AU769283B2 - Surgical instrument - Google Patents

Description

004371100 1 Surgical Instrument Field of the invention The present invention relates to a surgical instrument for and a method of placing elongate elements in a patient, more particularly, but not exclusively in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology and more particularly the invention relates to an apparatus and method for the treatment of female urinary incontinence.

Background of the invention Female incontinence generally occurs due to deterioration of or damage to muscle tissue and ligaments in the pelvic region. This results in involuntary leakage of urine from the urethra due to lack of control of the patient's pelvic muscles, particularly the urogenital diaphragm and pubo urethral ligaments. It has been found that the condition can be treated by creating some form of artificial ligament between the abdominal muscles and the urethra, the ligament passing behind the pubis.

The applicant is aware of two prior art patents which deal similar subject matter to that of this invention, namely US Patent, 5,112,344 (Petros) and US Patent 5,899,909 (Claren). United States Patent 5,112,344 describes a method and apparatus for treating female incontinence. The surgical instrument for the application of a filamentary element into the body comprises a tubular shaft having a handle at one end and a flexible needle slidably receivable in the shaft and adapted at one end to receive a filamentary element.

The method of treating female incontinence comprises looping a filamentary element between the wall of the vagina and the rectus abdominis sheath in the anterior wall of the abdomen whereby it masses to each side of the urethra, adjusting the loop to bring the o• vaginal wall and the urethra into the correct spatial relationship to the pubis allowing the S•development of scar tissue between the vaginal wall and the anterior wall of the abdomen S: 25 pubic symphysis and removing the filamentary element.

The Claren Patent, United States Patent 5,899,909, also describes a surgical instrument and a method for treating female urinary incontinence. The instrument comprises a shank having a handle at one end thereof, and two curved needle-like elements which are connected at one end thereof each with one end of a tape intended to be implanted into the body. These elements can be connected one at a time with theshank 004371100 2 at the other end thereof to form a curved end portion of the shank and are intended to be passed into the body via the vagina, each element being dimensioned to extend from the inside of the vaginal wall over the back of the pubic bone to the outside of the abdominal wall. When practicing the method the tape is passed into the body via the vagina first at one end and then at the other end at one side and the other, respectively, of the urethra to form a loop around the urethra, located between the urethra and the vaginal wall. The tape is extended over the pubis and through the abdominal wall and is tightened. Then, the tape ends are cut at the abdominal wall, and the tape is left implanted in the body.

Summary of the invention In its broadest form the invention provides a surgical instrument for use in placing an elongate element into a patent said instrument comprising: an elongate shaft which is curved over at least part of its length and defines an internal passage, said shaft having a cutting tip on one end thereof and handle means on the other end thereof, the shaft being configured such that the shaft may be passed into and through a patient, the internal passage being used to introduce a said elongate element into a patient whilst the instrument is located in a patient in use.

In one preferred form of the invention there is provided a surgical instrument for •use in placing a surgical instrument for use in placing an elongate filamentary element into a patient to treat female incontinence said instrument comprising: a shaft defining an internal passage, said shaft having a cutting tip on one end thereof and handle means on the other end thereof, the shaft being of elongate configuration along its entire length such that the shaft may be passed through the V anterior surface of the vaginal wall, so as to pass on one side of the urethra and out of the •patient through the abdominal wall, S 25 the internal passage being provided to introduce a said elongate element into the patient whilst the instrument is located in a patient in use, and wherein said shaft is constructed and arranged to be removable from the patient selectively through either the anterior wall of the abdomen or the anterior wall of the vagina leaving the elongated element within the patient.

004371100 3 In one arrangement the handle attachment means comprises screw threads formed on the outer surface of the shaft. Preferably the shaft tapers divergently towards the handle attachment means so as to form a smooth transition between a cylindrical portion of said shaft and said handle attachment means.

An interior surface of said internal passage at or towards said other end of the shaft may include one or more notch or detent formation with which said handle will engage to provide for said non-rotatable connection.

Said handle comprises a hand engageable portion which is significantly wider than said shaft and a shaft portion adapted to be axially aligned with said other end of the tubular shaft when the handle and the tubular shaft are operatively connected. Said shaft portion may have a distal end of reduced diameter adapted to be inserted into the internal passage of the shaft. Preferably the handle includes an annular flange on said shaft portion adapted to engage against said other end of said tubular shaft, and a union nut captively held on said shaft portion between the annular flange and the handle portion and slidable on said shaft portion, said union nut adapted to engage with the screw threads formed on the tubular shaft in order to hold the tubular shaft and handle together.

