Background

To establish a durable, single-use solution, this project uses 3D printing to fabricate a custom rigid hanger. It hooks directly onto the IV pole’s accessory hook and holds the vial securely at two points, a neck ring and a base ring, each connected to the frame by a printed pin joint. The base ring is fixed with minimal rotational play for structural stability, while the neck ring rotates freely to allow quick bottle swaps; a set of molded retention tabs lets the bottle snap securely into the neck ring on insertion. The top loop of the frame has an embedded steel core for extra strength at this primary point of contact with the IV pole hook.

The design can carry a light total load of roughly 250g between the 100cc of medication, the vial itself, and the top third of IV tubing not supported by the pump. This is well within PLA’s structural capacity. 

Tilt testing confirmed the bottle stays securely seated up to 135 degrees before any slippage begins, far beyond any angle expected in normal transport or handling.

This hanger is a more durable and predictable backup option than the tape harnesses or cut biohazard bags staff have been using as workarounds, and it could serve as a low-cost fail-safe. Furthermore, the frame’s top loop sits parallel to the vasopressin bottle’s own loop, meaning both loops can be used together for extra security.