The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for treatment of male incontinence and a method for female cystocele repair in which a sling material is positioned between the descending rami of the pubic bone. In such an operation a "hammock-like" sling material is positioned below the urethra in males, or below the posterior bladder wall in the case of cystocele in females.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/296,735, filed Apr. 22, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,214, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional application Serial No. 60/082,905, filed Apr. 24, 1998, both of which are herein incorporated by reference.
The present invention provides a urethral prosthesis including a substrate, an inflatable pillow attached to the substrate, a pressurized reservoir in fluid communication with the pillow and a restrictor. Upon compression of the inflatable pillow, inflating agent is transferred from the inflatable pillow to the pressurized reservoir. Upon terminating compression, inflating agent returns to the inflatable pillow. The urethral prosthesis may be implanted such that the inflatable pillow prevents unintentional voiding of a patient's bladder.
A bone boring device and method, the device comprising a hinge, a handle coupled to the hinge, and at least one curved needle with a tip. The needle is rotatably mounted on the hinge such that when the tip is placed against bone and the needle is rotated on the hinge, the needle is urged and advanced into the bone. Preferably, the at least one needle is a first and a second needle. Alternatively, the needles may rotate about the same hinge or different hinges.
The present invention provides a urethral prosthesis including a first and a second arm that join to form a junction, and a stem that is also joined to the junction. The junction is adapted to exert sufficient pressure on a portion of a patient's urethra to prevent unintentional voiding of the patient's bladder. However, upon exerting a tension force on the stem, the pressure exerted by the junction is reduced such that the patient's bladder may be intentionally voided.
A method of preparing a sling combination is described. The method comprises the steps of providing a sling formed of a biocompatible material and having a body comprising two ends; mounting the sling on a first tack at a first end of the body of the sling; and mounting the first stack on a tacking device.