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The tubular shaft preferably has a generally arcuate portion towards the end thereof remote from the handle end thereof, and a generally straight portion towards the handle end thereof.

•eoeo S 20 The tubular shaft may have a series of apertures passing through the wall thereof between the internal passage and the exterior of the shaft, said apertures being spaced apart along the length of the shaft.

:o Preferably the shaft is provided with a detachable handle, the shaft being of substantially uniform outer dimensions along its entire length thereby allowing the shaft 25 to be withdrawn from the patient, once the handle has been removed, from the outside of eeoc the abdominal wall.

These and further features of the invention will be made apparent from the description of an embodiment thereof given below by way of example. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, but the specific features shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting on the invention.

004371100 4 Brief description of the drawings Figure 1A and 1B show the leading end of a prior art surgical instrument of the type described in US patent 5,112,344.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the leading end of a surgical instrument according the invention.

Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the elements required to perform an operation using the surgical instrument of the invention.

Figures 4 6 show the manner in which the surgical instrument is used in practice in different stages of an operation.

Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 shows an alternative version of the leading end of the surgical instrument of the invention.

Figure 9 shows an alternative version of the connection arrangement between the shaft and the handle.

1.i 15 Figure 10 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of surgical instrument :according to the invention.

•••oo Figure 11 shows a perspective view of that portion of the figure 10 instrument between lines AA and BB.

Figure 12 shows a sectional view along line AA of figure Figure 13 shows a similar view to that of figure 12 but of a yet further alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figure 14 shows a similar view to that of figure 12 of a yet further alternative .embodiment of the invention.

~Figure 15 shows a side view of an alternative version of the cutting tip of the 25 invention.

Figure 15 shows an end view of the cutting tip shown in figure Figure 15 shows an end view of the cutting tip shown in figure 004371100 Detailed description of the embodiments Referring to figures 2 to 6 of the drawings, a surgical instrument 10 according to the invention is shown in detail. The instrument 10 includes a curved shaft 12 having a cutting tip 14 formed on the leading edge thereof and having a handle attachment arrangement 16 formed adjacent the opposite end 17 thereof The cutting tip 14 is cut at an angle to the shaft axis, as shown clearly in the drawings, and the exact configuration of the cutting tip will be described in more detail here below. The shaft 12 is hollow defining an internal passage 18 the purpose of which is described in more detail below.

A handle 20 is connectable to the end 17 of the shaft, the handle 20 including a handle portion 22 which will be gripped, in use, by a surgeon performing a surgical procedure with the instrument 10. The handle 20 also includes a shaft portion 24 having a reduced diameter leading end 26 and interlocking formations 28 which engage with corresponding interlocking formations 30 formed on the interior surface of the passage 18. The engagement of the interlocking formations 28 and 30 are designed to ensure that the handle is non-rotatably connectable to the shaft 12 so that the surgeon is able to manipulate the direction of the shaft during insertion of the shaft into the body cavity by S-carefully twisting on the handle 22 during that procedure. A union nut 32 is slidable along the shaft portion 24 and is shown on figure 3 in a retracted position. An annular collar 34 is formed on the shaft portion 24 of the handle. When the reduced diameter :i 20 portion 26 of the handle is fully inserted into the shaft 12 the collar 34 will butt up against the end 17 of the shaft and the union nut 32 will screw on to the threads 16 to securely hold the handle 20 to the shaft 12. To remove the handle from the shaft 12 the union nut 32 will be unscrewed from the threads 16 allowing the handle to be withdrawn .from the shaft 12. It is important that this procedure is relatively simple to do since the 25 handle ill typically be removed from the shaft 12 during the course of the operation whilst the shaft 12 remains located within the patient. Thus, the union nut 32 will finger tightenable and loosenable.

It will be noted, particularly from figure 3, that the shaft 12 is of arcuate shape and is most significantly curved in the portion thereof adjacent the leading end 14 thereof.

