Applicator device housing multiple elastic ligatures in series and for dilating and applying elastic ligatures onto anatomical tissue

An applicator device for housing and applying one or more apertured elastic ligatures to anatomical tissue, the applicator device comprising:

• an inner elongate member telescopically received within a middle tubular member which, in turn, is telescopically received within an outer, elongate tubular member, said inner, middle and outer members each having a distal end and a proximal end, said inner member having forceps means mounted on said distal end thereof, said middle tubular member including central, elongate body portion means for receiving one or more elastic ligatures thereon in end to end series fashion, said central body portion means having a distal end, a proximal end and an external diameter for receiving one or more elastic ligatures thereon in a relaxed, substantially unexpanded state, a ligature abutment member slidably mounted on said central body portion means for engaging the proximal one of the one or more elastic ligatures loaded onto said central body portion means, compression spring means on and adjacent said central body portion means proximal end and located proximally of said abutment member for distally spring loading elastic ligatures onto said middle member central body portion means, an externally threaded portion on said proximal end of said middle member and a spring stop member defining a matingly internally threaded aperture therethrough threaded on said threaded portion of said middle member proximally of said compression spring means, whereby the loading force created by said compression spring means may be varied by threading said stop member along said threaded portion of said middle member proximal end, a conically shaped elastic ligature expander at said distal end of said middle member central body portion means and having an apex and an open base, said conical expander apex adjoining said central body portion distal end, said distal end of said outer tubular member including means defining elastic ligature dilator means for engaging an apertured ligature and pushing it over said conical ligature expander, whereby anatomical tissue is ligated by manipulating said inner member so that said forceps means engages tissue, moving said inner member proximally with respect to said middle member thus to draw anatomical tissue into said conical expander base, manipulating said outer member dilator means to engage an apertured ligature, and moving said outer member distally with respect to said middle member to push an engaged ligature over said conical expander and beyond said conical expander open base to engage anatomical tissue.