The opioid epidemic in the U.S. claims over 70,000 lives each year, and while naloxone is an effective antidote for overdoses, its administration requires a knowledgeable bystander. To address this limitation, a team of researchers from Washington University School of Medicine and Northwestern University has developed a device that can detect an overdose, deliver naloxone, and alert emergency responders without the need for human intervention. The device, known as the Naloximeter, has shown promising results in animal studies and could potentially save more lives by quickly administering naloxone to at-risk individuals.
The addictive properties of prescription opioids, coupled with the widespread availability of potent synthetic drugs like fentanyl, have contributed to the rise of the opioid epidemic. These drugs can lead to overdoses, which are often characterized by slow and shallow breathing. The Naloximeter is designed to detect a drop in oxygen levels as a signal for a potential overdose and release naloxone to prevent death. Implanting the device under the skin in animals resulted in the detection of overdose signs within a minute of dropping oxygen levels, with all animals fully recovering within five minutes of receiving naloxone from the device.
Naloxone works by displacing harmful opioids from receptors on brain cells, but this effect is temporary. In addition to administering naloxone, the Naloximeter also sends an emergency alert to first responders, enabling individuals to receive further support and access to resources to prevent future overdoses. The researchers have obtained a patent for the device and are actively seeking industry partners to facilitate its deployment on a larger scale and testing in clinical trials with humans. The Naloximeter has potential applications beyond the opioid crisis and could be adapted for other medical conditions such as anaphylaxis or epilepsy.
The development of the Naloximeter has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation, among others. The researchers emphasize the importance of leveraging this technology to save lives and reduce harm from opioids. By providing a means for autonomous intervention in cases of overdose, the Naloximeter represents a significant step towards addressing the opioid epidemic and improving emergency responses to medical crises. The team’s work has laid important groundwork for future clinical translation and calls for collaboration within the field to further develop and refine autonomous rescue devices.