The shape of the shaft is selected so that the shaft is able to pass through an anterior surface of the vaginal wall behind the pubis to emerge through the abdominal wall. The 004371100 6 radius of curvature is selected with this intended purpose in mind. As the shaft is inserted through the body cavity, around the pubis, the leading end of the shaft will tend to hug the pubis, with the sharp point staying remote from the bladder.

The portion of the shaft adjacent the handle is thus relatively straight whereas the leading portion of the shaft is significantly more curved. The curvature is in a single plane, that is, in use, the plane of the curvature will be substantially co-planar with the sagittal plane of the patient.

The cutting tip 14 is cut at an angle to the axis of the shaft, the top lying in a plane which is perpendicular to the aforementioned plane of curvature. The leading point 36 of the cutting tip is located on the radially inner side 38 of the curbed shaft with the remaining portion of the cutting tip sloping backwardly from that point 36 at an acute angle to the shaft axis 40. The cutting tip 14 lies in a plane which is at an acute angle to the shaft axis 40, the angle a being between 200 and 700, but preferably approximately 450. The shape of the tip, and specifically the point 36 being on the radially inner side thereof, will tend to keep the sharp leading end of the tip away from the bladder, thereby reducing the possibility of the point 36 rupturing the bladder. The angle of the cut will tend to push the bladder away from the point 36, further avoiding the possibility of rupture.

Although in this specification reference has been made to the cutting tip being 20 "cut" at an angle to the shaft axis it ill be understood that the manufacturing process does not require an actual cutting operation, but any manufacturing process which provides a surgically sharp angled cutting tip is to be considered as falling within the scope of the term "cut".

In use, at the start of the procedure the shaft 12 will be connected to the handle 25 in the manner described above and the shaft will be inserted into a patient typically through the vagina from a position inwards from the urethra vesical junction, the cutting tip passing into the body cavity so as to pass to one side of the urethra 44 between the •oeo, bladder 42 and the pubis 46. The cutting tip will then pass out of the abdominal wall 48.

The shaft, in its fully inserted position; is shown in figure 4 of the drawings.

Where it is desired to conduct the operation using a two incision procedure, two paraurethral vagina incisions will be made at or very near each anterior sulcus of the 004371100 7 vagina. A tunnel will then be formed by blunt dissection between the urethra and the vaginal wall, the tunnel extending between the two para-urethral incisions. Typically the two incisions and the tunnel will be formed prior to the first insertion of the shaft into the patient's body cavity.

After the shaft has been fully inserted, the handle 20 is removed from the shaft 12 whilst the shaft 12 is retained, for the time being in the body cavity. A threading element is passed through the internal passage of the shaft in the manner indicated in figure of the drawings. It is important to note that the threading element 50 may be passed into the shaft 12 from either end of the shaft 12. The threading element 50 has a small gripping portion 52 on one end thereof and a hook 54 on the opposite end thereof. The hook 54 is used to grip a filamentary element 56 and the filamentary element 56 is provided with a loop 58 for this purpose. The filamentary element 56 will typically be made from a material such as "Prolene"(tm) or "Vipro (tm) which are manufactured by Ethicon Inc. The threading element 50 will then be drawn out of the shaft 12 pulling with it the filamentary element 56 to thereby draw the filamentary element 56 through the hollow shaft 12. When the filamentary element 56 is fully in position the shaft 12 will be withdrawn from the patient. Once again, it is important to note that the shaft 12 may be withdrawn from the patient from either the abdominal side of the patient or the vaginal oo••o side of the patient and the shaft is specifically shaped and configured for this purpose.

•o.ooi 20 The threading element 50 may, of course, be used to push the filamentary element oo oi through the shaft.

It will be noted that the shaft 12 has a tapered portion 60 adjacent the trailing end 17 thereof which provides a smooth transition between the cylindrical central portion of the shaft and the threaded end 17 thereof. This tapered portion 60 is specifically designed 25 to allow the shaft to be drawn in a forward direction through the patient without causing further tissue damage to the patient. The taper angle of the tapered position shall be small, that is, about 50 or less. Other connection arrangements are possible which would result in substantially no increase in diameter. An internal screw thread arrangement will, for example, be possible. Other alternatives are discussed below.

