Abstract: A system for providing support to an anatomical structure of the pelvis includes first and second soft tissue anchors, a suburethral support, an introducer, and a filament. The first soft tissue anchor has a proximal end and a distal end and includes a base having a hollow tubular structure, a plurality of barbs, and a tip. The sub-urethral support portion has first and second ends, the first and second soft tissue anchors extending from the first and second ends of the sub-urethral support portion. The introducer has an elongate shaft and a handle, the elongate shaft having a proximal end at the handle and a distal end with an aperture extending through the distal end. The filament extends through the hollow tubular section of the first soft tissue anchor and through the aperture in the distal end of introducer.

Abstract: A surgical implant adapted to treat a prolapse in a patient is provided. The implant comprises a knitted mesh having a mass density of less than 25 g/m2. The knitted mesh includes at least one biocompatible polypropylene filament and openings. The implant is configured to be implanted in a region of the prolapse, wherein the prolapse is selected from the group consisting of urethrocoele prolapse, cystocoele prolapse, vault prolapse, uterine prolapse, enterocoele prolapse, and rectocoele prolapse. Methods of using a surgical implant are also provided.

Abstract: A non-absorbable surgical implant for use in the treatment of a vaginal prolapse is provided. The implant includes a knitted mesh having a mass density of less than 25 g/m2. The knitted mesh includes a monofilament, strands formed of the monofilament, major spaces located between adjacent strands and pores located within the strands. A method of treating a vaginal prolapse with a surgical implant is also provided.

Abstract: A surgical implant adapted to treat a prolapse is provided. The implant includes a knitted mesh having at least one monofilament, strands formed of the at least one monofilament, major spaces located between the strands and pores located within the strands. Methods of treating a vaginal prolapse with a surgical implant are also provided.

Abstract: A surgical implant for supporting pelvic anatomy includes a first suspending member, a second suspending member, a first anchor, a second anchor, and a suburethral sling. The first and second suspending members have proximal and distal portions. The first anchor is connected to the distal portion of the first suspending member and the second anchor is connected to the distal portion of the second suspending member. The suburethral sling is configured to support a urethra of a patient and includes a first coupling mechanism configured to receive the proximal portion of the first suspending member and to releasably secure the proximal portion of the first suspending member to the suburethral sling.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium that facilitate key rotation without disrupting database access are provided. Generation identifiers that specify a particular encryption key are stored in association with cipher text of encrypted columns in database tables. When data is to be read from an encrypted column, the cipher text is read along with the associated generation identifier. An encryption key corresponding to the generation identifier is then read to decrypt the cipher text. When data is to be written to the encrypted column, a most recent encryption key is retrieved from the key repository to encrypt the data. The cipher text is then written to the encrypted column in association with the generation identifier of the key used to encrypt the data. Advantageously, the key rotation may be performed without requiring that the table or database to be taken offline or otherwise unavailable during key rotation.

Abstract: A system for supporting an anatomical structure of the pelvis includes a surgical implant for providing support to the anatomical structure of the pelvis. The surgical implant includes a first tissue anchor including a plurality of projections adapted for tissue fixation, a second tissue anchor including a plurality of projections adapted for tissue fixation, and a sub-urethral support having first and second ends, the first and second tissue anchors extending from the first and second ends of the sub-urethral support. The system also includes an introducer for delivering the first tissue anchor to a desired anchoring site of the pelvis.

Abstract: A torch introduces oxidizer into a passage so as to swirl the oxidizer about a central axis, while fuel is introduced at a location spaced apart from the central axis, where the swirling action of the oxidizer is strong, resulting in rapid mixing of the fuel and oxidizer. In practicing the method, the length of a bore through which the fuel and oxidizer pass is maintained short enough that a sheath of unmixed oxidizer surrounds the combusting mixed fuel and oxidizer, eliminating any need for water cooling. The lengths of torches of the present invention can be significantly shorter than those of the prior art, making the torches well suited for use in confined spaces, and the torches have been found to allow spraying materials at a greater rate than torches of the prior art. The reduced length also facilitates introducing into the passage material to be spray-coated.

Abstract: A method for attaching flexible material to soft tissue in a patient's body includes providing a soft tissue anchor formed from absorbable material. The anchor includes a central portion having proximal and distal ends, one or more tissue engaging members extending from the central portion, and a bore extending through the central portion between the proximal and distal ends. An introducer tool is provided and engaged with the soft tissue anchor, including inserting an elongated body of the introducer tool into the bore of the tissue anchor and positioning the tool with respect to the anchor with the point of the tool body extending beyond the distal end of the anchor central portion. After insertion, the soft tissue anchor is released from the introducer tool and the introducer tool is removed from the patient, including retracting the point of the tool body through the central portion of the anchor.

Abstract: A system for providing support to an anatomical structure of the pelvis includes a surgical implant and an introducer. The surgical implant includes first and second soft tissue anchors and a support. The first soft tissue anchor has a proximal end and a distal end and an introducer channel extending through the first soft tissue anchor from the proximal end to the distal end. The support has first and second ends, where the first soft tissue anchor is connected to the first end and the second soft tissue anchor to the second end. The introducer has a shaft and a handle, the shaft having a proximal end at the handle and a distal end, the distal end configured to be inserted through the introducer aperture of the first soft tissue anchor such that the distal end of the shaft protrudes from the distal end of the first soft tissue anchor.

