Intelligent Epinephrine Injector Automates Anaphylaxis Treatment

An innovative epinephrine autoinjector aids emergency bystander treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.

The e-cue device is the size of a credit card, and its thickness is about that of a small cell phone, and is thus easily carried around for dealing with potential allergy induced emergencies. The intuitive, compact delivery system bears a voice chip that guides the patient through the epinephrine administration, step by step. At the end of the process, the needle retracts, eliminating the potential for accidental sticks. The e-cue device is being developed in 0.3 mg and 0.15 mg versions. In clinical studies, users were more likely to inject successfully epinephrine using Intelliject’s epinephrine autoinjector than the current standard of care.


The e-cue device is a product of Intelliject (Richmond, VA, USA), and has received tentative approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The technology, which is tightly protected with more than 50 patents, can also be used to deliver medicine for the treatment of asthma, multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis, and the symptoms of chemotherapy. In addition, there are potential applications for biodefense, military purposes, and pandemic preparedness such as in avian flu.

“Its user-centered design,” said Evan Edwards, vice president of product development and cofounder of Intelliject. “We really started with the patient and worked our way backwards. A lot of companies don't really think about how, in the moment of truth, when actually having to use the injector, what are the scenarios involved.”

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that involves a number of body systems and can be fatal within minutes. It can occur due to allergies to certain foods, insect stings, medications, latex, or other allergens. All published US national anaphylaxis guidelines recommend epinephrine as the first choice treatment in an acute episode. The vast majority of deaths from anaphylaxis occur in individuals who do not receive epinephrine in a timely manner.

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