Patent ID: 7901419

Claim:
A method of laparoscopically implanting a gastric band comprising a telemetrically-driven mechanical actuator within a patient's abdominal cavity to control passage of food through the patient's stomach, the method comprising: providing a gastric band comprising an elongated member having a flexible element sealingly encapsulated in the elongated member, the flexible element defining a helical screw thread having a core wire and a first helical spring disposed on the core wire, the first helical spring having a rectangular or a trapezoidal transverse profile, the helical screw thread having a second helical spring interwound with the first helical spring to define a pitch of the first helical spring, and the gastric band having a telemetrically-driven mechanical actuator that engages the helical screw thread to selectively constrict the elongated member against the patient's stomach; inserting a plurality of cannulae into the abdominal cavity; insufflating of the abdominal cavity to create a pneumoperitoneum; dissecting tissue surrounding the stomach to create a path for the elongated member using a first tool inserted into one of the cannulae; introducing the gastric band into the abdominal cavity; grasping the gastric band with a second tool placed through a cannula; and manipulating the elongated member to encircle the patient's stomach and form a stoma opening within the stomach.