Elastic ligating ring clip

Claim 2

A band for surgically ligating an anatomical organ structure, comprising: means made of an elastic material and having an expansible lumen, for compressing a loop of an anatomical organ structure drawn into said lumen; and means joined to said compressing means proximate to said lumen, being arranged with respect to the interior wall of said lumen and oriented towards the longitudinal axis of said lumen for protruding through said loop without penetrating the wall tissue of the organ structure forming said loop and thereby obstructing passage of said anatomical organ structure through said lumen when said compressing means is released to return to said relaxed state around said loop, said compressing means and said protruding means being selected to compress and occlude the anatomical organ structure drawn into said lumen.

Claim 3

The band of claim 1 wherein said protruding means has a distal section inside said lumen extending radially into said lumen.

Claim 4

The band of claim 1 wherein said protruding means comprises at least one elongated element having distal ends inside said lumen extending radially into said lumen.

Claim 5

The band of claim 1 wherein said protruding means comprises a plurality of elongate elements having distal sections inside said lumen extending across said lumen from diametrically opposite sides of said compressing means.

Claim 6

The band of claim 1 wherein said protruding means comprises a plurality of elongate elements having distal sections inside said lumen extending radially across said lumen from not more than two diametrically opposite sides of said compressing means.

Claim 7

The band of claim 1 wherein said protruding means comprises a single element partially embedded within said compressing means with a distal section exposed within said lumen and extending across at least one-fourth of the width of said lumen.

Claim 8

The band of claim 1 wherein said protruding means comprises a plurality of elements partially embedded within said compressing means with distal sections exposed from only two diametrically opposite sides within said lumen, each of said distal sections extending radially across at least one-fourth of the width of said lumen.

Claim 9

A band for surgically ligating an anatomical tissue member, comprising: means made of an elastic material and having an expansible lumen, for compressing a loop of an anatomical organ structure drawn into said lumen; and means joined to said compressing means and oriented towards the longitudinal axis of said lumen for protruding across said lumen from not more than two substantially diametrically opposite directions and for protruding through said loop and thereby obstructing passage of said anatomical organ structure through said lumen and effectively dividing said lumen into two adjoining sections when said compressing means is released to return to a relaxed state around said loop.

Claim 10

A band for surgically ligating an anatomical tissue member, comprising: means made of an elastic material and having an expansible lumen, for compressing a loop of an anatomical organ structure drawn into said lumen; and means joined to said compressing means and oriented towards the longitudinal axis of said lumen for protruding across said lumen from not more than two substantially diametrically opposite directions and for protruding through said loop and thereby obstructing passage of said anatomical organ structure through said lumen and effectively dividing said lumen into two adjoining sections when said compressing means is released to return to a relaxed state around said loop.

Claim 11

The band of claims 1 or 8 wherein said protruding means extends across said lumen from two diametrically opposite locations exterior to said lumen.

Claim 12

The band of claims 1 or 8 wherein said protruding means extends across said lumen from two diametrically opposite interior sides of said lumen.

Claim 13

The band of claims 1 or 8 wherein said protruding means comprises a plurality of elements partially embedded within said compressing means and having exposed sections aligned in two diametrically opposite files within said lumen.

Claim 14

The band of claim 11 wherein said files form an interleaved array of said elements when said compressing means is in said relaxed state.

Claim 15

The band of claim 11 wherein said files form a meshed array of said elements when said compressing means is in said relaxed state.

Claim 16

The band of claims 1 or 8 wherein said protruding means comprises a plurality of sleeve segments within said lumen, said sleeve segments each having one or more projecting elements axially aligned with elements of said other sleeve to form two diametrically opposite files within said lumen.

Claim 17

The band of claim 14 wherein said files form an interleaved array of said elements when said compressing means is in said relaxed state.

Claim 18

The band of said claim 14 wherein said files form a meshed array of said elements when said compressing means is in said relaxed state.

Claim 19

The band of claims 1 or 8 wherein said compressing means and said protruding means are made of the same material.

