Tools and methods for treatment of pelvic conditions

Abstract

Surgical procedures, systems, implants, devices, tools, and methods that are used 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, adjusting the length of implant components, and cutting the implant to a desired length.

1 . A surgical tool for adjusting and cutting a length of an elongate portion of a pelvic implant, the tool comprising:
 a cylindrical member engageable with the elongate portion of the implant to allow manipulation and cutting of the elongate portion, the cylindrical member comprising:
 an elongate body comprising a proximal end, a distal end comprising a distal tip, and an outer cylindrical surface; and 
 a channel extending transversely through the elongate body, wherein the channel comprises a first opening and a second opening, and wherein at least one of the first and second openings of the channel is positioned on the outer cylindrical surface proximal to the distal end; and 
   a moveable cutting mechanism at least partially surrounding the cylindrical member and comprising at least one cutting surface at a distal end, wherein the cutting mechanism is slideable toward the distal end of the elongate body to cut a portion of the elongate portion that extends beyond the outer cylindrical surface of the elongate body.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening of the channel is positioned at the outer cylindrical surface of the elongate body, and wherein the second opening of the channel is positioned at the distal tip of the elongate body. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical tool of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable cutting mechanism comprises a tube with the at least one cutting surface at its distal end. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical tool of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one cutting surface comprises a single continuous cutting surface around the distal end of the tube. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical tool of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one cutting surface comprises multiple cutting surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical tool of  claim 1 , in combination with a multi-piece pelvic implant. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical tool of  claim 6 , wherein the multi-piece implant comprises a first piece that is adjustably attached to a second piece at an adjustment area, wherein the first piece is sized for insertion into the channel of the cylindrical member. 
     
     
         8 . A surgical tool for adjusting and cutting a length of an elongate portion of a pelvic implant, the tool comprising:
 a proximal end;   a distal end;   a handle at the proximal end;   a shaft extending distally from the handle and comprising an inner channel extending from the handle to the distal end of the tool, wherein the shaft comprises an aperture adjacent to the distal end and extending transversely across a width of the shaft; and   a cutting mechanism comprising at least one cutting surface at a distal end of the cutting mechanism and an actuation lever at a proximal end of the cutting mechanism.   
     
     
         9 . The surgical tool of  claim 8 , wherein the shaft further comprises a slot proximal to the first aperture, and wherein the actuation lever is slideable within the slot to move the cutting surface relative to the inner channel of the shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical tool of  claim 8 , wherein the shaft comprises a cross-sectional shape that is one of oblong, square, rectangular, or circular. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical tool of  claim 8 , wherein the shaft is tapered from its proximal end to its distal end. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical tool of  claim 8 , wherein the actuation lever extends past an outer surface of the shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical tool of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one cutting surface comprises multiple cutting surfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical tool of  claim 8 , in combination with a multi-piece pelvic implant. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical tool of  claim 14 , wherein the multi-piece implant comprises a first piece that is adjustably attached to a second piece at an adjustment area, wherein the first piece is sized for insertion into the aperture of the shaft.