In 2023 alone, over 100,000 lives were lost to opioid overdoses in the United States. While naloxone is highly effective in reversing overdoses, timely access to the medication remains a critical barrier. First responders or bystanders often can’t reach those who have overdosed quickly enough, leading to tragic outcomes.
This new device, developed by a collaborative team at MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, aims to eliminate this delay. Implanted under the skin, the sensor continuously monitors vital signs such as heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Upon detecting the telltale signs of an overdose, the device immediately releases a dose of naloxone, potentially averting a fatal outcome.
“This could really address a significant unmet need in the population that suffers from substance abuse and opiate dependency to help mitigate overdoses, with the initial focus on the high-risk population,” says Giovanni Traverso, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the senior author of the study.
Published in the journal Device, the research demonstrates the device’s effectiveness in reversing overdoses in animal models. The team is optimistic that with further development, this technology could be a game-changer in preventing overdose deaths, particularly among high-risk individuals like those who have experienced a previous overdose.
The device’s design incorporates sensors that meticulously track vital signs, allowing it to differentiate an opioid overdose from other conditions that cause slowed breathing, such as sleep apnea. This is achieved through a unique algorithm developed by analyzing the specific physiological changes that occur during a fentanyl overdose.
“The most challenging aspect of developing an engineering solution to prevent overdose mortality is simultaneously addressing patient adherence and willingness to adopt new technology, combating stigma, minimizing false positive detections, and ensuring the rapid delivery of antidotes,” says Hen-Wei Huang, lead author of the study and assistant professor of electrical and electronic engineering at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. “Our proposed solution tackles these unmet needs by developing a miniaturized robotic implant equipped with multisensing modalities, continuous monitoring capabilities, on-board decision making, and an innovative micropumping mechanism.”
When the device detects an overdose, a pump activates, delivering the naloxone from its internal reservoir within a mere 10 seconds. Animal studies have shown a remarkable 96% success rate in reversing overdoses using this method.
The research team envisions this technology as a crucial tool for individuals at the highest risk of overdose, particularly those who have already experienced one. Their current focus is on optimizing user-friendliness, including determining the ideal implantation site.
“A key pillar of addressing the opioid epidemic is providing naloxone to individuals at key moments of risk. Our vision for this device is for it to integrate into the cascade of harm-reduction strategies to efficiently and safely deliver naloxone, preventing death from opioid overdose and providing the opportunity to support individuals with opioid use disorder,” says Peter Chai, associate professor of emergency medicine physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Human trials are anticipated within the next three to five years. The team is diligently working towards further miniaturizing the device and enhancing the battery life, which currently stands at approximately two weeks.
This groundbreaking research was made possible by funding from Novo Nordisk, the McGraw Family Foundation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering.
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