Patent ID: 8337388

Claim:
A device for restricting a cross-sectional area of a cavity formed by a stomach wall, said device comprising: a suction device positionable within the cavity to facilitate constricting the stomach wall towards a restricted configuration; and a band defining a cylindrical wall and a plurality of retaining members formed within said cylindrical wall, said band comprising a plurality of coupled cells, each of said plurality of cells defining a void, each of said plurality of retaining members substantially planar and movable between a retracted position substantially coplanar with an outer surface of said cylindrical wall and disposed within a respective void and an extended position extending radially outwardly from said cylindrical wall, wherein each said retaining member is biased towards the extended position, at least one retaining member of said retaining members comprising a base portion, a tip portion configured to penetrate at least an inner surface of the stomach wall, a barb portion configured to facilitate coupling said device to the stomach wall and retain the stomach wall in the restricted configuration, and a hinge portion configured to facilitate moving said at least one retaining member between the retracted position and the extended position, wherein said tip portion is oriented to generally point in a first direction and said barb portion is oriented to generally point in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, and said hinge portion is between said base portion and said tip portion.