West has recently collaborated with a research team at the University of Washington (UW) led by Professor Shyam Gollakota to develop a wearable device to detect and reverse an opioid overdose.

Automation is quickly becoming a major part of the world in which we live. From consumer applications like microwaves and automobiles, to use in large-scale factories that produce everything from dollar-store hair accessories to autopilot-driven aircrafts, automation surrounds us. This is a good thing – the products we use benefit from the increased quality, consistency, and productivity provided by automated systems. 

While medications can provide life-saving solutions to patients, they can also result in harm to medical personnel who might suffer unintended exposure to potent drugs. The seemingly simple act of placing a syringe needle into a septum-sealed vial can result in inadvertent needle-sticks, with potential drug exposure. Additionally, the transfer of potent chemotherapeutic drugs can result in fugitive droplets or volatilization of the drugs and therefore personnel exposure.