Abstract: Bone anchor implantation devices for use in the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence are disclosed. Methods for positioning a bone anchor implantation device over a bone and for installing a bone anchor in a bone are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a support structure for supporting and positioning medical equipment with respect to a patients. The support structure includes a support plate for positioning external to the patient. The support plate has a weight bearing area for positioning beneath the patient so that the patient's weight rests on the support plate to securely hold the support plate in place. The support structure also includes a mounting bracket which can be removably secured to a piece of medical equipment, such as a speculum, so that the proximal end of the speculum is generally positioned over a first end of the support plate and the distal end of the speculum extends over the support plate in the direction of a second end support plate. The present invention also relates to a method of accessing a medical treatment site using the support structure and speculum.

Abstract: The surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence is disclosed. The disclosed methods include: 1) a technique of probe passage to avoid injuring the bladder and to provide a more accurate and reproducible capture of the pubocervical fascia lateral to the bladder neck and urethra, 2) anchor fixation of the suspending sutures to the pubic bone to decrease the risk of suture pull through from above and to decrease post-operative pain and 3) a simple and reproducible technique to set a limited tension of the suspending sutures. A description of these methods and results of procedures with some of these methods are disclosed. Novel drill guides, suture passers, suture tensioners, and various related tools and devices for use in the surgical method are also disclosed.

Abstract: The surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence is disclosed. The disclosed methods include: 1) a technique of probe passage to avoid injuring the bladder and to provide a more accurate and reproducible capture of the pubocervical fascia lateral to the bladder neck and urethra, 2) anchor fixation of the suspending sutures to the pubic bone to decrease the risk of suture pull through from above and to decrease post-operative pain and 3) a simple and reproducible technique to set a limited tension of the suspending sutures. A description of these methods and results of procedures with some of these methods are disclosed. Novel drill guides, suture passers, suture tensioners, and various related tools and devices for use in the surgical method are also disclosed.

Abstract: The surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence is disclosed. The disclosed methods include: 1) a technique of probe passage to avoid injuring the bladder and to provide a more accurate and reproducible capture of the pubocervical fascia lateral to the bladder neck and urethra, 2) anchor fixation of the suspending sutures to the pubic bone to decrease the risk of suture pull through from above and to decrease post-operative pain and 3) a simple and reproducible technique to set a limited tension of the suspending sutures. A description of these methods and results of procedures with some of these methods are disclosed. Novel drill guides, suture passers, suture tensioners, and various related tools and devices for use in the surgical method are also disclosed.

Abstract: The surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence is disclosed. The disclosed methods include: 1) a technique of probe passage to avoid injuring the bladder and to provide a more accurate and reproducible capture of the pubocervical fascia lateral to the bladder neck and urethra, 2) anchor fixation of the suspending sutures to the pubic bone to decrease the risk of suture pull through from above and to decrease post-operative pain and 3) a simple and reproducible technique to set a limited tension of the suspending sutures. A description of these methods and results of procedures with some of these methods are disclosed. Novel drill guides, suture passers, suture tensioners, and various related tools and devices for use in the surgical method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A suture passer of the type adapted for releasably retaining a suture is disclosed. The suture passer has a handle and an elongate tubular probe guide extending in a distal direction from the handle. The tubular probe guide can be straight or curved. An elongate probe is axially movably disposed within the tubular probe guide, for motion between at least one retracted position and an extended position in which the sharpened distal tip of the probe is exposed. The probe has a recess, which cooperates with an opening on the tubular guide for receiving a suture.

Abstract: Several versions of instruments are disclosed which are useful for the containment of calculi to minimize injury to surrounding tissue during removal and/or destruction of such calculi. In each embodiment a suitable grasping device is utilized to locate and grasp a stone (calculus) in a body passage or organ, such grasping device being used in combination with a catheter having an expandable and contractable distal end portion capable of receiving and substantially enclosing the stone to protect the surrounding tissue from injury that might otherwise be produced by the rough edges of the stone as it is extracted, or to shield such tissue as the stone is fragmented in situ and then contain the fragments as they are removed.