Patent ID: 8715706

Claim:
A drug release system comprising: a drug delivery device comprising: an elastic shell containing a pharmaceutical composition, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an active pharmaceutical ingredient, and wherein the shell has an upper end, sides, and a lower portion with an aperture, the upper end and sides impermeable to the active pharmaceutical ingredient and impermeable to fluid; and an elongated tail extending from the shell having at least one hole for releasing the active pharmaceutical agent, wherein the elongated tail is impermeable to the active pharmaceutical ingredient and impermeable to fluid; and a delivery element configured to deliver the shell into an orifice of a body, the delivery element comprising: a housing having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal opening therebetween, wherein: (i) the distal end of the housing is configured to engage the lower portion of the shell, and (ii) the proximal end of the housing terminates in a radially extending first projection; and a plunger having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal opening therebetween, wherein: (i) the plunger is configured to house at least a portion of the elongated tail of the drug delivery device, (ii) a diameter of the plunger is smaller than a diameter of the housing, (iii) the distal end of the plunger sits within the proximal end of the housing, (iv) the plunger is configured to move laterally within the housing, and (v) the proximal end of the plunger terminates in a radially extending second projection.