Abstract: The tubal ligation instrument of the present invention includes structure for ligating anatomical tubes within the human or animal body, and structure for anesthetizing the anatomical tubes being ligated. An example of an anatomical tube is a Fallopian tube. The instrument further includes a structure for grasping the anatomical element. The grasping structure extends through a channel in the instrument housing. Usually the grasping structure is a rod having forceps tongs at one end with a flat surface formed on a side portion of the rod. Consequently, the rod does not occupy the entire housing leaving a channel between the rod and the housing. On an outside surface of the instrument housing is an anesthesia receiving means, typically a stopcock. A channel through the stopcock, through which anesthesia may flow, is capable of communicating with the channel between the rod and the housing.

Abstract: A surgical ligating instrument is provided for tubal ligation within the human and/or animal body, by the application of two or more elastic rings to anatomical tubes such as Fallopian tubes. The instrument is constructed to grasp a Fallopian tube, to draw it into an elongated tubular member, and to discharge a stretched elastic ring on the Fallopian tube to perform the ligation procedure, followed by grasping the other Fallopian tube and discharging another similarly stretched elastic ring thereon, without removing the instrument from the patient's body.