Patent ID: 7351198

Claim:
An implantable adjustable sphincter system for treatment of a medical condition of a patient comprising: (a) a band configured to encircle a portion of an anatomical passageway and to resiliently receive and hold fluid; (b) a manual pump responsive to manual palpation; (c) a reservoir in fluid communication with said manual pump; and (d) a valve assembly in fluid communication with said band and said manual pump, said valve assembly comprising: (i) 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; and (ii) 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; wherein said valve assembly is operable to be switched between said first configuration and said second 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; wherein said manual pump is adapted to be implanted within a patient's body against fascia that resists inward pressure; and wherein said valve assembly provides percutaneous tactile feedback indicating whether said valve assembly is in said first configuration or said second configuration; 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, and wherein said valve assembly is operable to be placed in the second configuration in response to a second ultrasound emission.