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An implantable adjustable sphincter system is comprised of a band configured to encircle a portion of an anatomical passageway, a manual pump, a reservoir in fluid communication with the pump, and a valve assembly in fluid communication with the band and the manual pump. The valve assembly is compri

An implantable adjustable sphincter system is comprised of a band configured to encircle a portion of an anatomical passageway, a manual pump, a reservoir in fluid communication with the pump, and a valve assembly in fluid communication with the band and the manual pump. The valve assembly is comprised of a first configuration and a second configuration, and is operable to be manually switched between configurations. The first configuration only permits fluid to flow from the band toward the reservoir. The second configuration only permits fluid to flow from the reservoir toward the band. The manual pump is in fluid communication with the valve assembly and the reservoir, and is manually operable to transfer fluid between the reservoir and the band when the valve assembly is in the second configuration.

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What is claimed is: 1. An implantable adjustable sphincter system for treatment of a medical condition of a patient comprising: (a) a band configured to encircle a portion of an anatomical passageway and to resiliently receive and hold fluid; (b) a manual pump responsive to manual palpation; (c) a

What is claimed is: 1. An implantable adjustable sphincter system for treatment of a medical condition of a patient comprising: (a) a band configured to encircle a portion of an anatomical passageway and to resiliently receive and hold fluid; (b) a manual pump responsive to manual palpation; (c) a reservoir in fluid communication with said manual pump; and (d) a valve assembly in fluid communication with said band and said manual pump, said valve assembly comprising: (i) a first configuration, wherein said first configuration permits fluid from the band to flow toward the reservoir, wherein said first configuration prevents fluid from flowing from the reservoir toward the band; and (ii) a second configuration, wherein said second configuration permits fluid from the reservoir to flow toward the band, wherein said second configuration prevents fluid from flowing from the band toward the reservoir; wherein said valve assembly is operable to be switched between said first configuration and said second configuration; wherein said manual pump is in fluid communication with said valve assembly and said reservoir, wherein said manual pump is manually operable to transfer fluid between said reservoir and said band in response to manual palpation when said valve assembly is in said second configuration; wherein said manual pump is adapted to be implanted within a patient's body against fascia that resists inward pressure; and wherein said valve assembly provides percutaneous tactile feedback indicating whether said valve assembly is in said first configuration or said second configuration; wherein said valve assembly further comprises a mechanism responsive to ultrasound, wherein said valve assembly is operable to be placed in the first configuration in response to a first ultrasound emission, and wherein said valve assembly is operable to be placed in the second configuration in response to a second ultrasound emission. 2. The implantable adjustable sphincter system of claim 1, wherein said valve assembly is operable to be switched between said first configuration and said second configuration percutaneously. 3. The implantable adjustable sphincter system of claim 1, wherein said manual pump further comprises a silicone bulb. 4. The implantable adjustable sphincter system of claim 1, said valve assembly further comprising a third configuration, wherein said third configuration prohibits fluid from flowing into or out of the band, wherein said valve assembly is operable to be switched between said first configuration, said second configuration, and said third configuration. 5. The implantable adjustable sphincter system of claim 1, wherein said valve assembly further comprises a mechanism responsive to manual palpation, wherein said mechanism is operable to switch said valve assembly between the first configuration, the second configuration, and the third configuration in response to manual palpation. 6. The implantable adjustable sphincter system of claim 1, wherein said first ultrasound emission is at a first ultrasound frequency, wherein said second ultrasound emission is at a second ultrasound frequency. 7. The implantable adjustable sphincter system of claim 1, wherein said first ultrasound emission is in a first pattern, wherein said second ultrasound emission is in a second pattern. 8. An implantable adjustable sphincter system for treatment of obesity, comprising: a band configured to encircle a portion of the patient's stomach and to resiliently receive and hold fluid; a manual pump responsive to manual palpation; and a valve assembly in fluid communication with said band and said manual pump, said valve assembly comprising: a first configuration, wherein said first configuration permits fluid to flow away from the band and prevents fluid from flowing toward the band, and a second configuration, wherein said second configuration permits fluid to flow toward the band and prevents fluid from flowing away from the band and a third configuration, wherein said third configuration prohibits fluid from flowing into or out of the band; wherein said valve assembly further comprises a mechanism responsive to ultrasound, wherein said valve assembly is operable to be placed in the first configuration in response to a first ultrasound emission, wherein said valve assembly is operable to be placed in the second configuration in response to a second ultrasound emission, and wherein said valve assembly is operable to be placed in the third configuration in response to a third ultrasound emission; wherein said manual pump is in fluid communication with said valve assembly and said band; and wherein said manual pump is manually operable to transfer fluid to said band in response to manual palpation when said valve assembly is in said second configuration. 9. A method of using an implantable adjustable sphincter system for treatment of obesity, the method comprising: (a) providing a gastric band system, wherein the gastric band system comprises: (i) a gastric band, wherein the gastric band is sized and configured to encircle a portion of the patient's stomach and to resiliently receive and hold fluid, (ii) a manual pump responsive to manual palpation, (iii) a reservoir in fluid communication with said manual pump, and (iv) a valve assembly in fluid communication with said band and said manual pump, said valve assembly comprising: a first configuration, wherein said first configuration permits fluid from the band to flow toward the reservoir, wherein said first configuration prevents fluid from flowing from the reservoir toward the band, a second configuration, wherein said second configuration permits fluid from the reservoir to flow toward the band, wherein said second configuration prevents fluid from flowing from the band toward the reservoir, and a third configuration, wherein said third configuration prohibits fluid from flowing into or out of the band; wherein said valve assembly is operable to be switched between said first configuration, said second configuration, and said third configuration; wherein said manual pump is in fluid communication with said valve assembly and said reservoir, wherein said manual pump is manually operable to transfer fluid between said reservoir and said band in response to manual palpation when said valve assembly is in said second configuration; (b) securing the gastric band about an upper portion of a patient's stomach, thereby forming a stoma; (c) increasing pressure in the band to reduce the size of the stoma, thereby restricting passage of food from the upper portion of the patient's stomach to a lower portion of the patient's stomach, without completely preventing passage of food through the stoma into the lower portion of the patient's stomach; and (d) maintaining the pressure in the band obtained as a result of the act of increasing pressure. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the act of increasing pressure in the band comprises manually palpating the manual pump. 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising reducing pressure in the band to increase the size of the stoma. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the act of reducing pressure comprises manually palpating the manual pump. 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the valve assembly comprises at least two one-way valves. 14. The method of claim 9, wherein said valve assembly is operable to be switched between said first configuration and said second configuration percutaneously. 15. The method of claim 9, wherein said valve assembly further comprises a mechanism responsive to manual palpation, wherein said mechanism is operable to switch said valve assembly between the first configuration and the second configuration in response to manual palpation. 16. The method of claim 9, wherein said manual pump further comprises a silicone bulb. 17. The method of claim 9, wherein said valve assembly further comprises a mechanism responsive to manual palpation, wherein said mechanism is operable to switch said valve assembly between the first configuration, the second configuration, and the third configuration in response to manual palpation. 18. The method of claim 9, wherein said valve assembly further comprises a mechanism responsive to ultrasound, wherein said valve assembly is operable to be placed in the first configuration in response to a first ultrasound emission, and wherein said valve assembly is operable to be placed in the second configuration in response to a second ultrasound emission. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said first ultrasound emission is at a first ultrasound frequency, wherein said second ultrasound emission is at a second ultrasound frequency. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein said first ultrasound emission is in a first pattern, wherein said second ultrasound emission is in a second pattern.