An implantable cuff comprising: an elastic collar defining an internal opening configured to receive an internal body tissue, at least a portion of said elastic collar including at least one stiffening region having a stiffness greater than a second region of said elastic collar, wherein said elastic collar comprises oppositely disposed first and second arm members (46, 48) that are flexibly joined to one another via a hinge region, said first arm member having a distal end portion configured for attachment to a distal end portion of said second arm member via an attachment mechanism, wherein each of said first and second arm members (46, 48) includes first and second tissue contact portions (52,54), respectively, that are spaced apart from one another by said hinge region, each of said first and second tissue contacting portions (52, 54) including one or more of said at least one conductive segment and one or more of said at least one stiffening region, wherein said distal end portion of each of said first and second arm members (46, 48) is spaced apart from said first and second tissue contacting portions (52, 54) by first and second bendable regions (60, 62), respectively, each of said first and second bendable regions (60, 62) having a flexibility that is greater than the flexibility of each of said first and second tissue contacting portions (52, 54), and wherein at least one of said bendable regions (52, 54) includes a weakened section configured to tear at a pre-determined internal pressure of said elastic collar, at least one conductive segment disposed on or within said elastic collar, at least one conductor in electrical communication with said at least one conductive segment, said at least one conductor being configured to operably mate with an apparatus configured for delivering electrical stimulation to, and/or recording an electrical activity of, the internal body tissue. an elastic collar defining an internal opening configured to receive an internal body tissue, at least a portion of said elastic collar including at least one stiffening region having a stiffness greater than a second region of said elastic collar, wherein said elastic collar comprises oppositely disposed first and second arm members (46, 48) that are flexibly joined to one another via a hinge region, said first arm member having a distal end portion configured for attachment to a distal end portion of said second arm member via an attachment mechanism, wherein each of said first and second arm members (46, 48) includes first and second tissue contact portions (52,54), respectively, that are spaced apart from one another by said hinge region, each of said first and second tissue contacting portions (52, 54) including one or more of said at least one conductive segment and one or more of said at least one stiffening region, wherein said distal end portion of each of said first and second arm members (46, 48) is spaced apart from said first and second tissue contacting portions (52, 54) by first and second bendable regions (60, 62), respectively, each of said first and second bendable regions (60, 62) having a flexibility that is greater than the flexibility of each of said first and second tissue contacting portions (52, 54), and wherein at least one of said bendable regions (52, 54) includes a weakened section configured to tear at a pre-determined internal pressure of said elastic collar, at least one conductive segment disposed on or within said elastic collar, at least one conductor in electrical communication with said at least one conductive segment, said at least one conductor being configured to operably mate with an apparatus configured for delivering electrical stimulation to, and/or recording an electrical activity of, the internal body tissue.