Patent ID: 7824422

Claim:
A gastroplasty ring configured to form a loop about a stomach having a stoma, comprising: a flexible band having an outside surface and a first end part and a second end part; a closure system for reducing a diameter of an opening of the stoma by forming a loop around the stomach towards the first and the second end parts; and at least one grab tab projecting from said outside surface of the loop, the at least one grab tab being configured to assist in joining and separating the two end parts, the at least one grab tab comprising: a first grab tab, disposed proximal to the first end part, configured for separating the first end part from the second end part; and a second grab tab, spaced from the first and disposed at the second end part, configured for joining the first end part and the second end part together and further configured to unlock the first end part from the second part; said grab tabs being configured to be simultaneously manipulated in opposite directions during unlocking such that said ring experiences essentially symmetric opposed forces for providing partial and momentary slacking of the ring.