from 5.0 cm to 45.0 cm and a width ranging from 0.5 cm to 4.0 cm.  
   
   
       10 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein said implant assumes a generally trapezoidal configuration.  
   
   
       11 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein said implant assumes a generally rectangular configuration.  
   
   
       12 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein said implant is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a synthetic material, a harvested tissue, and a combination of synthetic material and harvested tissue.  
   
   
       13 . The implant of  claim 12  wherein said synthetic material comprises a mesh.  
   
   
       14 . The implant of  claim 13  wherein said harvested tissue is selected from the group consisting of a harvested animal tissue, cadaverous tissue and tissue harvested from said male patient.  
   
   
       15 . An implant for use in the treatment of male urinary incontinence comprising: 
 a. a suburethral support portion operatively positionable at or distal to the bulbar urethral complex of a male patient; and    b. a first opposing pair of anchor portions extending from said support portion and being operatively superficially extensible through the pubic space anterior to the pubic symphysis of said male patient.    
   
   
       16 . The implant of  claim 15  wherein the first opposing pair of anchor portions are tunneled superficially anterior to the pubic symphysis.  
   
   
       17 . The implant of  claim 15  further including a second opposing pair of anchor portions extending from said support portion and being operatively extensible through the retropubic space posterior to the pubic symphysis, said second opposing pair of anchor portions being attachable about at least one descending ramus of said male patient.  
   
   
       18 . The implant of  claim 15  further including a second opposing pair of anchor portions extending from said support portion and being operatively extensible through the obturator foramen, said second opposing pair of anchor portions being attachable about at least one descending ramus of said male patient.  
   
   
       19 . The implant of  claim 16  wherein said second opposing pair of anchor portions is operatively extensible through the obturator foramen via inside-out movement.  
   
   
       20 . The implant of  claim 16  wherein said second opposing pair of anchor portions is operatively extensible through the obturator foramen via outside-in movement.  
   
   
       21 . An implant for use in the treatment of male urinary incontinence comprising: 
 a. a suburethral support portion operatively positionable at or distal to the bulbar urethral complex of a male patient; and    b. a first opposing pair of anchor portions extending from said support portion and being operatively extensible through the retropubic space posterior to the pubic symphysis, said second opposing pair of anchor portions being attachable about at least one descending ramus of said male patient.    
   
   
       22 . The implant of  claim 21  further including a pair of suture lines being attached to said support portion, the suture lines being operatively extensible up to the rectus fascia and being operatively securable thereto.  
   
   
       23 . An implant for use in the treatment of male urinary incontinence comprising: 
 a. a suburethral support portion operatively positionable at or distal to the bulbar urethral complex of a male patient;    b. a pair of suture lines being attached to said support portion, the suture lines being operatively extensible up to the rectus fascia and being operatively securable thereto; and    c. a first opposing pair of anchor portions extending from said support portion and being operatively extensible through the obturator foramen, said first opposing pair of anchor portions being attachable about at least one descending ramus of said male patient.    
   
   
       24 . The implant of  claim 23  wherein said first opposing pair of anchor portions is operatively extensible through the obturator foramen via inside-out movement.  
   
   
       25 . The implant of  claim 23  wherein said first opposing pair of anchor portions is operatively extensible through the obturator foramen via outside-in movement.  
   
   
       26 . An implant for use in the treatment of male urinary incontinence comprising: 
 a. a suburethral support portion operatively positionable at or distal to the bulbar urethral complex of a male patient;    b. opposing anchor portions extending from said support portion and being attachable about at least one descending ramus of said male patient; and    c. securing elements being operative to secure a portion of the support portion to within said patient.    
   
   
       27 . The implant of  claim 26  wherein said opposing anchor portions are operatively extensible through the retropubic space posterior to the pubic symphysis.  
   
   
       28 . The implant of  claim 26  wherein said opposing anchor portions are operatively extensible through the obturator foramen via inside-out movement.  
   
   
       29 . The implant of  claim 26  wherein said opposing anchor portions are operatively extensible through the obturator foramen via outside-in movement.  
   
   
       30 . The implant of  claim 26  wherein said securing elements are selected from the group consisting of tacks, sutures, staples, and clips.  
   
   
       31 . An implant for use in the treatment of male urinary incontinence comprising: 
 a. a suburethral support portion operatively positionable at or distal to the bulbar urethral complex of a male patient; and    b. securing elements being attached to said support portion and being operative to selectively secure said support portion within said patient.    
   
   
       32 . The implant of  claim 31  wherein said support portion is securable to the periosteum of the descending rami bilaterally of said patient.  
   
   
       33 . The implant of  claim 31  wherein said support portion is securable to the pubis of said patient.  
   
   
       34 . The implant of  claim 33  wherein said pubis includes drilled holes and said securing elements are suture lines, said suture lines being selectively laced and tied through said drilled holes to secure said support portion.