Endoscopic ligating apparatus

An endoscopic ligating apparatus, comprising:

• a hollow barrel defining a barrel proximal end, a barrel distal end, a hollow interior and an outer surface;
• at least one elastic ligating band stretched around said barrel outer surface;
• and
• at least one piece of flexible material having a material proximal end and a material distal end, said at least one piece of flexible material extending through said hollow interior, folding over said barrel distal end, and lying between at least a portion of said at least one ligating band and said outer surface;
• wherein pulling said material proximal end in a proximal direction is operative to pull said at least one ligating band off of said barrel distal end.

An endoscopic ligating apparatus for use with a flexible endoscope, said endoscope having an endoscope distal end, said endoscopic ligating apparatus comprising:

• a hollow barrel defining a barrel proximal end, a barrel distal end, a hollow interior having an annular shoulder formed therein, and an outer surface;
• at least one elastic ligating band stretched around said barrel outer surface;
• and
• at least one piece of flexible material having a material proximal end and a material distal end, said at least one piece of flexible material extending through said hollow interior, folding over said barrel distal end, and lying between at least a portion of said at least one ligating band and said outer surface;
• wherein said hollow interior at said barrel proximal end is sized to mount over said endoscope distal end such that said endoscope distal end abuts said annular shoulder;
• and
• wherein pulling said material proximal end in a proximal direction is operative to pull said material distal end toward said barrel distal end, thereby pulling said at least one ligating band off of said barrel distal end.

An endoscopic ligating apparatus, comprising:

• a hollow barrel defining a barrel proximal end, a barrel distal end, a hollow interior having an annular shoulder formed therein, and an outer surface;
• at least one elastic ligating band stretched around said barrel outer surface;
• and
• at least one piece of flexible material having a material proximal end and a material distal end, said at least one piece of flexible material extending through said hollow interior, folding over said barrel distal end, and lying between at least a portion of said at least one ligating band and said outer surface;
• wherein said hollow interior at said barrel proximal end is sized to mount over said endoscope distal end such that said endoscope distal end abuts said annular shoulder;
• and
• wherein pulling said material proximal end in a proximal direction is operative to pull said at least one ligating band off of said barrel distal end.