this post was submitted on 27 Jan 2024
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My first attempt at a commercial 3D print: an asthma inhaler body that can flip into a slimmer form so it doesnt jut out and dug into legs or tear pants. What do you guys think?

Edit: Hi all, it seems like the general consensus is that this is a dangerous product. I really believed that I was making something helpful but that may not be the case. I have decided to take down the listing from Cults3D. Thank you for your feedback.

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[–] [email protected] 65 points 7 months ago (11 children)

Design looks slick and I'm glad it's solving a problem that you have, but as someone who works in medtech I have to say - actually selling this as a product would probably be classed as a "Bold Move".

The product you are marketing is controlling the dispensing of a drug, so is pretty unambiguously a Medical Device. The details vary by country and exactly which category this ends up in, but you are almost certainly required by law to seek approval from the regulators for any jurisdiction that you are marketing this product in. I'm not totally clear if "selling designs to produce a Device" would attract the same level of scrutiny as "selling a Device", but generally I'd recommend not screwing with the FDA.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 7 months ago (5 children)

Also, I would be extremely concerned about germs and things getting into the layer cracks. FDM printing is okay for single-use, but they can't be cleaned properly for prolonged use.

Somebody catching something because they took their medecine from an inhaler that's been floating around in their purse/pocket/backpack... is going to prove problematic. I know that medical devices require strict testing in the US.

Still it's a remarkably slick device. I'm just not sure FDM printing is the way to go here.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I agree. Admittedly I haven't dealt with the legal side in years and never outside my own country. But definitely talk to a specialist lawyer or other expert about it. Because of the oral application it might not even be the lowest level of medical device anymore. And with that comes a multitude of regulations. From durability to material to production environment.

I like the idea and as someone who had to use a dispenser in my youth, I appreciate the smaller profile of it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

FWIW, resin may be better.

But I definite, OP should chat with somebody that knows more- I just know enough to say that much.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Isn't the type of plastic used in resin prints relatively toxic?

Frankly, I'm not sure there's a good alternative to traditional manufacturing (injection molding or whatever) for this application.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

There are medical grade resins

I’ve not used them, and I’m not an expert, but I assume there’s a way to make them safe for an inhaler.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

It depends on the resin, there is resin that are food safe or even biocompatible

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