Patent ID: 8523885

Claim:
Apparatus for regulating functioning of a patient's organ or duct, comprising: an elongated member having a first end and a second end; a fastener disposed on the first end of the elongated member, the fastener configured to engage the second end of the elongated member so that the elongated member forms a loop around the organ or duct; a tension element disposed for movement within the elongated member, the tension element including a free end and a fixed end; a drive element associated with and engaging the tension element for causing the tension element to control tension applied by the elongated member against a patient's body organ or duct; a load monitor ensuring that excessive pressure is not applied to the patient's body organ or duct; and a tension element release system, wherein the fixed end of the tension element is secured via a release mechanism allowing selective release of the fixed end of the tension element for release of the applied tension.