Researchers are testing an implant that can detect heroin overdose and administer a drug to reverse it. 

Harvard University scientists have created an implantable device, named ‘iSOS’, that can detect opioid overdoses and automatically administer the drug naloxone to reverse the effects. 

The device has shown remarkable success in animal trials, where it revived 24 out of 25 pigs within 3.2 minutes of an overdose.

Opioid overdoses, whether from prescription or illicit drugs, pose a significant risk of permanent brain damage within just three minutes, with death occurring between four to six minutes if untreated. 

The timely administration of naloxone is crucial to prevent this, but the challenge lies in the fact that those experiencing an overdose often lose consciousness, rendering them unable to self-administer the drug.

The iSOS device aims to address this issue by providing a constant monitoring system. Equipped with sensors that track respiratory rate, heart rate, body temperature, and blood oxygen levels, the device uses an algorithm to detect the signs of an overdose. 

If an overdose is detected, the device automatically injects naloxone directly into the user's muscle.

“Having an automated robotic system that is able to sense and reverse opiate overdose could be transformational, particularly for high-risk populations,” says Giovanni Traverso, a clinician and biomedical engineer at MIT, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the Broad Institute. 

The current version of the iSOS device measures 8mm x 12mm x 78mm, roughly the size of a USB stick. 

Despite its initial success, researchers are focused on further miniaturising and optimising the device for human use. 

They are also planning to gather data on user preferences and acceptability, which will be critical as they move towards human trials.

“This is only the first generation of this device,” Traverso said, “but we’re looking to begin testing in humans in the next few years”. 

The latest test results are accessible here.