Abstract: An ultrasonic friction reducing device is comprised of an ultrasonic generator having a special sweep frequency oscillator, a piezoelectric crystal transducer and a cervical dilator probe. The generator produces an oscillatory electric current for the operation of the device. The piezoelectric crystal transducer converts the oscillatory electric current produced by the generator into a vibratory mechanical motion. The transducer, through mechanical coupling, transmits the ultrasonic energy into the friction reducing probe.

Abstract: The tubal ligation instrument of the present invention includes a structure for ligating anatomical tubes within the human or another animal body, structure for anesthetizing the anatomical tubes being ligated and structure for internally viewing the ligation procedure. An example of an anatomical tube is a Fallopian tube. The instrument further includes a structure for grasping the anatomical element. Usually the grasping structure is a rod having forceps at one end. This rod may be hollow with a valve attached in fluid communication with the rod's rearward end so that anesthesia may be caused to flow through the hollow channel in the rod. The application of anesthesia to an anatomical element is accomplished by introducing the anesthesia through the valve and into the hollow channel of the rod. Thus, a surgeon directing the forward end of the instrument to an anatomical element can apply an anesthetic agent to the anatomical element intraabdominally.

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.