Systems and methods for delivering a medical implant to an anatomical location in a patient

Abstract

A surgical device for use in a minimally invasive procedure to treat urinary incontinence can include a dilator coupled to a curved needle at one end and a sling at the opposite end. Urinary incontinence can be treated minimally invasively. One treatment includes positioning the sling on an anterior portion of the urethra to provide proper coaptation to the urethra.

1 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . A sling assembly for treating urinary incontinence comprising: 
 an implantable surgical sling covered at least partially by a protective pouch; and    a dilator located at an end of the pouch for enlarging an opening in the body of a patient.    
   
   
       20 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the dilator has a tapered leading edge.  
   
   
       21 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the dilator is substantially cylindrical and tapered at one end.  
   
   
       22 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein an outer circumference of the dilator increases from a first end of the dilator toward a second end of the dilator.  
   
   
       23 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein a width of the dilator increases from a first end of the dilator toward a second end of the dilator.  
   
   
       24 . The sling assembly of claim of  claim 23 , wherein the dilator is about 0.5 centimeters to about 4 centimeters in width at the second end of the dilator.  
   
   
       25 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein a width of the dilator is larger than a width of the sling.  
   
   
       26 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the sling comprises a material selected from a natural material, a synthetic material, and a combination of a natural material and a synthetic material.  
   
   
       27 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the sling is about 1 centimeter to about 3 centimeters in width.  
   
   
       28 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the dilator attaches to the pouch.  
   
   
       29 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the pouch releasably attaches to the sling.  
   
   
       30 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the pouch encapsulates the sling.  
   
   
       31 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the pouch is made of a low friction material.  
   
   
       32 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the pouch is substantially flat.  
   
   
       33 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the pouch is translucent.  
   
   
       34 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the pouch has one or more perforations.  
   
   
       35 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the pouch is made from a polyvinyl, a polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       36 . The sling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the pouch is porous.