Self-adjusting gastric band having various compliant components annd/or a satiety booster

A gastric banding system for the treatment of obesity that provides a satiety boost to a patient in response to the patient pressing on a portion of the gastric banding system, the gastric banding system comprising:

• a gastric band having an inflatable portion and a ring coupled to the inflatable portion to facilitate disposing the gastric band about an esophageal-gastric junction of the patient;
• an access port in fluid communication with the gastric band, the access port configured to receive a needle and providing the gastric band system with fluid;
• and
• a satiety boosting bladder in fluid communication with the gastric band and the access port, the satiety boosting bladder configured to transfer fluid to the inflatable portion of the gastric band in response to external pressure exerted on the satiety boosting bladder.

A gastric banding system for the treatment of obesity that adjusts a gastric band when a large bolus of food is swallowed by a patient or when the patient presses on his skin to activate a satiety booster, the system comprising:

• an inflatable portion of the gastric band, the gastric band being disposable about an esophageal-gastric junction of the patient;
• a ring coupled to the inflatable portion for providing support to the inflatable portion and for securing the inflatable portion around the patient's stomach, wherein the ring flexes in response to the large bolus to facilitate allowing the large bolus to pass through a constriction formed by the gastric band;
• a first compliant portion fluidly coupled to the inflatable portion for automatically receiving a first amount of fluid from the inflatable portion when the large bolus enters the esophageal-gastric junction, to assist in relaxing the constriction formed by the gastric band and allowing the large bolus to pass through the constriction;
• a non-compliant bladder fluidly coupled to the gastric band, the non-compliant bladder providing an increase of satiety to a patient by transferring fluid to the inflatable portion in response to the patient pressing on his skin;
• an access port fluidly coupled to the inflatable portion and the bladder via tubing to fill and drain the inflatable portion and the bladder;
• and
• a second compliant portion fluidly coupled to the access port for automatically receiving a second amount of fluid from the access port when the large bolus enters the esophageal-gastric junction, to assist in relaxing the constriction formed by the gastric band and allowing the large bolus to pass through the constriction.