Methods and devices for the treatment of urinary incontinence

Abstract

Methods and devices for treating female stress urinary incontinence are disclosed. The methods include transvaginally accessing the pelvic cavity and introducing a suburethral sling into the retropubic space. In some embodiments the ends of the sling are attached to an anatomical support structure. In other embodiments, the ends of the suburethral sling are not attached to an anatomical support structure. The devices include a surgical instrument for blunt dissection of the pelvic cavity which includes a curved shaft and a blunt distal end. A hook deployment device may optionally be attached to the surgical instrument.

1 . A surgical instrument for treating female urinary incontinence, the instrument comprising: 
 a) a handle;    b) a shaft extending in a distal direction from the handle and comprising a curved portion, the shaft being adapted to access interior tissue within a human body;    c) a blunt tip disposed at a distal end of the shaft for blunt dissection of tissue; and    d) a grasping mechanism located within a distal end portion of the shaft.    
     
     
         2 - 9 . (canceled)