Where the two incision process is preferred, the vaginal end of the filament will be guided through the aforementioned tunnel and out of the second incision. The handle 004371100 8 will then be re-attached to the shaft and the shaft inserted back into the patient's body, on the opposite side of the urethra to again pass between the bladder 42 and the pubis 46 and out of the abdomen 48. Thereafter, the handle will be removed from the shaft, and, working from the abdomen side of the patient, the threading element will be fed through the hollow shaft. The hook on the end of the threading element will then be used to capture the fileament and the draw the filament through the hollow shaft to emerge out of the abdomen side of the patient. The hollow shaft will then be removed from the abdomen side of the patient, leaving a U-shaped loop of filamentary material in the patient which extends around the urethra. This procedure is not possible with the prior art instruments referred to above.

In most procedures the shaft will be withdrawn from the patient form the abdominal side during this second stage of the operation. Where it si withdrawn from the abdominal side of the patient the end 17 of the shaft will need to pass through the patient which is why the smooth and slightly tapered section 60, referred to above, is provided and also the fact that the threads 16 are not of significantly larger diameter than the central or cylindrical portion of the shaft.

te One the filamentary element has passed twice through the patient's body cavity the free ends of the loop thus created will be cut off. A U-shaped loop will be left, o1 typically permanently, in the patient's body, forming an artificial ligament around the 20 urethra, and significantly improved urinary control will be achieved for the patient.

The filament may be either permanently left within the patients body or may at some stage thereafter be removed, these two options being discussed in the prior art referred to above.

S.o •5 It will be noted that the shaft 12 is provided with a series of apertures 64 which 25 pass through the wall of the shaft into the interior passage 18. Those apertures 64 are

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S located on the radially outer side 66 of the curved portion of the shaft 12, that is, the side of the shaft 12 would face towards the patient's bladder during the aforementioned surgical procedure.

During the course of the aforementioned procedure, the shaft passes very close to the patient's bladder but it is important that the bladder is not ruptured or damaged in any way during the procedure. With prior art devices there is often no jurisdiction that such 004371100 9 damage to the bladder might have occurred during the procedure, particularly where the rupture caused by the procedure is small.

It is found that the apertures 66 located along the length of the shaft, should any such damage occur, urine will leak from the bladder through the apertures 64 and out through the end 17 of the shaft. A surgeon will thus immediately become aware that bladder damage has occurred. This is considered to be a significant improvement over prior art devices which do not provide any such damage indicating arrangement.

It should be noted that it is an important aspect of the invention that the shaft be removable from the patient from the abdomen side of the patient. Where the instrument has a handle secured thereto it will, of course, be necessary to first remove the handle from the haft before abdominal removal can take place. However, as shown in figure 7, it is not essential that the handle be removable from the shaft. The shaft 70 shown in figure 7 has a handle end 72 having a series of annular groves 74 formed therein which the surgeon can grip when performing the aforementioned operations. The passage through the shaft 70 will extend all the way through the handle portion 72 emerging at the trailing end 76 of the shaft. Thus, the threading element 50 and the filamentary element 56 will Sobe useable with the shaft 70 in the same manner as described above but the handle removal step will no longer be necessary.

In the embodiment shown in figure 7 the handle portion 72 has a slightly wider S 20 diameter than the shaft portion 78 to allow slightly better grip of the shaft 70. However, it will be possible to form the handle portion 72 with exactly the same diameter as the shaft portion 78 should it be found that slightly wider diameter of the handle portion 72 causes difficulty in passing the instrument through a patient.

Clearly, different forms of handle grip arrangements will be possible and specifically envisaged is an arrangement in which longitudinally aligned gripping grooves or ridges are formed in the handle portion 72.

The device shown in figure 7 is advantageous in that the device can be made far less expensive since it is of unitary construction. Also, no disconnection of the device is necessary mid-way through the surgical procedure. However, the twisting forces which can be applied to the device will be reduced on account of the inferior turning forces 004371100 which can be applied to the shaft by not having a laterally extending handle on the end thereof.

It is not, of course, essential that the internal passage way extends all the way to the end of the leading of the shaft. Indeed, as shown in figure 8, it might in some instances be preferable for the leading end 14 of the shaft to be closed off with an end wall 80 and for a lateral opening 82 to be formed through the side wall of the shaft just adjacent the leading end 14. A lateral opening 82, of the type shown in figure 8, will still allow the threading element 50 to be inserted into the interior passage 18 of the shaft but the end wall will provide a sheer leading face for the instrument, thereby ensuring minimum resistance to the instrument a it passes through the body cavity. Clearly, the opening 82 can be used exactly in the manner described above to draw the filament through the passage 18. However, for certain procedures it may be found that the open end, as shown in figure 2, might be more difficult to pass through body tissue.

