SURGICAL APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERY OF A SLING IN THE TREATMENT OF FEMALE URINARY INCONTINENCE

摘要

Surgical apparatus (10) for treating female stress urinary incontinenceinclude a pair of curved delivery needles (12a,12b), each defining a distal end and a proximal end and adapted to be insertedinto the abdomen of a female and to be positioned oneither side of the bladder neck so as to define a delivery path for a tape(64) which may be removably attached to the proximal endsof the delivery needles (12a, 12b) through the vagina for implantation intothe abdomen to provide support for the urethra. A pairof curved delivery sheaths (46), each adapted to be inserted into the abdomenaround one of the delivery needles (12a, 12b), allowwithdrawal of the delivery needles (12a, 12b) from the abdomen such that thetape (64) is conducted along the delivery path. In thepreferred embodiment, the delivery needles (12a, 12b) also allows simultaneousintroduction of a local anesthetic into the abdomenaltissues. Methods for treatment of stress urinary incontinence utilizing thesurgical apparatus (10) are also disclosed.