Patent ID: 7371208

Claim:
An apparatus for treating an anal or urinary incontinent patient comprising a constriction device adapted to be applied on the patient's large intestine or urethra, the constriction device including: an elongate adjustable constriction member adapted to extend in a loop around and constrict the large intestine or urethra, an adjustment device that adjusts the longitudinal extension of the constriction member in the loop to close the intestinal or urethral lumen and release the large intestine or urethra to open the intestinal or urethral lumen, and a layer of a soft material applied on the constriction member, the layer being made of a viscoelastic material of silicone having hardness of less than 20 Shore that is applied on the constriction member, such that the layer is located between the constriction member and the patient's large intestine or urethra at least along a portion of the constriction member, when the constriction device is implanted, to protect the large intestine or urethra from being eroded by the constriction member, the layer of viscoelastic material having an inwardly directed radial extension in said loop, such that when the adjustment device is operated to decrease the longitudinal extension of the constriction member in said loop, the layer of viscoelastic material is forced to expand radially inwardly in the loop so as to have an increased dimension radially inwardly in the loop, causing a corresponding decrease in the cross-sectional area of the intestinal or urethral lumen.