Surgical implant

Abstract

An implant is disclosed including a bio-compatible implant body that can be provided with a tip, or interconnected by one or more filaments. The implant body can be formed of a variety of biocompatible materials, including bio-remodelable materials such as small intestine submucosa. Methods are disclosed for assembly of the implant. Additionally, a method is disclosed for delivering the implant to a desired location in a patient.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 494,613, entitled “Tipped Implant,” filed on Aug. 11, 2003, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 558,163, entitled “Surgical Graft,” filed on Mar. 30, 2004.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates to medical devices, and more particularly, to surgical implants. BACKGROUND [0003] Many surgical or endoscopic applications require the insertion of an implant into an incision in a patient's soft tissue. For example, such implants can be used to add bulk to a target tissue, thereby reinforcing the target tissue area. These procedures are often referred to as “bulking” procedures, and are frequently used in treating urological diseases, including urinary incontinence and vesicourethral reflux disease. “Bulking” procedures are also often used to treat Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (hereinafter “GERD”). GERD is a form of dyspepsia that afflicts approximately 40% of adults in the Uni...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a medical device having features that resolve or improve upon one or more of the above-described drawbacks.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object of the present invention is obtained by providing a linked implant having two or more bio-remodelable implant bodies disposed along a length of string. The implant bodies can be formed of an extra-cellular matrix material, such as small intestine submucosa, and can be shaped as desired for a given application. For example, the implant bodies can be spherical, ellipsoid, cuboid, or cylindrical in shape. Additionally, radiopaque markers can be provided to assist in visualization of the device during delivery within a patient. According to another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is obtained by providing a linked implant that forms a net or matrix. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, methods are provided for assembling a linked implant.

Problems solved by technology

However, presently available procedures for inserting an implant have several significant drawbacks, including implant migration.

In more serious cases, implant migration renders the implant entirely ineffective, thus requiring follow-up or additional medical procedures.

Another drawback is the size of presently available implants.

Often times a single implant is simply too small to achieve the desired bulk in the target area.

Delivering multiple implants, however, can require that a physician reinsert the delivery tool into a target tissue for each implant, thus increasing the time required for the procedure and causing unnecessary trauma.

First, creating a pouch for the implant typically causes excessive trauma to the surrounding tissues, especially if a blunt tool is used to create the pouch.

Another drawback is that insertion of an implant into the target tissue can be difficult because the implant can catch or snag on the edges of the mucosal incision.

Moreover, implants can be difficult to deliver into a target tissue along a desired trajectory and in a desired spatial orientation.

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