A Dual-Wall 3D-Printed Anti-tampering Medical Bottle

Smart packaging tailored for unique access has been in increasing demand, especially in the field of prescribed opioid. This study features an opioid smart package that consists of a dual-wall medical bottle with deterrent liquids between the walls. The inner container is made of brittle polylactic acid (PLA), while the outer container is made of impact-resistant acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Both inner and outer containers were designed through SolidWorks and 3D-printed using corresponding materials. The design includes compartments inside the walls (of the dual-wall bottle) that hold deterrent liquids. Upon abuse of the bottle, the inner container made of brittle PLA breaks first, exposing the pills to the trapped liquid and rendering them unusable. Variables including wall thickness, the gap distance between the walls of the inner and outer containers, and channel widths, were systematically studied to find the set of specifications that results in optimal tamper resistance property. Additionally, the anti-tampering performance of the dual-wall medical bottle was tested using several common tampering approaches.