Implantable sphincter assistance device with shell-to-shell orientation controlled by fields of adjacent magnets

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) at least one link;
• and
• (b) a plurality of beads joined using the at least one link and configured to be arranged in an annular arrangement, wherein the annular arrangement is sized and configured to form a loop around an anatomical structure in a patient, wherein the loop is configured to move between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the loop in the contracted configuration is configured to prevent fluid flow through the anatomical structure, wherein the loop in the expanded configuration is configured to permit fluid flow through the anatomical structure, each bead of the plurality of beads comprising:
• (i) a housing that includes a magnet chamber, and
• (ii) a magnet positioned within the magnet chamber and configured to emit a magnetic field to magnetically bias the loop toward the contracted configuration, and wherein a consistent angular orientation of adjacent housings of the plurality of beads in the annular arrangement is configured to be provided by each of the following adjustment parameters:
• (A) a directionality of the magnet by allowing for twisting of a first portion of the magnet relative to a second portion of the magnet within the magnet chamber, wherein the twisting includes a deformation of the magnet, and
• (B) a freedom of the magnet to move within the magnet chamber by allowing the magnet to move laterally within the magnet chamber.

A method of using an apparatus including a plurality of beads serially joined via at least one link, the method comprising:

• coupling the apparatus around an outer surface of a lower esophageal sphincter, the apparatus forming an annular arrangement around the lower esophageal sphincter, and wherein adjacent housings of the plurality of beads in the annular arrangement maintain a consistent angular orientation using at least one of the following adjustment parameters:
• a magnitude of magnetic fields of adjacent magnets disposed in the adjacent housings by altering a distance between the adjacent housings,
• a directionality of the adjacent magnets within adjacent magnet chambers of the plurality of beads by allowing for twist of a magnet of the adjacent magnets within a respective magnet chamber of the adjacent magnet chambers, or
• a freedom of the adjacent magnets to move within the respective adjacent magnet chambers by allowing the adjacent magnets to move laterally within the respective adjacent magnet chambers;
• and
• deforming the magnet of the adjacent magnets such that a first portion of the magnet deformably moves relative to a second portion of the magnet.