Surgical suture carrier and method for urinary bladder neck suspension
US5149329A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 1990 |
| Grant date | Sep 22, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2090/038
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A suturing needle assembly used in a surgical operation to correct anatomical stress urinary incontinence, the suturing needle assembly having a needle and a sheath. The needle has an elongated flexible portion and a rigid portion which defines a tip for piercing tissue and an eyelet for removably attaching surgical thread. The sheath may selectively envelop the needle when it is beneficial to protect the patient and surgeon from the sharp tip. The flexibility and length of the needle and the sheath allow the suturing needle assembly to navigate a contoured internal passageway such as a female reproductive tract. According to a method of the present invention, the suturing needle assembly, laden with surgical thread, is inserted into a patient's vagina and guided to an operating site at the superior wall of the vagina below the urinary bladder neck. At the operating site, the needle tip is thrust through the superior wall of the vagina and into the retropubic space a sufficient number of times so that the superior wall of the vagina may be elevated and bound to structures in the retropubic space. As a result, problems of stress urinary incontinence are alleviated using the suturing…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.