Overdose protection

Opioid users are usually lonely, so there is no one to call and help in case of an overdose. Purdue University researchers are testing a device that can independently detect an overdose and release naloxone, a drug that eliminates deadly effects. A single injection of naloxone will be enough for the rescue services to arrive in time.

Overdose occurs when opioids bind receptors in the brain involved in the regulation of breathing, leading to hypoventilation and death. The wearable device is able to detect an opioid overdose by lowering the respiratory rate to a certain level and releases naloxone, which blocks the binding of the opioid to receptors in the brain.

Externally, the device looks like an insulin pump. It consists of a magnetic field generator, a portable battery and an overhead ECG sensor that allows you to estimate the respiratory rate, and a capsule with naloxone. When the respiratory rate decreases, a magnetic field generator is activated, which heats the capsule with the drug, releasing naloxone for 10 seconds.

Researchers suggest pre-injecting a capsule with naloxone under the skin on an outpatient basis. An extra hour won by using the device will give emergency services enough time to get the patient to the hospital. The capsule contains a larger dose of naloxone than the products currently available on the market, which makes the device a more effective means of protection against recurrent hypoventilation, as well as cheaper.

The researchers demonstrated in in vitro and in vivo experiments that the device successfully detects a low respiratory rate by ECG signals and delivers naloxone on time.

The invention is patented.

The researchers also plan to integrate a communication system into the device that will automatically alert emergency services in case of overdose.

The technology can be used to deliver other medications in other conditions, for example, adrenaline in anaphylactic shock.

Article by B. Dhowan et al. A simple minimally-invasive automatic antidote delivery device (A2D2) towards closed-loop reversal of opioid overdose is published in the Journal of Controlled Release.

Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru according to Purdue University: Device could automatically deliver drug to reverse opioid overdose