Ligating apparatus

A ligating method comprising the steps of:

• forming a first knot forming loop defined by an unclosed loop portion of a first ligating member and a ligation thread held by said loop portion and extending on a first side of said loop portion, said loop portion being substantially C-shaped and having a constant gap section therein;
• passing a manipulating device of a second ligating member through the first knot forming loop from said first side of said loop portion;
• holding a free end portion of the ligation thread defining the first knot forming loop on a second side of said loop portion opposite to said first side with said manipulating device passed through the first knot forming loop;
• passing said manipulating device holding the free end portion of the ligation thread through the first knot forming loop from said second side to said first side of said loop portion, thereby passing the free end portion of the ligation thread through the first knot forming loop to provisionally form a first half-knot;
• rotating said loop portion after the free end portion of the ligation thread has been passed through the first knot forming loop, thereby falling the provisionally formed first half-knot from said loop portion through said gap section thereof;
• moving in opposite directions said manipulating device holding the free end portion of the ligation thread and said first ligating member holding the ligation thread, thereby tightening the provisionally formed first half-knot fallen from said loop portion to form a tightened first half-knot;
• extending the ligation thread to said second side of said loop portion while rotating said loop portion after the first half-knot has been formed, thereby forming a second knot forming loop defined by said loop portion and the ligation thread extending on said second side of said loop portion;
• passing said manipulating device through the second knot forming loop from said first side to said second side of said loop portion, thereby passing the free end portion of the ligation thread held by said manipulating device through the second knot forming loop to provisionally form a second half-knot;
• passing the free end portion of the ligation thread over to a holding forceps, positioned on said second side of said loop portion, from said manipulating device passed through the second knot forming loop;
• rotating said loop portion after the free end portion of the ligation thread is held by said holding forceps, thereby falling the provisionally formed second half-knot from said loop portion through said gap section thereof;
• and
• moving in opposite directions said holding forceps holding the free end portion of the ligation thread and said first ligating member holding the ligation thread, thereby tightening the provisionally formed second half-knot fallen from said loop portion to form a tightened second half-knot.