Abstract: A method of treating urinary incontinence, the method including introducing a surgical implant through an incision made on an upper wall of a patient's vagina. The surgical implant includes a suburethral support, first and second suspending members, and first and second polymer tissue anchors. Each tissue anchor is coupled with a respective one of the first and second suspending members, wherein a distance between the suburethral support and the second anchor is adjustable. The first tissue anchor is inserted into tissue on a first side of a urethra of the patient without penetrating an abdominal wall. A position of the suburethral support is adjusted relative to the patient's urethra by pulling the second suspending member through the patient's vagina to adjust the distance between the suburethral support and the second anchor. And the distance between the suburethral support and the second anchor is fixed.

Abstract: An implant configured to treat prolapse of a pelvic organ includes a support member and an extension portion projecting from the support member. The extension portion has a barbed fixation means provided thereon for anchoring the extension portion into pelvic paravaginal tissue. The barbed fixation means allow bi-directional adjustment of the barbed fixation means relative to the tissue, and when suitably located, the barbed fixation means engage the tissue. The support member comprises a mesh material having a mass density of less than 50 g/m2.

Abstract: An implant suitable for treatment of treatment of vaginal and/or uterine prolapse and/or pelvic floor reconstruction. The implant comprises a vaginal support member substantially sized or shaped to the portion of the vaginal wall to be supported and at least two extension portions projecting from the support member, wherein at least one extension portion has fixation means for anchoring the extension portion into pelvic paravaginal fibro-fatty issue without being faxed into defined structural tissues. A method of treating treatment of vaginal and/or uterine prolapse and/or pelvic floor reconstruction using the implant is also provided.

Abstract: A urethral stabilization system includes a support member adapted to be implanted into a patient to support a urethra. The support member has a first end and a second end. A first suspending member is attached between the first end of the support member and a first stabilizer and a second suspending member attached between the second end of the support member and a second stabilizer. A first thread member continuously extends between a first end that is attached to the first stabilizer and a second end that is free. A second thread member continuously extends between a first end that is attached to the second stabilizer and a second end that is free. The first and second stabilizers are configured to be advanced into the tissue to increase tension applied to the support member and withdrawn through the tissue to decrease tension applied to the support member.

Abstract: A system for supporting an anatomical structure of the pelvis includes a surgical implant for providing support to the anatomical structure of the pelvis. The surgical implant includes a first tissue anchor including a plurality of projections adapted for tissue fixation, a second tissue anchor including a plurality of projections adapted for tissue fixation, and a sub-urethral support having first and second ends, the first and second tissue anchors extending from the first and second ends of the sub-urethral support. The system also includes an introducer for delivering the first tissue anchor to a desired anchoring site of the pelvis.

Abstract: A method for supporting a urethra of a patient includes making an incision on an upper wall of a vagina of the patient and inserting a first end of a surgical implant through the incision and on a first side of a urethra of the patient. The first end of the surgical implant has a first fixing zone with a retaining portion that is formed of a fiber entanglement and a mesh.

Abstract: A surgical implant for supporting pelvic anatomy includes a first fixing zone, a second fixing zone, and a supporting zone. The first fixing zone has a retaining portion that is absorbable and formed of a fiber entanglement and a mesh for anchoring the first fixing zone in soft tissues in a space defined by a pelvis. The second fixing zone has a retaining portion that is absorbable and formed of a fiber entanglement and a mesh for anchoring the second fixing zone in soft tissues in a space defined by a pelvis. The supporting zone is formed of a mesh and is interposed between the first and second fixing zones.

Abstract: A supplementary urethral support stabilization system and method for supporting the urethra is described.

Abstract: A surgical system includes an implant for supporting pelvic anatomy. The implant includes a first suspending member, a second suspending member, and a support portion. The first and second suspending members are formed as flexible strips that extend from proximal to distal ends, the distal ends including first and second anchor portions, respectively, for anchoring to soft tissue in a space defined by a pelvis. The support portion is formed as a flexible strip that extends from a first end to a second end, the support portion having a first opening toward the first end of the support portion, the first opening slidably receiving the proximal end of the first suspending member such that a length of the first suspending member between the first anchor portion and the first end of the support portion is adjustable.

Abstract: A surgical implant suitable for treatment of a prolapse is provided. The implant comprises a knitted mesh having a density of less than 20 g/m2. The implant is between about 1-10 cm wide and is configured to be implanted in a region of the prolapse. The prolapse can be an urethrocoele prolapse, cystocoele prolapse, vault prolapse, uterine prolapse, enterocoele prolapse, and rectocoele prolapse. The knitted mesh comprises biocompatible monofilaments formed from polypropylene and having a diameter of between about 0.02 mm to 0.15 mm. Openings are formed between the monofilaments. The knitted mesh is configured to be secured in place to treat the prolapse.