Implantable adjustable sphincter system

An implantable adjustable sphincter system for treatment of obesity, comprising:

• a band configured to encircle a portion of the patient's stomach and to resiliently receive and hold fluid;
• a manual pump responsive to manual palpation;
• and
• a valve assembly in fluid communication with said band and said manual pump, said valve assembly comprising:
• a first configuration, wherein said first configuration permits fluid to flow away from the band and prevents fluid from flowing toward the band, and
• a second configuration, wherein said second configuration permits fluid to flow toward the band and prevents fluid from flowing away from the band and a third configuration, wherein said third configuration prohibits fluid from flowing into or out of the band;
• wherein said valve assembly further comprises a mechanism responsive to ultrasound, wherein said valve assembly is operable to be placed in the first configuration in response to a first ultrasound emission, wherein said valve assembly is operable to be placed in the second configuration in response to a second ultrasound emission, and wherein said valve assembly is operable to be placed in the third configuration in response to a third ultrasound emission;
• wherein said manual pump is in fluid communication with said valve assembly and said band;
• and
• wherein said manual pump is manually operable to transfer fluid to said band in response to manual palpation when said valve assembly is in said second configuration.

A method of using an implantable adjustable sphincter system for treatment of obesity, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a gastric band system, wherein the gastric band system comprises:
• (i) a gastric band, wherein the gastric band is sized and configured to encircle a portion of the patient's stomach and to resiliently receive and hold fluid,
• (ii) a manual pump responsive to manual palpation,
• (iii) a reservoir in fluid communication with said manual pump, and
• (iv) a valve assembly in fluid communication with said band and said manual pump, said valve assembly comprising:
• a first configuration, wherein said first configuration permits fluid from the band to flow toward the reservoir, wherein said first configuration prevents fluid from flowing from the reservoir toward the band,
• a second configuration, wherein said second configuration permits fluid from the reservoir to flow toward the band, wherein said second configuration prevents fluid from flowing from the band toward the reservoir, and
• a third configuration, wherein said third configuration prohibits fluid from flowing into or out of the band;
• wherein said valve assembly is operable to be switched between said first configuration, said second configuration, and said third configuration;
• wherein said manual pump is in fluid communication with said valve assembly and said reservoir, wherein said manual pump is manually operable to transfer fluid between said reservoir and said band in response to manual palpation when said valve assembly is in said second configuration;
• (b) securing the gastric band about an upper portion of a patient's stomach, thereby forming a stoma;
• (c) increasing pressure in the band to reduce the size of the stoma, thereby restricting passage of food from the upper portion of the patient's stomach to a lower portion of the patient's stomach, without completely preventing passage of food through the stoma into the lower portion of the patient's stomach;
• and
• (d) maintaining the pressure in the band obtained as a result of the act of increasing pressure.