Implants, tools, and methods for treatments of pelvic conditions

Abstract

Described are various embodiments of surgical procedures, systems, implants, devices, tools, and methods, useful for treating pelvic conditions in a male or female, the pelvic conditions including incontinence (various forms such as fecal incontinence, stress urinary incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed incontinence, etc.), vaginal prolapse (including various forms such as enterocele, cystocele, rectocele, apical or vault prolapse, uterine descent, etc.), and other conditions caused by muscle and ligament weakness, the devices and tools including devices and tools for anchoring an implant to tissue.

1 . A surgical knot pushing device comprising an elongated member and a suture engagement element extending from a distal end of the elongated member, wherein the suture engagement element comprises a saddle-shaped portion with an embedded grove at its distal end. 
     
     
         2 . The knot pushing device of  claim 1 , wherein the suture engagement element comprises a shape that tapers from its distal end toward the elongated member. 
     
     
         3 . The knot pushing device of  claim 1 , wherein the suture engagement element comprises a width that is greater than a width of the distal end of the elongated member. 
     
     
         4 . The knot pushing device of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the suture engagement element comprises a convex shape. 
     
     
         5 . The knot pushing device of  claim 1  in combination with a surgical knot that comprises at least a first suture line and a second suture line extending from a common knot. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second suture lines are configured for pulling in a direction that is at an angle relative to a direction in which the elongated member is pushed. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein the suture lines are configured for pulling at a right angle to the direction in which the elongated member is pushed. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical knot pushing device of  claim 1 , wherein the groove is configured to hold at least one suture segment. 
     
     
         9 . A retractor system comprising:
 a retractor with a component-engaging member extending from its inner surface; and   a light pipe connected to the component-engaging member, wherein a portion of the light pipe is positioned within the retractor and another portion of the light pipe extends from an end of the retractor.   
     
     
         10 . The retractor system of  claim 9 , wherein the light pipe comprises a frame that supports an optical fiber. 
     
     
         11 . The retractor system of  claim 10  wherein the frame comprises a tapered dovetail insert at one end. 
     
     
         12 . The retractor system of  claim 11 , wherein the component-engaging member comprises a dovetail slot.