Ams Research Corporation

American Medical Systems, Inc.

Astora Women's Health, LLC

S Robert Kovac

Robert E Lund

James Edgar Cox

Johann J Neisz

Brian P Watschke

Timothy A Bachman

John W Westrum, Jr

Gary A Rocheleau

Robert S Runman

Described are methods and devices useful for supporting posterior vaginal tissue for various purposes such as treating or preventing vaginal prolapse or enterocele, especially in a patient not having a uterus, the devices including implants designed to contact the vaginal cuff and connect to sacral anatomy such as the sacrum or the uterosacral ligaments.

Method for supporting vaginal cuff

A urological drape is provided defining a vaginal aperture and a finger cot for accessing the rectum of a patient without making contact therewith. The drape includes an adhesive backing for fixing the drape relative to the patient. Preferably, a pouch is provided which is constructed and arranged to catch any fluids which might be discharged from the vagina during an examination or surgical procedure.

Pelvic surgery drape

A surgical instrument for suturing soft tissue is disclosed. The surgical instrument is capable of probing tissue, and preferably provides tactile feedback concerning the condition of the tissue. The instrument can then be used to pass and retrieve a suture without the need for an additional suture retrieval tool.

Surgical suture passers and methods

A pubic bone-mounted urethra stabilization and support system and method therefor for the long term cure of recurrent female urinary incontinence. The system comprises, a pair of anchors affixed to the posterior/inferior pubic bone, sutures attach to the anchors and a mesh sling passing behind and about the urethra and the adjacent endopelvic fascia and having ends attached to the anchors by the anchor-mounted sutures. The method includes the steps of accessing said urethra with the endopelvic fascia therebehind and the pubic bone, properly locating and attaching the anchors to the pubic bone, properly locating the sling about the urethra and adjacent endopubic fascia and suturing and tensioning the ends of the sling to the anchors, causing said sling to restore, support and stabilize functional urethral continence anatomy and prevent urethral descent under intraabdominal pressure.

Sling system for treating incontinence

The bone anchor implantation device of the present invention comprises a shaft or body having a grip at a first end of the shaft, an anchor mount at a distal end of the shaft, and a bone anchor removably mounted in the anchor mount. The shaft is preferably bent so that the anchor mount generally faces the grip such that the bone anchor can be implanted at an anchoring site in a bone by pulling rearwardly on the device. The body is adapted to be separable from the anchor after the anchor has been implanted in bone. A suture thread is attached to the bone anchor such that the suture thread is accessible to a surgeon using the device after the bone anchor has been implanted in bone and after the body has been separated from the bone anchor. The shaft is at least partially hollow, and the suture thread is housed in the shaft. The anchor mount comprises a cannula at the distal end of the shaft. The cannula is sized to removably receive an end of the anchor.

Transvaginal bone anchor implantation device

A pubic bone-mounted urethra stabilization and support system includes a pair of anchors which are affixed to the posterior/inferior pubic bone, sutures attached to the anchors, and a mesh sling which is passed behind and about the urethra and the adjacent endopelvic fascia. The ends of the sling are attached to the anchors by the anchor-mounted sutures. The method includes the steps of accessing the urethra and the pubic bone through a vaginal incision, properly locating and attaching the anchors to the pubic bone, properly locating the sling about the urethra and adjacent endopubic fascia and suturing and tensioning the ends of the sling to the anchors, causing said sling to restore, support and stabilize functional urethral continence anatomy and prevent urethral descent under intraabdominal pressure.

Growing community of inventors

Atlanta, GA, United States of America

S Robert Kovac