Sling adjustment and tensioning accessory

Abstract

An anatomical support adjustment and tension control article for use in applying a tensioning force to anatomical support material disposed therein. The tension control article preferably comprises a base member disposing a plurality of tensioning members extending therefrom. The tensioning members create a tortuous pathway thereby providing a tensioning force to anatomical support material positioned therebetween. Additionally, at least one of the plurality of tensioning members may be removed from the device to alter the supportive tension applied by the device. The anatomical support material may be disposed between the plurality of tensioning members in a number of ways, thereby resulting in varying amounts of supportive tension being applied by the device.

1 . An article for consistently controlling the relationship between an anatomical support material and an anatomical tissue, comprising: 
 a portion adapted to be grasped, and    at least one tensioning member that is sized and shaped to afford predetermined looseness of an anatomical support material, such as a sling, relative to anatomical tissue, such as a urethra.    
     
     
         2 . An article according to  claim 1  comprising a plurality of tensioning members.  
     
     
         3 . An article according to  claim 2  including movement means for moving at least one tensioning member between an open position for receiving the anatomical support material and a closed position that associates the article with the anatomical support material.  
     
     
         4 . An article according to  claim 3  wherein the movement means comprises means for affording substantial parallel movement between tensioning members during movement from said open to said closed position to resist extrusion of the anatomical support material out of a position between the tensioning member.  
     
     
         5 . An article according to  claim 2  wherein the plurality of tensioning members are arranged to afford a plurality of tortuous paths of different lengths, and the anatomical support material may be associated with the article along on of the tortuous paths.  
     
     
         6 . An article according to  claim 5  further including means for moving at least one of the tensioning members relative to another tensioning member to change the length of a tortuous path.  
     
     
         7 . An article according to  claim 6  further comprising means for indexing one of the tensioning members between a plurality of predetermined positions relative to another tensioning member to select the length of the tortuous path.  
     
     
         8 . An article according to  claim 6  further comprising means for indexing one of the tensioning members between a plurality of predetermined positions relative to another tensioning member to select the distance between the sling and the urethra.  
     
     
         9 . An article according to  claim 3  further including biasing means for biasing the tensioning member toward a closed position.  
     
     
         10 . An article according to  claim 9  wherein, in the closed position, the article may retain at least a portion of the support material in an elastically deformed lengthened condition such that, upon implantation of the elastically lengthened support material within tissues of a patient and subsequent removal of the article from the support material, the support material may shorten to increase the tension provided by the support material.  
     
     
         11 . A surgical article for adjusting an anatomical support material comprising: 
 A base member; and,    A plurality of tensioning members extending outwardly from said base member, wherein said plurality of tensioning members form a tortuous pathway for said anatomical support material.    
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said base member is arcuate.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said base member further comprises an orientation indicator.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said base member further comprises a grasping member.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein said grasping member is integral to said base member.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14  wherein said grasping member is detachable from said base member.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said base member further comprises at least one material locking member.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein said at least one material locking member comprises a movable arm, said arm having an open position, and a closed position.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said plurality of tensioning members are laterally co-aligned.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said plurality of tensioning members are co-aligned along an arc.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said plurality of tensioning members are rigid.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said plurality of tensioning member are pliable.  
     
     
         23 . An tensioning device for an anatomical support comprising: 
 an arcuate base member having a first surface and a second surface;    a plurality of tensioning members in communication with and extending outwardly from said first surface; and,    a direction indicator disposed on said base member.    
     
     
         24 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         25 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         26 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         27 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         28 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         29 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         30 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         31 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         32 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         33 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         34 . (Cancelled).