Abstract: Opioid-induced overdose is one of the leading causes of death among the US population under the age of 50. In 2018, the death rate among opioid users rose to 48,602, followed by a devastating increase to 100,000 in 2021. Prescriptive analgesics for severe pain management (e.g., codeine, fentanyl) and heroin are the most common opioids related to overdose mortality. The overdose process can be reversed by the administration of naloxone, an opioid antagonist that rapidly counteracts the effects of opioid-induced respiratory depression. Over the past years, the concept of a closed-loop opioid overdose detection and naloxone delivery system has emerged as a potential engineering solution to mitigate the devastating effects of the opioid pandemic. Herein, we present our ongoing work in the development of novel implantable and electronic technologies to address the opioid pandemic effects, focusing on a wrist-worn wearable device. Our system is a closed-loop emergency drug delivery system, consisting of (i) a Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) sensor for detecting opioid-induced cardiorespiratory depression, (ii) a MOSFET switch, and (iii) a Zero-Voltage Switching (ZVS) modified electromagnetic field generator. Using artery brachial occlusion experiments involving human subjects (n = 8), we were able to consistently demonstrate low oxygenation events. Additionally, our device exhibited the ability to release the drug within 10 seconds of detecting a low oxygen event. We observed significant differences in the peak values of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin before and after the low-oxygenation events (p < 0.050). While further human experiments are necessary, our results to date indicate the potential of our device as a tool in the battle against the continuing opioid pandemic.

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Meeting ID: 982 3165 9969   Passcode: biomedical

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