Abstract: A method of placing an anchor into tissue includes providing an anchor assembly including an anchor and a suture, handling the anchor assembly by holding the insertion tab, and inserting the anchor into a bore of a cannula by holding the insertion tab outside of the bore of the cannula.

Abstract: An implant adapted to treat urinary incontinence includes a support material, a suture, and an anchor. The support material is provided to support the urethra when implanted in a patient. The suture is inserted through the support material and includes a first trailing end portion and a second trailing end portion. The anchor has a body, a fin extending from the body with an eyelet formed in the fin and the suture passed through the eyelet of the fin, and a gripping tab removably attached to the fin. The gripping tab is removable from the fin prior to insertion of the anchor into tissue.

Abstract: A method of treating urinary incontinence includes providing a support and a system of anchors connected to the support, securing some of anchors in the system of anchors into obturator foramen of a patient, securing other anchors of the system of anchors into periosteum tissue covering the pelvis bone, and implanting the support into the patent through an incision.

Abstract: A method of placing an anchor into tissue includes providing an anchor assembly including an anchor and a suture, handling the anchor assembly by holding the insertion tab, and inserting the anchor into a bore of a cannula by holding the insertion tab outside of the bore of the cannula.

Abstract: A tissue anchor has a body and an eyelet adapted to receive a length of suture, where the eyelet is formed through the tissue anchor off of a longitudinal axis and off of a vertical axis of the body.

Abstract: An implant adapted to treat urinary incontinence includes a support material, a suture, and an anchor. The support material is provided to support the urethra when implanted in a patient. The suture is inserted through the support material and includes a first trailing end portion and a second trailing end portion. The anchor has a body, a fin extending from the body with an eyelet formed in the fin and the suture passed through the eyelet of the fin, and a gripping tab removably attached to the fin. The gripping tab is removable from the fin prior to insertion of the anchor into tissue.

Abstract: A tissue anchor system includes a support, a suture inserted through the support, an anchor having a fin forming an eyelet, where the suture is engaged with the eyelet of the fin. An introducer is provided having a cannula defining a bore sized to receive the anchor and a slot formed in a wall of the cannula, with the slot sized to receive the fin of the anchor.

Abstract: A method of dissecting tissue from a vagina includes preparing a patient for surgery, and providing a vaginal manipulator having a head attached to a shaft and a door that is hinged to the head. The method includes inserting the head of the vaginal manipulator into a natural opening of a vagina of the patient, pivoting the door relative to the hinge, and displacing a posterior wall of the vagina for access by a surgeon. The method includes dissecting recto-vaginal tissue away from an exterior surface of the posterior wall of the vagina.

Abstract: A method of treating urinary incontinence in a patient includes forming one and only one incision in the patient and implanting a base of a support by placing an anchor into tissue of an obturator foramen. The anchor is attached to the base of the support by a continuous suture loop that is looped through an eyelet of the anchor and engaged through the base of the support. The method includes breaking the continuous suture loop, tying a knot in the suture, and fixating the base of the support in the patient. An arm of the support is implanted by placing a second anchor into periosteum tissue lateral to a pubic symphysis with a second continuous suture loop looped through an eyelet of the second anchor and engaged through the arm of the support.

Abstract: A method of fixating an implantable material in a patient includes forming an incision in the patient. The method includes inserting an anchor into a bore of a cannula, with the anchor attached to a support by a suture that is looped through an eyelet of the anchor and engaged through the support. The method includes inserting the cannula into the incision and along a cannula path into soft tissue, and ejecting the anchor out of the bore of the cannula and into the soft tissue. The suture is pulled in a direction away from the patient, moving the anchor to position a length of the anchor transverse to the cannula path. The method includes tying a knot in the suture, driving the knot against the support, and fixating the support in the patient.

Abstract: A vaginal manipulator includes a shaft, a head, and a door. The head has an anterior side opposite a posterior side and includes a core fixed to the shaft and a sleeve coupled in a sliding relationship to the core. The door has a distal end that is hinged to the sleeve and a proximal end that is movable away from the core of the head. A proximal end of the core defines a proximal end of the head and a distal end of the sleeve defines a distal end of the head, and the proximal end of the core is fixed to the shaft. The core includes a ramp and a recess that is sized to receive a portion of the door, and the door includes an inclined surface that is formed such that the distal end of the door is thinner than the proximal end of the door.

Abstract: A tissue anchor has a body and an eyelet adapted to receive a length of suture, where the eyelet is formed through the tissue anchor off of a longitudinal axis and off of a vertical axis of the body.

Abstract: A tissue anchor includes a body having a leading end portion extending from a trailing end portion, a protrusion formed on the leading end portion of the body extending outward in a radial direction, a fin integrated with the leading end portion of the body, a gripping tab removably attached to the fin, and a suture inserted through an eyelet of the fin.

Abstract: A method of treating urinary incontinence includes providing a support and a system of anchors connected to the support, securing some of anchors in the system of anchors into obturator foramen of a patient, securing other anchors of the system of anchors into periosteum tissue covering the pelvis bone, and implanting the support into the patent through an incision.

Abstract: A vaginal manipulator includes a head, a tissue index, a door, and a head extender. The head has a first end connected to a shaft and a distal end opposite of the first end. The tissue index is disposed laterally across the head and is adapted to slide in a longitudinal direction between the first end and the distal end of the head. The door has a pivot portion attached to a distal portion of the head and a free portion that is movable away from the head. The head extender includes a post that is insertable into an orifice formed in the distal end of the head.

Abstract: A method of placing a suture through tissue includes placing a band on a finger of a user, where the band is attached to a head of a suturing device, and employing the finger and the device in identifying an intracorporeal tissue landmark and placing the head of the suturing device at the intracorporeal tissue landmark. The method additionally includes engaging a throat of the head of the suturing device with the intracorporeal tissue landmark, and ejecting a needle out of a needle exit port and through the tissue. The needle exit port is located on a proximal portion of the head of the suturing device.

Abstract: A tissue anchor system includes a support, a suture inserted through the support, an anchor having a fin forming an eyelet, where the suture is engaged with the eyelet of the fin. An introducer is provided having a cannula defining a bore sized to receive the anchor and a slot formed in a wall of the cannula, with the slot sized to receive the fin of the anchor.

Abstract: An incontinence treatment device includes a support and a system of anchors connected to the support. The system of anchors includes a first anchor having a first strand that is captured between a collar and a body of the anchor and is secured to the support, and a second anchor having a second strand attached between the second anchor and the support. The second anchor has first and second protrusions extending outward in a radial direction perpendicular to a long axis of the second anchor, a tissue engaging fin integrated with a leading end portion and oriented in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction of the first and second protrusions, and a gripping tab removably attached to the tissue engaging fin.

Abstract: A tissue anchor system includes a support material, a suture engaged with the support material, an anchor, and an introducer. The anchor has a body, a fin extending from the body in a first direction with an eyelet formed in the fin, a pair of radial barrels extending from the body in a radial direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a gripping tab removably attached to the fin. The suture is engaged with the eyelet of the fin. The introducer has a cannula with a bore sized to receive the body of the anchor and a slot formed in a wall of the cannula. The slot is sized to receive the fin of the anchor, and an ejection mechanism provided to eject the anchor out of the cannula.

Abstract: A tissue anchor includes a body having a leading end portion extending from a trailing end portion, a protrusion formed on the leading end portion of the body extending outward in a radial direction, a fin integrated with the leading end portion of the body, a gripping tab removably attached to the fin, and a suture inserted through an eyelet of the fin.