Importance

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Abstract

An implantable prosthesis for repairing or augmenting anatomical defects, including an inguinal hernia. The prosthesis includes a repair fabric having a body portion and a support member that may be arranged in or on the repair fabric to help deploy the repair fabric at the surgical site and/or help inhibit folding or buckling of the repair fabric. The support member may substantially surround the body portion to help deploy and/or hold the body portion in a spread out configuration for covering the defect. The support member may include first and second ends that are spaced apart to form an interruption so that a slit or keyhole arrangement may be formed in the repair fabric through the interruption and into an interior region of the body portion to receive a body structure, including a cord structure such as the spermatic cord. A portion of the support member may deviate inwardly toward the body portion to form an indentation that is adapted to be positioned adjacent to a body structure, such as the femoral vessels during an inguinal hernia repair procedure. The indentation may be offset to one side of the prosthesis. The support member and/or the repair fabric may be configured so as to inhibit protrusion of the ends of the support member through the fabric in the vicinity of the interruption. The support member may be formed of a monofilament comprised of a non-resorbable or resorbable material.

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First Claim