Also, as mentioned above, it is not essential that the handle 20 is connectable to the shaft 12 by means of a threaded connection. Other forms of connection such as bayonet connection or even some form of interlocking groove connection might be equally satisfactory, provided engagement and disengagement between the shaft and handle are made to be relatively straight forward and easily achieved. One form of alternative mechanical connection is shown in figure 9 of the drawings. As shown, the 20 handle 20 has a reduced diameter stub 84 on the leading end thereof which is sized to fit neatly into the interior passage 18 in the shaft 12. The shaft 12 is provided with a small hole 86 through the wall of the shaft just adjacent the rearward end 17. An interlocking, retractable pin 88 is provided in the stub 84 and is operable by means of a retraction button 90 located somewhat down the shaft of the handle 12. Pressure on the retraction Gee* 25 button 90 will cause the pin 88 to retract. Thus, to engage the handle 20 with the shaft 12 O •the stub 84 will be inserted into the passage 18 in the shaft 12 and when properly so 00go 0 inserted the pin 88 will locate in the hole 86, thereby non-rotatably locking the handle to the shaft 12. When it is desired to remove the handle 20 from the shaft 2 the button will be depressed causing the pin 88 to retract and allowing the handle 20 to be removed from the end 17 of the shaft. Clearly other forms of interlocking arrangements which are mechanically operable from the handle side of the instrument can be employed.

004371100 11 The instrument shown in figure 10 of the drawings is similar to that shown in the previous embodiments and comprises a generally hollow shaft 90 having a cutting tip 92 on one end thereof and handle means 94 on the opposite end thereof. The shaft 90 is of generally tubular construction having an internal passage 96 which may run the length of shaft 90 or, alternatively, may stop short of the ends of shaft 90 as indicated by dotted lines 98. A slot 100 is cut through the wall 102 of the shaft 90, the slot 100 being longitudinally aligned with the shaft axis, thereby forming a lateral passage out of the internal passage 96. The slot and passage are best shown in figure 11 of the drawings.

It is envisaged that the slot 100 will be formed on the radially inner side of the curved shaft It is envisaged that in certain circumstances it will not be essential to draw the filament longitudinally out of the shaft when the shaft is removed from a patient's body cavity. In some instances it may be possible to move the filament laterally out of the shaft, during the course of the procedure, thereby avoiding having to pull the shaft through the patient from the abdominal side of the patient. Where the second arm of the U-shaped loop of filamentary material is inserted around the urethra, provide this filamentary material can be moved laterally through the slot 100, so as to rest within the patient, then the shaft may be withdrawn from the vaginal side of the patient. This will require only a single abdominal side incision. Indeed, it may be possible to perform the 20 procedure from the vaginal side of the patient exclusively provided it is possible to cause a filamentary material to move laterally out of the internal passage 96 prior to the removal of the shaft from the patient.

Figure 13 depicts an alternative version of the instrument. In this version the shaft S°104 is formed of a solid material and a relatively shallow channel 106 is formed in one side thereof, the channel 106 extending either the full length of the shaft or at least a significant portion of the length of the shaft. The embodiment shown in figure 14 of the ••drawings is similar to that of figure 13 but the channel 108 is significantly deeper than the channel 106. also, it will be noted that the shaft 110 shown in figure 14 is of non-circular cross sectional configuration.

Figures 15 and 16 depict an alternative version of the cutting tip of the instrument.

As shown in figure 15 and figure 16 the cutting tip is defined by two bevel surfaces, 004371100 12 numbered 12 and 114, the surface 112 being the major surface and the surface 14 being a minor surface. Each of the bevel surfaces 112 and 114 are planar, the two surfaces intersecting along a line 116 which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 118 of the shaft 120 and forms the sharp leading end of the instrument. It is envisaged that the line 116 will be offset from the centre line 118 to the radially outer side of the curved shaft.