Claim 20

The band of claim 17 wherein said protruding means are integral components of said compressing means.

Claim 21

The band of claims 1 or 8 wherein said protruding means is made of a material having a lower modulus of elasticity than the elastic material of said compressing means.

Claim 22

A band for surgically ligating an anatomical organ structure, comprising: means made of an elastic material in the shape of a solid ring having an expansible lumen, for compressing a loop of an anatomical organ structure drawn into said lumen; and means joined to said compressing means and arrayed in not more than two diametrically opposite files along the interior of said lumen extending across at least one-quarter of the width of said lumen and effectively dividing said lumen into two adjoining sections when said compressing means is released to return to a relaxed state, for protruding through said loop and retentively grasping any anatomical tissue member embraced between folded sections of the anatomical organ structure forming said loop and therby obstructing movement of said anatomical organ structure through said lumen when said compressing means is released to return to said relaxed state around said loop.

Claim 23

A band for surgically ligating an anatomical organ structure, comprising: means made of an elastic material in the shape of a solid ring having an expansible lumen, for compressing a loop of an anatomical organ structure drawn into said lumen; and means joined to said compressing means and arrayed in not more than two diametrically opposite files along the interior of said lumen extending across at least one-quarter of the width of said lumen and effectively dividing said lumen into two adjoining sections when said compressing means is released to return to a relaxed state, for protruding through said loop and retentively grasping any anatomical tissue member embraced between folded sections of the anatomical organ structure forming said loop and therby obstructing movement of said anatomical organ structure through said lumen when said compressing means is released to return to said relaxed state around said loop.

Claim 24

A kit for preparing a ring applicator device to apply one or more elastic rings, comprising: one or more solid elastic rings of a non-tissue reactive material, each ring providing a passageway therethrough and having one or more elements radially protruding from not more than two diametrically opposed directions effectively dividing said passageway into two adjoining sections and obstructing said passageway when said ring is released to return to a relaxed state; a ring loader having an elongated distal end insertable through said passageway extending from the apex of a cone having a base fitted to join the distal end of a ring applicator device and one or more channels extending from said distal end to said base for accommodating said radially protruding elements; and means having a plurality of joined, deformable segments providing a plurality of bearing surfaces defining a central aperture insertable around said elongated distal end and expandible about said cone, for dilating one of said rings by distributing force over an equal plurality of areas on a surface of one of said rings whereby one or more of said rings are advanced from said elongated member, expanded over said cone and positioned on the distal end of said ring applicator device.

Claim 25

A kit for preparing a ring applicator device to apply one or more elastic rings, comprising: one or more solid elastic rings of a non-tissue reactive material, each ring providing a passageway therethrough and having one or more elements radially protruding from not more than two diametrically opposed directions effectively dividing said passageway into two adjoining sections and obstructing said passageway when said ring is released to return to a relaxed state; a ring loader having an elongated distal end insertable through said passageway extending from the apex of a cone having a base fitted to join the distal end of a ring applicator device and one or more channels extending from said distal end to said base for accommodating said radially protruding elements; and means having a plurality of joined, deformable segments providing a plurality of bearing surfaces defining a central aperture insertable around said elongated distal end and expandible about said cone, for dilating one of said rings by distributing force over an equal plurality of areas on a surface of one of said rings whereby one or more of said rings are advanced from said elongated member, expanded over said cone and positioned on the distal end of said ring applicator device.

Claim 26

The kit of claim 21 wherein said cone has an undulating profile of constantly increasing cross-sectional area.

Claim 27

An instrument for applying elastic ligating bands of the type having one or more radial protruding elements for obstructing a passageway extending therethrough to an anatomical organ structure, comprising: a hollow outer cylinder; hollow intermediate cylinder slidably extending from inside said outer cylinder to expose one or more longitudinal slots disposed at not more than two diametrically opposed locations extending from and open to its distal end; and forceps means slidably disposable within said intermediate cylinder.

