Method and prosthesis for percutaneous hernia repair

摘要

A method and prosthesis is provided for percutaneous repair of an anatomical defect, such as an inguinal hernia. The method involves percutaneously accessing the inguinal canal of a patient. Following hernia reduction, if required, the hernia defect may be accessed and repaired percutaneously from within the inguinal canal. An implantable prosthesis may be percutaneously delivered into the inguinal canal. The prosthesis may be advanced along the inguinal canal from the percutaneous entry location to the defect site, where it may be deployed over and/or within the defect. A biocompatible foam material may be percutaneously delivered into the inguinal canal to reduce and/or repair the hernia defect. The foam may fill and solidify in the canal to prevent abdominal viscera from reentering the canal. Ablative therapy may be performed within the inguinal canal to cause a fibrotic response resulting in scar tissue formation and/or tissue shrinkage that narrows the canal.

主权项

1. A method of percutaneously repairing an inguinal hernia defect, the method comprising acts of:
(a) establishing direct percutaneous access to an inguinal canal of a patient; (b) percutaneously delivering an implantable prosthesis into the inguinal canal by way of the direct percutaneous access, the implantable prosthesis adapted to plug and/or cover the hernia defect; (c) advancing the implantable prosthesis along the inguinal canal from the location of percutaneous access toward the hernia defect; and (d) placing the implantable prosthesis at the hernia defect.