Apparatus and method for lifting or restraining a body part

Abstract

The disclosure is generally directed to assemblies and methods that include (1) strips or cords of material configured to lift, restrain, or hold whole body organs (e.g., of a human patient) or parts of body organs in desired positions via tissue anchors (e.g., barbs, hooks, or cones), (2) an introducer device that facilitates the introduction of such strips or cords into a patient, and (3) the process of inserting such strips or cords of material into a patient (e.g., using an introducer device).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mesh strip for lifting or restraining a body part, the mesh strip comprising:
 a plurality of filaments knitted or woven together into a mesh that is configured to expand within a body in order to lift or restrain the body part, wherein each filament is from 0.05 millimeters to 1 millimeter thick; and   for each filament of the plurality, a plurality of barbs extending from the fiber along the length of the fiber, each barb of the plurality comprising a base that is from 0.001 millimeters to 2 centimeters wide, each barb of the plurality oriented at an angle that is no greater than 60 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the filament from which it extends,   wherein the plurality of barbs is configured to anchor onto tissue of the body part.   
     
     
         2 . An assembly comprising:
 an introducer; and   the mesh strip of  claim 1  held within the introducer,   wherein the introducer is configured to introduce the mesh strip into tissue near the body part.   
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the mesh strip is compressed within a center bore of the introducer. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the mesh strip is spring loaded within the introducer and is adapted to expand when removed from the introducer. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the introducer is a cannula or a trocar. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising an obturator configured to be pushed out through a distal end of the introducer ahead of the mesh strip. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a cannulated secondary introducer slideably disposed within a center bore of the introducer, wherein the mesh strip is disposed within a center bore of the secondary introducer. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly comprising:
 the mesh strip of  claim 1 ; and   a straight needle connected to a first end of the mesh strip.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a suture, wherein the straight needle is connected by the suture to the first end of the mesh strip. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly comprising:
 the mesh strip of  claim 1 ;   a suture comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to one end of the mesh strip; and   a curved needle connected to the second end of the suture, the curved needle and the suture configured to suture the one end of the mesh strip to surrounding body tissue.