The results demonstrate the proof-of-concept of a wearable naloxone injector system, according to the paper published Nov. 22 in Scientific Reports.

"The opioid epidemic has become worse during the pandemic and has continued to be a major public health crisis," said lead author Justin Chan, a UW doctoral student in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. "We have created algorithms that run on a wearable injector to detect when the wearer stops breathing and automatically inject naloxone."

Co-author Jacob Sunshine, an associate professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine at the UW School of Medicine, said one of the unique aspects of opioid overdoses is that naloxone, a benign drug, is highly effective and can save lives if it can be administered in a timely fashion.

The UW team is looking to make these devices widely available, which would first require approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA is currently working to accelerate efforts to address this critical public health problem and has recently published special guidance on emergency-use injectors.