Claim 28

An instrument for applying elastic ligating bands of the type having one or more radial protruding elements for obstructing a passageway extending therethrough to an anatomical organ structure, comprising: a hollow outer cylinder; hollow intermediate cylinder slidably extending from inside said outer cylinder to expose one or more longitudinal slots disposed at not more than two diametrically opposed locations extending from and open to its distal end; and forceps means slidably disposable within said intermediate cylinder.

Claim 31

The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of removing said base from said inner shaft.

Claim 32

The method of claim 24 wherein said conic surface has an undulating profile.

Claim 33

The method of claim 26 wherein said conic surface has a continuously increasing cross sectional area.

Claim 36

The method of claim 28 wherein said force is continuously applied while said ring is advanced over said spaced distance.

Claim 43

A band for surgically ligating an anatomical organ structure comprising: means made of an elastic material and having an expansible lumen, for compressing a loop of an anatomical organ structure drawn into said lumen; and means joined to said compressing means proximate to said lumen and having a distal member oriented towards the longitudinal axis of said lumen for extending across the width of said lumen from not more than two diametrically opposed sides of said lumen and effectively dividing said lumen into two adjoining sections when said compressing means is released to return to a relaxed state.

Claim 44

A band for surgically ligating an anatomical organ structure comprising: means made of an elastic material and having an expansible lumen, for compressing a loop of an anatomical organ structure drawn into said lumen; and means joined to said compressing means proximate to said lumen and having a distal member oriented towards the longitudinal axis of said lumen for extending across the width of said lumen from not more than two diametrically opposed sides of said lumen and effectively dividing said lumen into two adjoining sections when said compressing means is released to return to a relaxed state.

Claim 45

The band of claim 1 wherein said distal member comprises a plurality of elongate elements which extend from the interior of said lumen.

Claim 46

The band of claim 33 wherein said distal member comprises a plurality of elongate elements having exposed sections axially aligned in a file within said lumen.

Claim 47

The band of claim 35 wherein said elements extend substantially across said lumen when said compressing means is in said relaxed state.

Claim 48

The band of claim 35 wherein the portions of said elongate elements proximate to said compressing means are joined together.

Claim 49

A band for surgically ligating an anatomical organ structure, comprising: means made of an elastic material and having an expansible lumen for compressing a loop of an anatomical organ structure drawn into said lumen; and means joined to said compressing means proximate to said lumen and having a plurality of elongate elements oriented towards the longitudinal axis of said lumen for protruding through said loop and retentively grasping any anatomical tissue member embraced between folded sections of the anatomical organ structure forming said loop without penetrating the wall tissue of the anatomical organ structure forming said loop, each of said elongate elements extending across at least one-quarter of the width of said lumen and effectively dividing said lumen into two adjoining sections when said compressing means is released to return to a relaxed state.

Claim 50

A band for surgically ligating an anatomical organ structure, comprising: means made of an elastic material and having an expansible lumen for compressing a loop of an anatomical organ structure drawn into said lumen; and means joined to said compressing means proximate to said lumen and having a plurality of elongate elements oriented towards the longitudinal axis of said lumen for protruding through said loop and retentively grasping any anatomical tissue member embraced between folded sections of the anatomical organ structure forming said loop without penetrating the wall tissue of the anatomical organ structure forming said loop, each of said elongate elements extending across at least one-quarter of the width of said lumen and effectively dividing said lumen into two adjoining sections when said compressing means is released to return to a relaxed state.

Claim 51

The band of claim 1 wherein said elongate elements extend from diametrically opposite sides of the interior of said lumen.

Claim 52

The band of claim 38 wherein said elongate elements have exposed sections axially aligned in only two diametrically opposite files within said lumen.

Claim 53

The band of claim 40 wherein said files form an interleaved array of said elements when said compressing means is in said relaxed state.

Claim 54

The band of claim 40 wherein said files form a meshed array of said elements when said compressing means is in said relaxed state.

Claim 55

The band of claim 40 wherein in each file, the portions of said elongate elements proximate to said compressing means are joined together.