Patent ID: 7601162

Claim:
An assembly for treatment of a medical condition comprising: (a) an actuator assembly, wherein said actuator assembly is configured for implantation; (b) an extensible implantable band, said extensible implantable band having first and second ends and an external surface, wherein said extensible implantable band is associated with said actuator assembly, wherein the extensible implantable band is sized and configured to fit around a portion of a human patient's stomach, wherein the external surface of the extensible implantable band defines an inner opening; and (c) an extensible actuator, said extensible actuator comprising (i) first and second ends, and (ii) at least one sidewall extending between said first and second ends, said at least one sidewall defining a reference axis in a longitudinally extended position; said first and second ends of said extensible actuator defining a first length therebetween along said reference axis when said extensible actuator is retracted to a longitudinally retracted position; said first and second ends of said extensible actuator defining a second length therebetween along said reference axis when said extensible actuator is expanded to a longitudinally extended position, wherein the second length is greater than the first length; wherein the first end of the extensible actuator is secured adjacent to the first end of the extensible implantable band, wherein the second end of the extensible actuator is secured adjacent to the second end of the extensible implantable band, wherein said extensible actuator is configured to expand from said first length to said second length to effect changes in said extensible implantable band, such that the size of the inner opening increases as the extensible actuator expands, and such that the size of the inner opening decreases as the extensible actuator retracts.