Controlled release capsule

Claim 1

A capsule for insertion into the rumen of an animal through the oesophagus and adapted to be retained therein while releasing a therapeutic or nutrient composition, said capsule comprising an elongate, tubular body member for housing a quantity of said composition, said tubular body having a leading and a trailing end; and a plurality of elongated wings, each wing being pivotally attached at one end thereof to the body member in the vicinity of the leading end of the latter; each wing being resiliently biased away from a storage position, to which it is pivotable so as to extend along the body member, toward the trailing end thereof, to a laterally extending operative position in which it is at a predetermined angle to the body member, and being constrained against pivoting beyond such angle; each of said wings (a) being formed integrally with the body member, (b) being of arcuate form transversely of its longitudinal extent to define a concave surface which, with the wing in its storage position, contacts the body member, and a convex surface remote from the concave surface; and (c) merging with the body member along a curved, integral hinge connection which is of a curvature corresponding substantially to the curvature of the concave and convex surfaces; such that it is biased to said operative position at said predetermined angle but constrained against pivoting beyond said angle.