A self-regulating gastric band apparatus for adjusting stoma size is
disclosed. The apparatus includes an adjustable gastric band that has an
expandable portion containing a volume of fluid. A band adjustment
assembly is provided for implanting with the gastric band that includes a
sensor for sensing fluid pressure in the expandable portion. The band
adjustment assembly further includes a pump assembly connected to the
expandable portion and to a controller that can operate the pump assembly
to adjust the volume of the fluid in the band based on the sensed fluid
pressure. The band adjustment assembly includes memory storing an
operating range relative to a target fluid pressure, and the pump
assembly is operated to maintain the sensed band pressure within the
operating range. The target pressure is set to maintain pressure
variations below a predefined variation limit generally corresponding
with satiated fill volumes for a particular patient and implanted band.