Adjustable gastric band implants contain a hollow elastomeric balloon with
fixed end points encircling a patient's stomach just inferior to the
esophago-gastric junction. These balloons can expand and contract through
the introduction of saline solution into the balloon. In current bands,
this saline solution must be injected into a subcutaneous port with a
needle to reach the port located below the skin surface. The port
communicates hydraulically with the band via a catheter. As an
alternative to using a percutaneously accessed injection port, a system
for regulating the flow of saline that is totally implanted may rely upon
bi-directionally pumping fluid from an implant device. This system
instead transfers AC magnetic flux energy from an external primary coil
to a secondary coil that powers the pump in the implanted reservoir. A
magnetically permeable rod centered within the primary coil increases
power coupled to the secondary coil.