Sling Anchor System

Abstract

The present disclosure is generally directed to surgical articles useful for implanting support members in patients. The articles disclosed herein include a support member, such as a sling for urinary incontinence, tissue anchors, filamentary elements for associating the support member with the anchors, and introducer needles for placing the anchors in a patient. The support members can also be configured for use in pelvic floor repair, such as for treating cystoceles, rectoceles, and enteroceles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implantable system, comprising:
 a support member comprising a first connector disposed on a first end and a second connector disposed on a second end opposite the first end;   a first tissue anchor coupled to the first connector via a first filamentary element that has a first end permanently attached to the first connector;   a second tissue anchor coupled to the second connector via a second filamentary element that has a first end permanently attached to the second connector;   wherein at least one of the first connector and the second connector comprises a locking housing including an internal lumen through which the respective first or second filamentary element is threaded.   
     
     
         2 . The implantable system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first filamentary element is slidingly received through an aperture in the first tissue anchor. 
     
     
         3 . The implantable system according to  claim 2 , wherein the second filamentary element is slidingly received through an aperture in the second tissue anchor. 
     
     
         4 . The implantable system according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking housing includes a locking member that is depressed into engagement to secure the respective first or second filamentary element. 
     
     
         5 . The implantable system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first connector comprises a first locking housing including an internal lumen through which the first filamentary element is threaded, and the second connector comprises a second locking housing including an internal lumen through which the second filamentary element is threaded. 
     
     
         6 . The implantable system according to  claim 5 , wherein the first locking housing includes a first locking member that is depressed into engagement to secure the first filamentary element, and the second locking housing includes a second locking member that is depressed into engagement to secure the second filamentary element. 
     
     
         7 . The implantable system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor comprises two or more flexible barbs that can transition from a collapsed position to an expanded position with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tissue anchor. 
     
     
         8 . The implantable system according to  claim 7 , wherein the flexible barbs are parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tissue anchor in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         9 . implantable system according to  claim 7 , wherein the flexible barbs number four. 
     
     
         10 . The implantable system according to  claim 1 , wherein said system is configured to treat at least one of a cystocele and a rectocele. 
     
     
         11 . The implantable system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second filamentary elements are chosen from mesh, biological material, and suture. 
     
     
         12 . The implantable system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second filamentary elements are single-strand or multi-stranded polypropylene. 
     
     
         13 . The implantable system according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member further comprises a third connector and a fourth connector, the third connector coupled to a tissue anchor and the fourth connector coupled to a fourth tissue anchor. 
     
     
         14 . The implantable system according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one introducer needle. 
     
     
         15 . The implantable system according to  claim 1 , further comprising two introducer needles. 
     
     
         16 . The implantable system according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a biological material of acellular porcine dermal collagen.