TELESCOPING SERIAL ELASTIC BAND LIGATOR

A ligating band dispenser has a plurality of elastic ligating bands at least one of which is supported on each of a series of partially nested cylinders. Inner and intermediate cylinders comprise axially sliding cylinders for dispensing the ligating bands. An outer cylinder, which may be attached to the distal end of an elongated introducer, surrounds at least the proximal portion of the intermediate cylinder and is adapted to receive the sliding cylinders slide into its distal end. A trip wire is connected to the inner cylinder and extends proximally therefrom through the elongated introducer. The trip wire is adapted to cause an axially sliding motion of the sliding cylinders during an application of force to the trip wire. A restraining means is associated with each sliding cylinder to restrain sliding motion thereof during the application of force to the trip wire. Finally, a releasing means is provided to release the restraining means associated with one of the sliding cylinders upon the application of the pulling force. The released sliding cylinder slides in response to the applied pulling force while a distal end of one of the intermediate and outer cylinders pushes the ligating band therefrom. According to this construction, at least two ligating bands may be independently dispensed onto tissue at one or more designated sites thereby accomplishing ligation thereof.