US6059797A — Self-disposing ligating band dispenser

Claim 1

Independent Claim 56 words

A ligating band dispenser, comprising a generally tubular self-disposing member, having an outer surface suitable to support at least one ligating band, wherein the self-disposing member is constructed so that during a dispensing operation at least a portion of said member is separated from a remaining portion of said member and said outer surface is reduced.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 56 words

A ligating band dispenser, comprising a generally tubular self-disposing member, having an outer surface suitable to support at least one ligating band, wherein the self-disposing member is constructed so that during a dispensing operation at least a portion of said member is separated from a remaining portion of said member and said outer surface is reduced.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein the member is operatively disposed to yield at least a single linear element during a dispensing operation.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein an element, which forms the member, is adapted to at least partially tear away from the member during a dispensing operation.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 52 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein a portion of an element, such element forming at least in part the member, is adapted to break free, during a dispensing operation, from at least one bond that joins the portion of the element to another, adjacent portion of the element.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 4, wherein a bond is formed from an adhesive.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 4, wherein a bond is formed from a substantially unitary coating.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 4, wherein a bond is formed from a weld.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 4, wherein a bond is formed from a mechanical interlocking connection between the element and the member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 44 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein a portion of an element, such element forming at least in part the member, is adapted to be freed, during a dispensing operation, from another, adjacent portion of the element along a disposing path.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 15 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 9, wherein the disposing path is spiral.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 9, wherein the disposing path is non-spiral.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 9, wherein the disposing path is defined by at least one predefined void.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 9, wherein the disposing path is defined by adjacent surfaces of a spirally wound filament which at least partially forms the self-disposing member.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 32 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 9, wherein the disposing path is defined by a region of the member having a reduced strength relative to other regions of the member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein an axial length of the self-disposing member is reduced during a dispensing operation.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a tubular inner member to receive and be at least partially encompassed by the self-disposing member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 60 words

A ligating band dispenser in accordance with claim 16, wherein an inner periphery of the self-disposing member defines a substantially threaded surface, and an outer periphery of the inner member has a surface which complements and at le ast partially engages the threaded surface of the self-disposing member when the self-disposing member is operatively positioned relative to the inner member.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 51 words

A ligating band dispenser, comprising a self-disposing member formed of a spirally wound element, wherein an outer periphery defined by the spirally wound element is suitable to support at least one ligating band, and wherein the outer periphery of the member is operatively subject to diminishment as the element is unwound.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 51 words

A ligating band dispenser, comprising a self-disposing member formed of a spirally wound element, wherein an outer periphery defined by the spirally wound element is suitable to support at least one ligating band, and wherein the outer periphery of the member is operatively subject to diminishment as the element is unwound.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 13 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 18, wherein the element is a filament.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 29 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 19, further comprising a bonding material, wherein the element is positioned at least partially within the material to form a substantially unified body.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 14 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 18, wherein the member is a wire coil.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 25 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 18, wherein the element defines a protrusion and a recess, wherein the recess complements a shape of the protrusion.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 29 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 22, wherein the protrusion and the recess are oppositely positioned, and when the element is spirally wound, the element releasably engages adjacent windings.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 21 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 18, wherein each winding of the spirally wound element is joined to an adjacent winding.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 55 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 24, wherein each winding is joined to the adjacent winding with a portion of material of the element, wherein the portion of material is weaker relative to the material of the element and will allow a prescribed separation of each winding from a proximal winding during a dispensing operation.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 41 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 18, wherein the element terminates in a free portion, and the free portion allows control of the member to effect dispensing of at least one supported ligating band from a distal end of the member.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 17 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 18, further comprising an inner member which receives the self-disposing member.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 27 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 27, wherein the element interfaces with the inner member to control axial movement of the self-disposing member during a dispensing operation.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 36 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 27, wherein the inner member includes a retaining member to maintain the self-disposing member in a predetermined position when the self-disposing member is operatively positioned relative to the inner member.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 62 words

A ligating band dispenser, comprising: a self-disposing member having a unitary body which is adapted to support at least one ligating band; and a support member which receives the self-disposing member, wherein the self-disposing member is formed as a spirally wound element, and the element is wound to enable distal advancement of the self-disposing member relative to the support member during unwinding.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 62 words

A ligating band dispenser, comprising: a self-disposing member having a unitary body which is adapted to support at least one ligating band; and a support member which receives the self-disposing member, wherein the self-disposing member is formed as a spirally wound element, and the element is wound to enable distal advancement of the self-disposing member relative to the support member during unwinding.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 35 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 30, wherein the element is a filament, and each winding of the element is joined to an adjacent winding with a bonding material in which the element is set.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 14 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 30, wherein the member is a wire coil.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 28 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 30, wherein the element has a male portion and an oppositely positioned female portion, wherein the female portion complements the male portion.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 33 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 33, wherein when the element is spirally wound to form the member, the female portion of the element releasably engages the male portion of an adjacent winding.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 41 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 30, wherein the unitary body has at least one thin-wall portion which is spirally arranged about the member and enables a prescribed element winding to be separated from an adjacent winding during a dispensing operation.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 41 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 30, wherein the element terminates in a free portion, and the free portion allows control of the member to effect dispensing of at least one supported ligating band from a distal end of the member.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 26 words

A dispenser in accordance with claim 30, wherein the element interfaces with the inner member to control axial movement of the member during a dispensing operation.

Claim 41

Independent Claim 113 words

A method of ligating tissue, comprising the steps of: positioning a ligating band dispenser, supporting at least one expanded ligating band, on a distal end of an insertion portion of an endoscope, said dispenser including a self-disposing member formed of a wound element that defines an outer periphery to support the at least one expanded ligating band; inserting the insertion portion, including the dispenser, within a patient; navigating the insertion portion to a desired tissue site; adjacent to the tissue site, drawing that tissue to be ligated within a volume defined by the dispenser; and controlling the self-disposing member to effect an unwinding of the self-disposing member sufficient to dispense a ligating band.

Claim 42

Independent Claim 113 words

A method of ligating tissue, comprising the steps of: positioning a ligating band dispenser, supporting at least one expanded ligating band, on a distal end of an insertion portion of an endoscope, said dispenser including a self-disposing member formed of a wound element that defines an outer periphery to support the at least one expanded ligating band; inserting the insertion portion, including the dispenser, within a patient; navigating the insertion portion to a desired tissue site; adjacent to the tissue site, drawing that tissue to be ligated within a volume defined by the dispenser; and controlling the self-disposing member to effect an unwinding of the self-disposing member sufficient to dispense a ligating band.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 49 words

A ligating band dispenser, comprising a generally tubular self-disposing member, having a unitary outer surface suitable to fully support at least one ligating band, wherein the self-disposing member is constructed so that during a dispensing operation the self-disposing member is at least partially consumed to diminish the outer surface.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 49 words

A ligating band dispenser, comprising a generally tubular self-disposing member, having a unitary outer surface suitable to fully support at least one ligating band, wherein the self-disposing member is constructed so that during a dispensing operation the self-disposing member is at least partially consumed to diminish the outer surface.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-05-09	2003-11-08	2004-05-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-05-09	2007-11-08	2008-05-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-05-09	2011-11-08	2012-05-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Self-disposing ligating band dispenser

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