When someone overdoses on opioids, it's critically important that they receive a dose of the opioid-reversing drug naloxone as soon as possible – otherwise, death is a distinct possibility. That's where a new implant comes in, as it automatically dispenses naloxone from within the body. Its name an acronym for "Implantable System for Opioid Safety," the iSOS implant is being developed by a team of scientists from MIT and the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
The device measures 78 mm long by 12 mm wide by 8 mm thick. It contains 10 milligrams of naloxone in an integrated reservoir, plus it incorporates electronics such as a battery, vibrator and Bluetooth module, plus multiple ECG electrodes and a suite of other sensors. Ideally, it would be implanted right below the skin near the solar plexus.
This procedure could be quickly performed in a clinic using a local anesthetic. Once in place, the iSOS monitors the patient's body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood oxygen saturation. If these parameters change in a manner that indicates an opioid overdose has taken place, the device activates its vibrator to produce both a tactile and audible alert.
It also sends a warning to an app on the patient's smartphone. In the event of a false-positive, the patient can get the implant to "stand down" via that app. If they don't do so immediately, though, the iSOS proceeds to rapidly pump a dose of naloxone into their bloodstream.
The app will also send an .