Pelvic floor health articles and procedures

Abstract

Articles and procedures for preventing or treating vaginal prolapse, urinary incontinence, and other disorders of the pelvic floor.

1 . An implant for treating pelvic disorders in a patient, the implant comprising:
 a support portion comprising a knit mesh having a first mesh density;   an elongated portion spaced from the support portion along its length and comprising a knit mesh having a second mesh density that is greater than the first mesh density; and   first and second connector portions spaced from each other to define an open space that is sufficient to span a bladder neck of a patient, wherein the first and second connector portions are each attached at a first end to the support portion and attached at a second end to the elongated portion, wherein the second ends of the first and second connector portions are spaced from each other along a portion of the length of the elongated portion.   
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the support portion comprises at least one visual indicator. 
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment between each of the connector portions and the elongated portion is a permanent attachment. 
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment between each of the connector portions and the elongated portion is a bioresorpable attachment. 
     
     
         5 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment between each of the connector portions and the elongated portion is a knot suture attachment. 
     
     
         6 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the knit mesh of the support portion and the knit of the elongated portion comprises woven, knitted, or inter-linked polymeric filaments or fibers that form multiple fiber junctions. 
     
     
         7 . The implant of  claim 6 , wherein both of the knit mesh of the support portion and the knit of the elongated portion comprise woven, knitted, or inter-linked polymeric filaments or fibers that form multiple fiber junctions. 
     
     
         8 . An implant for treating pelvic disorders in a patient, the implant comprising:
 a support member comprising a knit mesh having a first mesh density;   an elongated member spaced from the support member, the elongated member comprising a knit mesh having a second mesh density that is greater than the first mesh density; and   two connector members spaced from each other to define an open space that is sufficient to span a bladder neck of a patient, wherein each connector member is attached at a first end to the support member and attached at a second end to the elongated member.   
     
     
         9 . The implant of  claim 8 , wherein the open space comprises a closed shape defined by an edge of each of the two connector members, an edge of the elongated member, and an edge of the support member. 
     
     
         10 . The implant of  claim 8 , wherein a first portion of the elongated member extends between the second ends of the two connector members. 
     
     
         11 . The implant of  claim 10 , wherein a second portion of the elongated member extends distally from an end of the first portion of the elongated member in an outward direction relative to the second end of one of the two connector members. 
     
     
         12 . The implant of  claim 8 , wherein each of the two connector members comprises a suture. 
     
     
         13 . The implant of  claim 12 , wherein the attachment between each of the connector members and the elongated member comprises a knotted suture attachment. 
     
     
         14 . The implant of  claim 12 , wherein each of the sutures comprises a bioresorpable material. 
     
     
         15 . The implant of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the knit mesh of the support portion and the knit mesh of the elongated portion comprises woven, knitted, or inter-linked polymeric filaments or fibers that form multiple fiber junctions. 
     
     
         16 . The implant of  claim 6 , wherein both of the knit mesh of the support portion and the knit mesh of the elongated portion comprise woven, knitted, or inter-linked polymeric filaments or fibers that form multiple fiber junctions.