This will mean that in the procedure referred to above the actual sharp tip of the instrument, that is, the edge forward at the intersection between the two bevel faces, will be nearer to the pubic bone than the bladder as the instrument is passed through the body cavity. Displacing the sharp edge away from the radially inner side of the shaft will ensure that the sharp edge tip does not either cut into or shave the pubic bone. The sharp edge tip will still, however, be remote from the bladder and the bevel face 112 will tend to push the bladder away from the edge 116 should the instrument pass close to the bladder during the procedure.

While the above detailed description has shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the embodiment discussed above, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and change in the form and detail of the invention illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the S 20 invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing descriptions. The applicant does not concede that the prior art referred to herein forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia.

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Claims (27)

1. A surgical instrument for use in placing an elongate element into a patient said instrument comprising: an elongate shaft which is curved over at least part of its length and defines an internal passage, said shaft having a cutting tip on one end thereof and handle means on the other end thereof, the shaft being configured such that the shaft may be passed into and through a patient, the internal passage being used to introduce a said elongate element into a patient whilst the instrument is located in a patient in use.

2. A surgical instrument for use in placing an elongate filamentary element into a patient to treat female incontinence said instrument comprising: a shaft which is curved over at least part of its length and defines an internal passage, said shaft having a cutting tip on one end thereof and handle means on the other end thereof, the shaft being of elongate configuration along its entire length such that the shaft may be passed through the anterior surface of the vaginal wall, so as to pass on one side of the urethra and out of the patient through the abdominal wall, the internal passage being provided to introduce a said elongate element into the patient whilst the instrument is located in a patient in use, 2 oo o• 0o •o 2 •oo, •oooo and wherein said shaft is constructed and arranged to be removable from the patient selectively through either the anterior wall of the abdomen or the anterior wall of the vagina leaving the elongated element within the patient.

3. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 or 2 having a handle portion non-rotatably connectable to the handle means, and detachable from the handle means so as to allow the shaft to be passed into and through a patient.

4. A surgical instrument according to any preceding claim wherein the shaft is substantially arcuately curved adjacent the cutting tip end thereof, and substantially straight adjacent the handle end thereof. A surgical instrument according to any preceding claim wherein the shaft is of substantially uniform cross-section along its length. 004371100 14

6. A surgical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the shaft is tubular.

7. A surgical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the shaft has a longitudinally extending slot, groove or channel formed therein which extends at least part way along the length thereof and defines at least in part said internal passage.

8. A surgical instrument according to claim 7 wherein said shaft is of substantially tubular construction and a said longitudinally extending slot is formed through the wall thereof.

9. A surgical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the cutting tip lies in a plane which is transverse and angled to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. A surgical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the cutting tip comprises two intersecting planar bevel faces, said bevel faces intersecting along a line which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

11. A surgical instrument according to claim 10 wherein the line along which the two bevel faces intersect is laterally offset to one side of the longitudinal centreline of the shaft. i 12. A surgical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the shaft has a series of apertures spaced apart along the length of at least part of the shaft, said apertures passing through a wall of the shaft into said internal passage.

13. A surgical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the internal passage terminates rearward of the cutting tip.

14. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 adapted for use in placing a filamentary element into a female patient so as to form a sling or loop around the urethra extending over the back of the pubic bone to the abdominal wall, wherein said shaft is substantially arcuately curved, a handle is non-rotatably connectable to the handle means, S" and a flexible threading element is insertable into and through said internal passage and adapted to be used to draw one end of a said elongate filamentary element through said internal passage. 004371100 A surgical instrument according to claim 1 adapted for use in placing a filamentary element into a female patient so as to form a sling or loop around the urethra over the back of the pubic bone, to the abdominal wall, said shaft being substantially arcuately curved, a handle is non-rotatably connectable to the handle means, and a flexible threading element is insertable into and through said internal passage from either end of said shaft and adapted to be used to draw one end of a said filamentary element through said internal passage, said shaft being curved so that the shaft lies substantially in a single plane, the cutting tip at least in part being of planar bevel shape so as to lie in a plane perpendicular to said single plane and at an acute angle to the shaft axis.

16. A surgical instrument according to claim 15 wherein the acute angle is between 200 and 700

17. A surgical instrument according to claim 16 wherein the acute angle is approximately 450

18. A surgical instrument according to any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein the cutting tip comprises two intersecting planar bevel faces, said bevel faces intersecting along a line which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

19. A surgical instrument according to any one of claims 15 to 18 wherein the 9.. handle means comprises screw threads formed on the radially outer surface of the shaft.

