US 12,109,099 B1
Surgical implant delivery system and related methods
Greg Slusser, Excelsior, MN (US); Brian P. Beaubien, Saint Paul, MN (US); and Vincent R. Lucente, Macungie, PA (US)
Assigned to Athena Surgical, LLC, Minnetonka, MN (US)
Filed by Athena Surgical, LLC, Minnetonka, MN (US)
Filed on Sep. 4, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/013,355.
Int. Cl. A61F 2/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/06 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/0045 (2013.01) [A61B 17/06109 (2013.01); A61B 90/06 (2016.02); A61B 2017/00455 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00805 (2013.01); A61B 2090/062 (2016.02)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An implant delivery system for delivering a urethral sling implant to a surgical target site within a patient's pelvis during a retropubic midurethral sling procedure, comprising:
a handle body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a bulbous proximal portion including a proximal recess formed at the proximal end, an elongated distal portion extending distally from the bulbous proximal portion along a longitudinal axis and having a distal aperture at the distal end, and an axial lumen extending through the handle body along the longitudinal axis between the proximal recess and the distal aperture, the longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction;
a handle insert having a proximal knob portion and an elongated extension extending distally from the proximal knob portion, the elongated extension having a distal end including a needle coupling element, the handle insert configured to reversibly couple with the handle body such that the elongated extension is received within the axial lumen and the proximal knob portion is received within the proximal recess; and
a surgical needle having a proximal coupling element configured to removably couple with the handle insert, an implant coupling element configured to engage a surgical implant for delivery to a surgical target site, an elongated curvilinear shaft extending distally from the proximal coupling element, and a shaped distal tip configured to penetrate patient anatomy;
wherein the elongated curvilinear shaft is curved in the longitudinal direction, and the elongated curvilinear shaft includes an arcuate surface extending along at least a portion of the curvilinear shaft, the arcuate surface having an arc component oriented in the longitudinal direction and a flat component oriented in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, and
wherein the arcuate surface is dimensioned to contact a pubic symphysis during the retropubic midurethral sling procedure to provide at least one of tactile confirmation of needle orientation, visual confirmation of needle orientation, and improved needle tracking during an advancement of the needle into the patient along the pubic symphysis.