Multiple band ligator and anoscope system and method for using same

A system for ligation of internal hemorrhoids comprising:

• an anoscope,
• a multiple rubber band ligator device, and
• a loading device for loading rubber bands on said ligator device,
• said ligator device being configured to store multiple rubber bands on an inner cylinder and further configured to release a single rubber band at a time from the inner cylinder;
• said loading device being configured for loading of rubber bands onto said inner cylinder,
• said anoscope including a cylinder having a distal end for insertion in the anal canal and a proximal end for positioning exteriorly of the anal canal,
• said cylinder defining three lateral apertures extending along said cylinder opening from the distal end of said cylinder toward the proximal end of the cylinder,
• said apertures being spaced apart about said cylinder to be positionable at the three o'clock, seven o'clock and eleven o'clock positions about the cylinder when inserted in the anal canal with the patient in the supine position, and
• said lateral apertures each being one-sixth of the circumference of the cylinder such that the sizes of the hemorrhoids can be visually graded by the observer by the degree of extension of the hemorrhoids from outside the cylinder through the apertures of the anoscope.

In combination with a ligator and a loading device, an anoscope for ligation of internal hemorrhoids comprising:

• a cylinder having a distal end for insertion in the anal canal and a proximal end for positioning exteriorly of the anal canal,
• said cylinder defining three lateral apertures opening from the distal end of said cylinder toward the proximal end of said cylinder, said apertures being spaced apart about said cylinder to be positionable at the three o'clock, seven o'clock and eleven o'clock positions about the cylinder when inserted in the anal canal with the patient in the supine position for exposing three areas of the anal canal that have internal hemorrhoids,
• said apertures being formed at a predetermined size to observe the size of the hemorrhoids by the extension of the hemorrhoids from outside said cylinder and through the apertures,
• wherein said apertures extend approximately half-way along the length of said cylinder to expose enternal hemorrhoids while the rest of the cylinder tends to hold other features of the anal canal outside the cylinder, and
• visual means at said proximal end of said cylinder for visually rotatively orienting said anoscope with the apertures of said cylinder oriented in the anal canal with the apertures in registration with the hemorrhoid positions of man.

In combination with a ligator and a loading device, an anoscope for ligation of internal hemorrhoids comprising:

• a cylinder having a distal end for insertion in the anal canal and a proximal end for positioning exteriorly of the anal canal,
• said cylinder defining three lateral apertures opening from the distal end of said cylinder toward the proximal end of said cylinder, said apertures being spaced apart about said cylinder to be positionable at the three o'clock, seven o'clock and eleven o'clock positions about the cylinder when inserted in the anal canal with the patient in the supine position for exposing three areas of the anal canal that have internal hemorrhoids,
• said apertures being formed at a predetermined size to observe the size of the hemorrhoids by the extension of the hemorrhoids from outside said cylinder and through the apertures,
• visual means at said proximal end of said cylinder for visually rotatively orienting said anoscope with the apertures of said cylinder oriented in the anal canal with the apertures in registration with the hemorrhoid positions of man,
• wherein said apertures extend not more than half-way along the length of said cylinder to expose only internal hemorrhoids in the anal canal.

In combination with a ligator and a loading device, an anoscope for ligation of internal hemorrhoids comprising:

• a cylinder having a distal end for insertion in the anal canal and a proximal end for positioning exteriorly of the anal canal,
• said cylinder defining three lateral apertures opening from the distal end of said cylinder toward the proximal end of said cylinder, said apertures being spaced apart about said cylinder to be positionable at the three o'clock, seven o'clock and eleven o'clock positions about the cylinder when inserted in the anal canal with the patient in the supine position for exposing three areas of the anal canal that have internal hemorrhoids,
• said apertures being formed at a predetermined size to observe the size of the hemorrhoids by the extension of the hemorrhoids from outside said cylinder and through the apertures,
• visual means at said proximal end of said cylinder for visually rotatively orienting said anoscope with the apertures of said cylinder oriented in the anal canal with the apertures in registration with the hemorrhoid positions of man,
• a flange extending radially from the proximal end of said cylinder,
• a handle extending from said flange,
• said handle being oriented on said flange to be in the six o'clock position when the openings in the cylinder are oriented in the nine o'clock, one o'clock and five o'clock positions with the patient in the prone position.

In combination with a ligator and a loading device, an anoscope for ligation of internal hemorrhoids comprising:

• a cylinder having a distal end for insertion in the anal canal and a proximal end for positioning exteriorly of the anal canal,
• said cylinder defining three lateral apertures opening from the distal end of said cylinder toward the proximal end of said cylinder, said apertures being spaced apart about said cylinder to be positionable at the three o'clock, seven o'clock and eleven o'clock positions about the cylinder when inserted in the anal canal with the patient in the supine position for exposing three areas of the anal canal that have internal hemorrhoids,
• said apertures being formed at a predetermined size to observe the size of the hemorrhoids by the extension of the hemorrhoids from outside said cylinder and through the apertures, visual means at said proximal end of said cylinder for visually rotatively orienting said anoscope with the apertures of said cylinder oriented in the anal canal with the apertures in registration with the hemorrhoid positions of man,
• wherein said openings in said cylinder each extend about said cylinder approximately ⅙ of the cylinder circumference.