Naloxopump: The Smart Naloxone Auto-Injector for Opioid Overdose Intervention

First Dose

After receiving the signal Naloxopump releases a 4mg dose of Naloxone…

Monitoring Post-Dose

The monitor checks respiration rate and/or blood oxygen levels for 3 minutes

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If respiratory depression is not detected: No further action is required; the monitor continues tracking vital signs.

Initial Monitoring

The monitor detects respiratory depression in an opioid overdose victim.

Action

If respiratory depression is detected, the monitor signals the Naloxopump to release Naloxone and simultaneously triggers a 911 emergency call.

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If respiratory depression persists: The monitor signals the Naloxopump to release a second 4mg dose of Naloxone.

Paramedic Arrival
Meanwhile, Paramedics arrive at the scene and transport the victim to the ER for further evaluation.

Background:

The opioid crisis is one of the biggest public health issues today, with millions affected and the number of overdose deaths rising every year. The scariest part is that opioids, including painkillers, heroin, and fentanyl, can slow breathing to dangerously low levels or stop it entirely. This phenomenon is known as overdose, and that’s where naloxone comes in, a life-saving antidote that reverses overdoses in minutes.

The problem:

When someone’s overdosing on opioids, they can’t administer naloxone themselves. It’s up to bystanders to step in and administer the naloxone intranasal spray to the victim. However, often, bystanders aren’t around, and sometimes even when a bystander is present they don’t have naloxone on them. To prevent such situations, we (Sarah Vohra and Ronav Dholakia) have created a prototype for a wearable device that auto-administers naloxone, the antidote for opioid overdoses, eliminating the need for a bystander to be present.

How Does It Work?

This device utilizes biosensors to monitor breathing patterns (respiratory rate and blood oxygen saturation levels) that are wirelessly linked to a motor-controlled injection pump. When biosensors detect dangerously low respiration rates or blood oxygen levels (respiratory depression), the pump injects naloxone into the overdose victim. If breathing patterns don’t improve after three minutes, the pump automatically delivers another dose of naloxone. Our wearable prototype is a responsive, automatic intervention tool that can save lives.

Defining Respiratory Depression:

For this device, respiratory depression is defined as a decreased respiratory rate of less than 8 breaths per minute or a blood oxygen level (O2 saturation) below 90%, sustained over 3 minutes.

Response Mechanism:

When the monitor (which contains the biosensors) detects respiratory depression, it sends an alert to the signaling module. The signaling module then activates the physical apparatus (the pump), releasing a 4mg dose of naloxone. Parallely, the monitor also initiates a 911 call requesting help. During this period, the monitor continues to check the respiratory rate. If after 3 minutes, normal respiratory function is restored, no further action is taken. However, if respiratory depression persists, the monitor sends another alert to the signaling module which prompts the physical apparatus to release a second 4mg dose of naloxone.

Who Benefits?

This device is designed to help two vulnerable populations:

1. People prescribed chronic opioids for pain management who are at risk of accidental overdose.

2. Individuals struggling with opioid addiction face a higher risk of overdose due to substance use.

By providing an automatic safety net, this wearable could prevent fatal overdoses for both groups of people.

Prototype

The high-level diagram below shows the major components of our prototype, which includes the monitor, the signaling system, and the physical apparatus.

Monitoring System

The monitor’s role is to measure the user’s breathing patterns (respiratory rate and/or blood oxygen level) and detect the signature of a respiration depression. If respiratory depression is detected, the monitoring system will trigger the signaling module. Our current prototype utilizes an iWatch as it is able to perform these tasks. A future prototype will use a custom-built monitor providing the same capabilities.

The Monitor system also includes an iWatch App that uses iOS’ HealthKit APIs to record and track the user’s breathing pattern. A proprietary algorithm running within the App recognizes the onset of a respiration depression event and alerts the signaling module. The prototype employs Bluetooth technology to facilitate the communication between the iWatch App and the Signaling module.

Signaling Module

We have built the signaling module using an Arduino Nano BLE and an L298 Motor Driver to drive the physical apparatus. Both are powered by an attached, rechargeable power source. The Arduino board runs our proprietary software that, upon initialization, pairs with the monitor and then waits, listening for control commands.

On receiving an alert from the monitor, it triggers the motor driver to turn on the motor in the physical apparatus subsystem. The signaling module is pre-calibrated and keeps the trigger on just enough to cause the physical apparatus to push out a 4mg dose of naloxone. The signaling module keeps track and will administer a maximum of two doses, after which the system needs to be reset (and the drug refilled) to be ready for a subsequent incidence.

Physical Apparatus

The photograph below shows the current physical apparatus prototype. It is comprised of a motor, which, when activated, drives the lead screw nut, which in turn causes the plunger on the syringe to move. The syringe is preloaded to contain up to two 4mg doses of naloxone. The signaling module controls the motor so that on each incidence it will cause the syringe to push out the exact 4mg dosage of naloxone.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next?

This is just the beginning. Right now, it’s a prototype with potential. To take it to the next level, we need mentors who can guide us through testing and development. With the right support, we hope to eventually create a device that could save lives.