Implantable support attachment system and assembly

Abstract

A method of intracorporeally suturing a patient includes engaging tissue with a suturing head retaining a needle, forming an opening in the tissue with the needle, and pushing the needle into a through-bore formed in a capsule that is attached to a leading end of a suture and pulling the capsule and the leading end of a suture through the opening. The method additionally includes securing a clasp attached to a trailing end of the suture to an implantable support, and pulling on the suture and implanting the support inside the patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An attachment assembly configured to secure an implantable support within a patient, the attachment assembly comprising:
 a length of suture having a leading end and a trailing end;   a capsule attached to the leading end of the suture; and   an anchor coupled to the trailing end of the suture, the anchor including an anchor portion and a clasp portion that is formed as a single monolithic unit with the anchor portion, with the clasp portion configured to be attachable to the implantable support.   
     
     
         2 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule has an open through-bore extending longitudinally through the capsule. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the open through-bore extends from a leading end of the capsule to a trailing end of the capsule and an inside diameter of the through-bore adjacent to the leading end of the capsule is smaller than an inside diameter of the through-bore adjacent to the trailing end of the capsule. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the implantable support comprises a porous mesh and the anchor comprises at least one projection that is configured to engage with a filament of the porous mesh. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor portion is located between the capsule and the clasp portion. 
     
     
         6 . An attachment system configured to secure an implantable support within a patient, the attachment system comprising:
 a suture thrower comprising a suturing head housing a movable needle; and   a suture assembly comprising a length of suture, a capsule attached to a leading end of the suture, and an anchor coupled to the suture, where the anchor includes an anchor portion and a clasp portion that is formed as a single monolithic unit with the anchor portion, with the clasp portion is attachable to the implantable support;   wherein the needle is configured to form an opening in tissue prior to engaging with an open through-bore formed longitudinally through the capsule and pull the capsule through the opening to deliver the leading end of the suture outside of the patient.   
     
     
         7 . The attachment system of  claim 6 , wherein the capsule is sized for retention within the suturing head. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment system of  claim 6 , wherein the capsule is an annular tube and the through-bore is an axial bore formed through the capsule. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment system of  claim 6 , wherein the needle comprises one of a substantially straight needle and a curved needle. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment system of  claim 6 , wherein the anchor portion is located between the capsule and the clasp portion.