Tension-adjustable surgical sling assembly

Abstract

The invention provides, in one embodiment, a sling assembly including two separate slings or sling sections connected via a removable or biodegradable connection mechanism such that the tension in the sling assembly can be readily adjusted after the sling assembly is surgically implanted.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sling assembly for treating urinary incontinence comprising,
 first and second separate and distinct sling sections, each sling section having first and second terminal ends; and   a clip holding together the second terminal end of the second sling section and the first terminal end of the first sling section to connect the first and the second sling sections in series, with the second sling end of the first sling section overlapping and in contact with the first terminal end of the second sling section.   
     
     
         2 . The sling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the clip is biodegradable. 
     
     
         3 . The sling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the clip is non-biodegradable and is labeled with a marker. 
     
     
         4 . A sling assembly for treating urinary incontinence comprising,
 first and second separate and distinct sling sections, each sling section having first and second terminal ends; and   a middle portion of the sling assembly sandwiched between two biodegradable layers, wherein the middle portion including the second end of the first sling section and the first end of the second sling section.   
     
     
         5 . The sling assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first and the second sling sections are non-biodegradable. 
     
     
         6 . The sling assembly of  claim 4 , wherein there is a gap between the first terminal end of the first sling section and the second terminal end of the second sling section. 
     
     
         7 . A sling assembly for treating urinary incontinence comprising,
 first and second separate and distinct sling sections, each sling section having first and second terminal ends; and   the first and the second sling sections sandwiched between two biodegradable layers.   
     
     
         8 . The sling assembly of  claim 7 , wherein there is a gap between the first terminal end of the first sling section and the second terminal end of the second sling section. 
     
     
         9 . The sling assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second terminal end of the first sling section is abutting and in contact with the first terminal end of the second sling section.