Patent ID: 8469978

Claim:
A surgical band device that is laparoscopically implantable within a patient's body, comprising: a flexible expansion-resistant section having first and second ends, the expansion-resistant section having a flat face extending along its length between the first and second ends, the expansion-resistant section being of uniform-cross section between the first and second ends; and a lockable latch having first and second latch parts coupled to the first and second ends of the expansion-resistant section; wherein the first and second latch parts have a fixed longitudinal curvature when the first and second latch parts are unlocked; and wherein the expansion-resistant section having a longitudinally extending configuration along its length when the first and second latch parts are unlocked and the surgical band device is fed laparoscopically through tissue within the patient's body and a radial shape configuration along its length when the first and second latch parts are locked and the surgical band device is positioned around tissue within the patient's body; wherein the first latch part of the lockable latch including an exterior body having an interior lumen, said exterior body having side through-openings communicating with said lumen, said lumen including a front opening, wherein said front opening is lined with an inwardly-beveled face; wherein the first and second latch parts of said lockable latch are engaged by a male-female type engagement; wherein the second latch part of the lockable latch including two lateral prongs extending from a prong body, said prong body having an outwardly-beveled face, said lateral prongs extending forward of said prong body and ending in two corresponding lateral catches, said lateral catches including angled side faces for engaging with said lumen of said first latch part, said lateral catches further engaging in a lockable one-way engagement with said side openings of said first latch part when said first and second latch parts are fully engaged and wherein upon full engagement, said outwardly-beveled face of said second latch part mates with said inwardly beveled face of said first latch part.