Patent ID: 8029456

Claim:
A compact intravaginal device applicator assembly having a longitudinal axis comprising; a) an elongate barrel having an insertion end configured to provide a first opening and an opposite gripper end, wherein the gripper end has a second opening that is smaller than the first opening; b) an intravaginal device having a major dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the assembly that is greater than a corresponding dimension of the second opening; c) a plunger that is slidably positioned within the barrel and that comprises: i) a hollow tube having a first end contained within the barrel and a second end, opposite the first, extending through the second opening of the barrel and having slits extending from the first end and terminating a distance spaced from a second end, to form a plurality of flaps having side edges defined by the slits, ii) a restraint attached proximate to the first end of the tube, arranged and configured to separate the flaps to accommodate the intravaginal device within the barrel.