20. A surgical instrument according to claim 19 wherein the shaft tapers divergently towards the handle means so as to form a smooth transition between a cylindrical central portion of said shaft and said handle means.

21. A surgical instrument according to any one of claims 15 to 20 wherein the "T. *interior surface of said internal passage at or towards said other end of the shaft includes 99 9 25 one or more notch or detent formations with which said handle will engage to provide o00• °said non-rotatable connection. S22. A surgical instrument according to any one of claims 15 to 21 wherein said handle comprises a hand engagable portion which is significantly wider than said shaft, and an elongate connection portion, adapted to be axially aligned with said other end of the shaft when the handle and the shaft are operatively connected. 004371100 16

23. A surgical instrument according to claim 22 wherein said elongate connection portion has a distal end of reduced diameter adapted to be inserted into the internal passage of the shaft.

24. A surgical instrument according to either of claims 22 or 23 wherein the handle includes an annular flange on said elongate connection portion which is adapted to engage against said other end of the shaft, and a union nut captively held on said elongate connection portion between the annular flange and the handle portion, and slidable on said shaft portion, said union nut adapted to engage with the screw threads formed on the shaft in order to hold the shaft and handle together.

25. A surgical instrument according to any one of claims 15 to 24 wherein the shaft has a substantially arcuate portion towards said one end thereof, and a substantially straight portion towards said other end thereof.

26. A surgical instrument according to any one of claims 15 to 25 having at least one aperture passing through the wall thereof between the internal passage and the exterior of the shaft.

27. A surgical instrument according to claim 26 wherein there are a series of apertures spaced apart along the length of the shaft which are located on the radially outer side of said curved shaft.

28. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 adapted for use in placing a 3 filamentary element into a female patient to form a sling or loop around the urethra extending over the back of the pubic bone to the abdominal wall, said shaft comprising a curved tubular shaft defining an internal passage, said shaft having at least one aperture passing through the wall thereof between the internal passage and exterior of the shaft. oo. 29. A surgical instrument according to claim 28 wherein the aperture is 25 located on the convex side of the shaft.

30. A surgical instrument according to claim 29 wherein the shaft has a substantially arcuate portion towards said cutting tip end thereof, and a substantially straight portion towards said handle means end thereof, the aperture being located in the substantially arcuate portion. 004371100 17

31. A surgical instrument according to any one of claims 28 to 30 wherein there are a series of said apertures, spaced apart along at least part of the length of the shaft.

32. A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the shaft is a) a hollow curved tubular shaft defining said internal passage and having an acutely cut first end forming a sharp point or cutting edge and a handle which is non- rotatable and is further detachably connectable to the handle means at the other end; b) the instrument further comprising a flexible threading element which is at least as long as the shaft and is used to draw an elongate filamentary element through the internal passage through the shaft; c) the shaft being shaped and configured to be used to pass an elongate filamentary element through a female patient through an anterior wall of the vagina to an anterior wall of the abdomen, and, once the elongate filamentary element is in position, the shaft may be withdrawn from the patient selectively through either the anterior wall of the abdomen or the anterior wall of the vagina leaving the elongate filamentary S"o element within the patient.

33. A surgical instrument according to claim 22 wherein the handle includes ease@: 0 an annular flange on said elongate connection portion which is adapted to engage against said other end of the shaft, and a union nut captively held on said elongate connection portion between the annular flange and the handle portion, and slidable on said shaft portion, said union nut adapted to engage with the screw threads formed on the shaft in order to hold the shaft and handle together. A surgical instrument according to any preceding claim wherein the cith cutting tip is formed integrally with the shaft. 00 00 o 0•0 •000 0000 0000 0 000000 004371100 18 A surgical instrument according to claim 34 wherein the cutting tip is formed by cutting the shaft at an acute angle to the shaft axis to form a sharp point or cutting edge on the end of the shaft. Dated this 13th day of March 2003 GEORGE KALADELFOS by its attorneys Freehills Carter Smith Beadle o°°o 0s. S. S. 0o 0 *0 0 S 0 0 COSS S 5.5. 0