Patent ID: 8105392

Claim:
A valve structure for a sphincter in a body lumen, the valve structure comprising: a tubular valve body having proximal and distal ends, the valve body having an intermediate section which is between the proximal and distal ends, the valve body having an inner surface and a lumen, the lumen having a transverse boundary which is defined by the inner surface of the valve body, the inner surface which is within the intermediate section having a cross-sectional area which is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the inner surface which coincides with the proximal end; wherein the valve structure comprises a flow restrictor comprising one or more baffles which are secured to the inner surface of the valve body, wherein the baffles are formed of a compressible material, wherein the baffles are transversely and longitudinally offset relative to the valve body; and wherein the baffles are separated from adjacent baffles by a distance.