Incontinence treatment device with pubic arm attachment mechanism

Abstract

An implant includes a support body defining a longitudinal axis, two transverse arms, two pubic arms, and a pubic arm attachment mechanism. The two transverse arms are aligned on a common transverse axis of the implant. The two pubic arms include a first pubic arm spaced a distance apart from a second pubic arm and both the first and second pubic arms are parallel to the longitudinal axis. The pubic arm attachment mechanism is attached to an end of each of the first and second pubic arms. Each of the first and second pubic arms has an arm length that is less than a body length of the support body.

1 . An implant adapted to treat urinary incontinence, the implant comprising:
 a support body defining a longitudinal axis;   a first arm extending from the support body transverse to the longitudinal axis and a second arm extending from the support body in a direction opposite the first arm and transverse to the longitudinal axis such that the first and second arms comprise transverse arms that are aligned on a common transverse axis of the implant; and   a first pubic arm extending from the support body and a second pubic arm extending from the support body, the first pubic arm spaced a distance apart from the second pubic arm and both the first and second pubic arms parallel to the longitudinal axis; and   a pubic arm attachment mechanism attached to an end of each of the first and second pubic arms;   wherein the support body has a body length extending between a first edge of the implant that is coincident with the transverse arms to a second edge of the implant located between the first and second pubic arms; and   wherein each of the first and second pubic arms has an arm length extending from the second edge of the implant to the end of the pubic arm and the arm length is less than the body length of the support body.   
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the pubic arm and a length of the pubic arm attachment mechanism combine to form a length that is less than the length of the support body. 
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the support body and the pubic arms are fabricated of a flexible knit mesh and the pubic arm attachment mechanism is a clip formed to include at least one through-hole extending through the clip. 
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the pubic arm attachment mechanism is a plurality of pre-attached sutures stitched into the end of each of the pubic arms. 
     
     
         5 . An implant adapted to treat urinary incontinence, the implant comprising:
 a support having a longitudinal axis;   transverse arms that are aligned on a transverse axis of the implant transverse to the longitudinal axis;   a first pubic arm spaced a distance apart from a second pubic arm and both the first and second pubic arms parallel to the longitudinal axis; and   an attachment mechanism attached to an end of each of the first and second pubic arms;   wherein the support has a body length extending between a first edge of the implant that is coincident with the transverse arms to a second edge of the implant located between the first and second pubic arms, and each of the first and second pubic arms has an arm length extending from the second edge of the implant to the end of the pubic arm that is less than the body length of the support;   wherein the transverse arms are each insertable through a single incision into an obturator foramen of a pelvis and each attachment mechanism is attachable to periosteum tissue through the same single incision to allow the implant to support tissue of the bulbar urethra.