Patent ID: 7997049

Claim:
A process for making a gastro-retentive device having at least the following components: 1) an ingredient section, 2) a membrane combined with and surrounding the ingredient section so as to form a pouch assembly having at least one flap extending from the ingredient section, and a capsule surrounding the pouch assembly and which is capable of disintegrating upon contact with bodily fluids to release the pouch assembly, said capsule having first and second capsule sections; said process comprising the following automated steps: (A) providing a pouch assembly; (B) placing said pouch assembly on a tooling block having a surface and a pocket formed therein which is sized for receiving said pouch assembly, said ingredient section of said pouch assembly being placed over said pocket with said flap extending away from said pocket; (C) folding said flap by pushing said ingredient section of said pouch assembly into said pocket so as to fold said flap around said ingredient section; (D) inserting said pouch assembly folded in step (C) into the first capsule section to form a pouch/first cap assembly; and (E) connecting said pouch/first capsule assembly to the second capsule section to fully encapsulate said pouch assembly.