Medication Bottle Opener

thingiverse

I'm excited to share this update with everyone - June 21st will mark the meeting with Express Scripts, where I'll be showcasing a refined prototype designed specifically to help individuals get it to market sooner rather than later. On February 25th, I stumbled upon an article in EdTech Magazine that showcased student-designed solutions for tackling everyday challenges. One such project caught my eye: using 3D printing technology to assist people with disabilities. The same principle inspired me when my father was struggling with pill bottle caps - his Multiple Sclerosis had left him with difficulties opening regular bottles. To address this issue, I decided to work on a tool that could simplify the process for people in similar situations. This new version can handle 90-day pill bottles, and it grips either the bottom or top of bottles firmly. For best results, placing the bottle on top of it on a flat surface seems to work smoothly. Print Settings: Rafts: Doesn't Matter Supports: No Resolution: Lower is Better Infill: 15-20% Notes: Increasing the layer height allows for better grip, but reduces the smoothness of the final product. A compromise must be struck based on personal preference and time available. With a .3mm thickness, printing can take just over an hour. How I Designed This: Mock Ups: I initially created mockups using Inventor software due to its inclusion in my high school curriculum. Each model relied heavily on pill bottle dimensions with the intention of potentially integrating OpenSCAD to create custom versions. In the second design iteration, feedback suggested changing the handle for accessibility - allowing users without a full grip range to still use it via levers instead. Additionally, I added an internal ring for handling smaller caps in case users require that option as well. Here's a series of mockup progressions: Mock-up 1 Mock-up 2 By the time we reach the final model design stage (mock-up 3), the only modification was to reduce that dimension slightly from 1.5mm to 1.475mm, but this was after I received crucial user feedback during Venture Cafe. Displaying Customized Products at Venture Cafe: On October 23rd last year, I showcased my Medication Bottle Opener project to gather user input - and surprisingly found myself met with enthusiastic support! There were sales reps on site that took note of my design with potential use in their business for free. Encouraged by the interest expressed during this session, I now think about collaborating closely with an injection mold specialist. One important development since then: you can select whether to add a handle option (just like shown here: no_handle), as a matter of choice - depending on how your daily routine requires that specific function or simplicity. Additional Help: I wanted to add one last point regarding people struggling with difficult-to-open pill containers – don't be shy and simply request easy-open options from pharmacies for better experience management!