Endoscopic ligation tool and endoscope

Abstract

An endoscopic ligation tool for ligating an internal body tissue such as an esophageal varix, including: an outer cylinder member formed in the shape of a cylinder; an inner cylinder member formed in the shape of a cylinder, which is capable of sliding movement within the outer cylinder member; and an O-ring (ligation band member) which is annular in shape and freely extends and contracts.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to an endoscopic ligation tool and endoscope for ligating a varix that has formed in an internal body tissue, such as the esophagus or stomach. [0002] Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-375526, filed Nov. 5, 2003, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND ART [0003] An esophageal varix ligation technique may be used alone or in combination with endoscopic sclerotherapy, in which a sclerosing agent is injected, as a method for treating a varix that has formed in the esophagus or stomach. In this esophageal varix ligation technique, suction is employed to draw the varix toward a cylindrical endoscopic ligation tool attached to the end of the endoscope, and a pre-attached O-ring is released and suspended around the root of the varix. The varix is then mechanically ligated under the elastic force of the O-ring, and thereby obliterated. As an example of this endoscopic ligation tool, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] Accordingly, the operation of taking up an internal body tissue such as a varix or the like into the inner cylinder member and the operation of ligating the tissue by disconnecting the ligation band member can be carried out through a suction operation performed via the channel. In this case, the attachment to the inserted part of the endoscope simply requires fitting of the outer cylinder member, and therefore can be carried out extremely easily. In addition, there is no need to provide a wire member inside the channel as in the conventional art. As a result, other procedure instruments, such as an injection syringe, etc., can be inserted into the channel, even during the ligation operation.

[0041] The present invention enables the a internal body tissue to be ligated using a simple structure and method, and makes it possible to simplify the technique and reduce the time required for the ligation.

Problems solved by technology

However, the endoscopic ligation tool according to the first reference (Japanese Patent No. 2958219) is problematic in that it requires the attachment of a supply device and tube along the inserted part of the endoscope for supplying liquid to the endoscopic ligation tool, and the preparations for this are troublesome.

Further, in both the endoscopic ligation tool according to the second reference (U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,194) and third reference (Published Japanese translation No. 2002-526194 of International Publication), it is necessary to pass the wire though the channel, so that, in the case where concurrently performing endoscopic sclerotherapy, it is not possible to pass the necessary injection syringe, etc. through the channel.

In addition, the devices disclosed in the second and third references are also problematic in that the assembly operations therefore are complicated.

The endoscopic ligation tool according to the third reference is problematic, however, in that once all the O-rings have been used, it is necessary to start all the preparation operations over from the beginning.

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