New technology allows daily medications to be taken once a week or month

Capsule

Drug-containing

elements

Stomach

1. Once swallowed, the capsule maintains its integrity until it reaches the stomach where the capsule dissolves and the drug-containing elements emerge

Arms

containing

drug doses

Flexible

core

Small

intestine

2. Arms connected to a flexible core ensure it maintains its desired shape while in the stomach to prevent passage to the small intestine

The drugs are

released over a

set timeframe

3. At the end of the time period the linkers that connect the arms to the core soften and disintegrate, exiting the body through the intestines

Capsule

The drugs are

released over a

set timeframe

Arms

containing

drug doses

Drug-containing

elements

Flexible

core

Stomach

Small

intestine

1. Once swallowed, the capsule maintains its integrity until it reaches the stomach where the capsule dissolves and the drug-containing elements emerge

2. Arms connected to a flexible core ensure it maintains its desired shape while in the stomach to prevent passage to the small intestine

3. At the end of the time period the linkers that connect the arms to the core soften and disintegrate, exiting the body through the intestines