Researchers from the University of Washington (UW) have developed a novel device that can detect and reverse an opioid overdose. When a person stops breathing and moving, the device, which looks like an insulin pump and worn on the stomach, senses this and distributes naloxone, a life-saving antidote that can restore respiration. According to a recent report, the findings illustrate the proof-of-concept of a wearable naloxone injector device.
The UW researchers collaborated with a company in Pennsylvania and created a wearable subcutaneous injector that safely administers drugs (Figure 1). The researchers paired the injector system with sensors and created an algorithm to identify the life-threatening pattern of respiration that occurs when a patient suffers from opioid intoxication (Figure 1). A pair of accelerometers measure respiration, and an internal central processing unit…
