Implantable Sling Having Bladder Support

Abstract

Surgical implants operative to simultaneously function as a pubovaginal sling for the treatment of incontinence and as a support member to effectuate cystocele repair. The implant comprises a first sling portion operative to be positioned beneath the urethra, per conventional pubovaginal sling surgery. The implant further includes a second bladder support portion extending from the sling support portion that is oriented to extend beneath and be surgically attached to a portion of the bladder to thus enable the same to be supported to a degree necessary to effectuate cystocele repair. The implant may be fabricated from a unitary piece of harvested tissue, synthetic material or combinations thereof. Preferably, the sling portion of the implant is fabricated from a synthetic material whereas the bladder support portion of the implant comprises a segment of harvested tissue sewn to the sling portion.

1 . An implant for concomitantly treating incontinence and effectuating cystocele repair in a female patient in need thereof comprising:
 a. a sling portion operatively positionable beneath the urethra of said patient; and   b. a bladder support portion connected to and extending from said sling portion, said bladder support portion being operatively positionable against the bladder of said patient to substantially prevent said bladder from pushing against the vagina of said patient.   
   
   
       2 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein said sling portion comprises an elongate segment defining opposed ends. 
   
   
       3 . The implant of  claim 2  wherein said sling portion has a generally rectangular shape. 
   
   
       4 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein said sling portion is fabricated from a substance selected from the group consisting of harvested tissue and synthetic material. 
   
   
       5 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein said sling portion and said bladder support portion are integrally formed with one another. 
   
   
       6 . The implant of  claim 5  wherein said implant is fabricated from a substance selected from the group of harvested segment of tissue and a synthetic material. 
   
   
       7 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein said sling portion and said bladder support portion are fastened to one another. 
   
   
       8 . The implant of  claim 7  wherein said sling portion defines a continuous peripheral edge and said bladder support portion defines a continuous peripheral edge, said sling portion and said bladder support portion being interconnected to one another by a segment of stitching whereby a portion of said peripheral edge of said sling portion stitched to a portion of said peripheral edge of said bladder support portion. 
   
   
       9 . The implant of  claim 7  wherein said sling material is fabricated from a synthetic material and said bladder support portion is fabricated from harvested tissue. 
   
   
       10 . The implant of  claim 7  wherein said sling material is fabricated from a harvested tissue and said bladder support portion is fabricated from a synthetic material. 
   
   
       11 . The implant of  claim 1  wherein said sling portion and said bladder support portion cooperates to define a generally T-shape. 
   
   
       12 . A method for concomitantly treating a female patient afflicted with urinary incontinence and effectuating cystocele repair via a single surgical procedure comprising the steps:
 a. providing an implant comprising:
 i. a sling portion operatively positionable beneath the urethra of said patient; and 
 ii. a bladder support portion connected to and extending from said sling portion, said bladder support portion being operatively positionable against said bladder of said patient to substantially prevent said bladder from pushing against the vagina of said patient; 
   b. forming an incision within the vagina of said patient;   c. transvaginally implanting said implant provided in step (a) through incision made in step (b) such that said sling portion of said implant is operatively positioned beneath the urethra of said patient and said bladder support portion of said implant is operatively positioned against the bladder of said patient.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein in step (a) said sling portion of said implant is fabricated from a synthetic material and said bladder support portion of said implant is fabricated from a segment of harvested tissue. 
   
   
       14 . A method for concomitantly treating a female patient afflicted with urinary incontinence and effectuating cystocele repair via a single surgical procedure comprising the steps:
 a. providing an implant comprising:
 i. a sling portion operatively positionable beneath the urethra of said patient; and 
 ii. a bladder support portion connected to and extending from said sling portion, said bladder support portion being operatively positionable against said bladder of said patient to substantially prevent said bladder from pushing against the vagina of said patient; 
   b. forming an incision within the abdomen of said patient;   c. implanting said implant provided in step (a) through incision made in step (b) such that said sling portion of said implant is operatively positioned beneath the urethra of said patient and said bladder support portion of said implant is operatively positioned against the bladder of said patient.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein in step (a) said sling portion of said implant is fabricated from a synthetic material and said bladder support portion of said implant is fabricated from a segment of harvested tissue.