Endoscopic ligating instrument

A flexible endoscopic instrument for ligating a multiplicity of lesions within a hollow body organ, such as the alimentary tract, said instrument comprising:

• (a) a flexible fiber optic endoscope having a forward insertion end and a rearward end, said endoscope including means for illumination and viewing through said endoscope, means for providing a suction force at said insertion end, and a working channel;
• (b) a tubular member having a forward distal end, a rearward end and a longitudinal axis, said rearward end having means for providing attachment to the insertion end of the endoscope;
• (c) a plurality of string-like cords of flexible substantially inelastic material, each said cord being folded over the distal end of the tubular member with a first portion of each said cord overlaying a part of the exterior of said tubular member and a second portion thereof being disposed internally of said tubular member, said cords being oriented in angular spacing about the longitudinal axis of said tubular member;
• (d) a plurality of elastic ligating rings removably mounted in stretched condition on said tubular member in coaxial relation thereto, said rings being spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the tubular member at successively greater different distances from the distal end of the tubular member, wherein each of the plurality of cords is wound around each of the plurality of ligating rings in a first direction and in a second, opposite direction;
• and
• (e) means for imparting relative sliding motion between said cords and said tubular member to dislodge each of the elastic rings in controlled sequence during a single insertion of the endoscope into the body organ whereby each of the elastic rings can be dislodged from the endoscope and placed in ligating relation to a lesion when lesion tissue is drawn into the tubular member by said suction means with each ring being applied to a different one of multiple lesions present in the body organ, said means for imparting relative sliding motion comprising a flexible line element threaded through the working channel of the endoscope and connecting at one end to said cords disposed within said tubular member and exiting the endoscope at the rearward end thereof whereby a pulling force may be exerted on the other end of the line element to cause rolling movement of the cords over said tubular member.

A flexible endoscopic instrument for ligating a multiplicity of lesions within a hollow body organ, such as the alimentary tract, said instrument comprising:

• a) a flexible endoscope having a forward insertion end and a rearward end, said endoscope including means for providing a suction force at said insertion end, and a working channel;
• b) a tubular member having a forward distal end, a rearward end and a longitudinal axis, said rearward end having means for providing attachment to the insertion end of the endoscope;
• (c) a plurality of string-like cords of flexible substantially inelastic material, each said cord being folded over the distal end of the tubular member with a first portion of each said cord overlaying a part of the exterior of said tubular member and a second portion thereof being disposed internally of said tubular member, said cords being oriented in angular spacing about the longitudinal axis of said tubular member:
• (d) a plurality of elastic ligating rings removably mounted in stretched condition on said tubular member in coaxial relation thereto, said rings being spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the tubular member at successively greater different distances from the distal end of the tubular member, wherein each of the plurality of cords is wound around each of the plurality of ligating rings in a first direction and in a second, opposite direction;
• and
• (e) an activating mechanism for imparting relative sliding motion between said cords and said tubular member to dislodge each of the elastic rings in controlled sequence during a single insertion of the endoscope into the body organ whereby each of the elastic rings can be dislodged from the endoscope and placed in ligating relation to a lesion when lesion tissue is drawn into the tubular member by said suction means with each ring being applied to a different one of multiple lesions present in the body organ.