Patent ID: 7753841

Claim:
A gastric ring for treatment of obesity, comprising: an elongate band configured and dimensioned to surround the stomach of a patient, the band having, at one end portion thereof an eyelet and, at an opposite end portion, a snap fit catch for engaging the eyelet to hold the band in a ring shape around the stomach, the band including a deformable zone which is elastically deformable in the longitudinal direction of the band, the deformable zone defining a pair of bearing points separated longitudinally along the band; and at least two biodegradable rigid elements positioned in the deformable zone of the band adjacent the at least two bearing points, the rigid elements positioned such that the at least two bearing points are maintained at a distance less than the distance separating the two bearing points prior to degradation of the rigid elements, the band, when in position around the stomach of the patient, imparting substantially uniform, non-aggressive compression to the stomach to restrict stomach dimensions.