Interview with Christopher Kenny – ‘The Story Behind NaloxGuard’s Life-Saving Technology’.

We recently spoke with Christopher Kenny, a distinguished graduate of TU Dublin’s Product Design program. Christopher’s final-year project, NaloxGuard, not only earned him the Best Major Project award but also introduced a promising solution to tackling a critical healthcare challenge. This innovative medical device, designed to prevent opioid overdoses, represents a powerful intersection of product design and public health innovation.

Can you give us an overview of what NaloxGuard is and what problem it aims to solve?

“NaloxGuard is a device designed to prevent fatal opioid overdoses. Opioid overdose causes 150,000 deaths every year. Currently, naloxone is the only solution available to reverse an overdose, but the devices that administer it require a third party to be present. Unfortunately, 50% of fatal overdoses occur when the individual is alone. Essentially, NaloxGuard aims to be that crucial second person in the room who can deliver the emergency medication when needed most.”

What inspired you to design NaloxGuard?

“I began the project when I was 18. I was in the US for work and travel, hitchhiking along the East Coast and living a nomadic lifestyle. It was an incredible adventure, but what struck me was the devastating impact of the opioid crisis. I saw people my age, with similar backgrounds, living a similar lifestyle—not by choice, but because they were homeless and trapped by opioid addiction. That experience stayed with me, so when it came time to choose my final year project, I saw an opportunity to help those affected by opioid abuse. I believe that with any problem—especially a design problem—there’s always a solution. And because of my experience in America, I was incredibly passionate about addressing this issue.”

Can you describe the development process of NaloxGuard and some of the biggest challenges you faced?

“Every successful development process starts with research. I dedicated six weeks to understanding the opioid crisis and the science behind naloxone and addiction. My research began with a large-scale literature review, followed by gaining insights into the motivations, challenges, and pain points of opioid users. Directly interviewing opioid users would have been ideal, but I couldn’t get ethical approval from my university. Instead, I gathered proxy insights from key stakeholders—such as the resident GP at Cork prison, the Naloxone project lead in the Health Service Executive (HSE), two A&E nurses at Saint James’s Hospital, and a harm reduction counsellor at Merchants Quay. I used their insights to direct the next phase: developing a project brief, concept generation, sketching loads of ideas and then refining those concepts.

I then moved into the engineering phase, initially committed to using an active monitoring system with a blood oxygen saturation monitor. I developed 30-40 prototypes but soon realised that an active monitor wouldn’t work due to the complex dynamics involved in diagnosing an overdose. This presented a significant challenge, and I had to initiate a complete redesign with only two weeks remaining before my engineering submission deadline. Fortunately, after developing another 20 or so prototypes, I managed to complete the project successfully.

Throughout the development process, I conducted iterative user testing. This involved real users interacting with each prototype in realistic conditions, performing specific tasks related to the device’s function. After each round of testing, I gathered feedback on the prototype’s strengths and weaknesses. This valuable input informed subsequent iterations, where I refined positive features and addressed identified issues. The process was cyclical, with each new prototype incorporating improvements based on previous feedback. While this iterative approach was crucial for refining NaloxGuard, I recognised that at some point, I needed to finalise the design for the submission deadline. However, it’s important to note that there’s always room for further improvement in product design.

When I finished this prototype, I had the incredible opportunity to return to Merchants Quay and meet with the harm reduction counsellor again. Through him, I got to speak to an active opioid user, and I used it as an opportunity to gain confirmation on the proxy insights that I developed in the research phase. Thankfully, they were correct. He (the opioid user) thought the device was really cool and that he would use it.”

What makes NaloxGuard different from existing overdose prevention methods or devices?

“The primary differentiator is that existing devices require a third party to administer naloxone, whereas NaloxGuard operates independently. While there are comparable devices in various stages of development at other universities, they use photoplethysmography (PPG) technology to actively monitor blood oxygen saturation. PPG is a non-invasive optical technique to detect blood volume changes in the microvascular bed of tissue. When devices operating on this technology notice a decrease in blood oxygen, they autonomously inject naloxone. It works because overdose is often correlated directly with blood oxygen saturation.

Although it sounds remarkable, I trust that the dynamics of blood volume and its nature in relation to opioid use are incredibly complex. Therefore, I chose to design a device in which the individual is able to give inputs to the system and directly signal if they are safe. The device fosters user confidence by minimising the risk of misinterpretation and enhancing diagnostic accuracy, potentially driving wider adoption and consistent use.

Another key differentiator of NaloxGuard is its user-centric design. The device is engineered for universal fit and comfort, being easily secured to the torso above the belly button and adaptable to diverse body types. Its discreet profile ensures user privacy, while its intuitive design promotes ease of use. Discretion, comfort, and simplicity are the three key principles forming the foundation of NaloxGuard’s user-focused approach.”

What role did the Spark Innovation Programme play in the development of NaloxGuard?

“The Spark Innovation Programme served as a catalyst in NaloxGuard’s development journey. They offer comprehensive support to selected students developing medical devices for their final-year projects. They awarded me a scholarship bursary, which helped fund NaloxGuard’s prototype phase. They also offered invaluable access to people within the HSE and the cutting-edge HSE maker space facilities.”

What’s next for NaloxGuard? Are there plans for clinical trials or further development?

“We’ve applied for a patent for the technology. We hope to develop it further and design mechanisms to improve fidelity.”

What advice would you give to medical students interested in pursuing healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship?

“The primary goal of entrepreneurship is to create something of value for someone. From a design perspective, the best way to do that is to identify a meaningful problem and then figure out how to solve it.

Ireland is an excellent place for young startup entrepreneurs, with a wealth of supporting institutions like Enterprise Ireland. These institutions offer grant funding, mentorship, and physical spaces to work on solving pressing problems. Several universities, including TU Dublin, also have research and innovation hubs to protect student ideas and enable them to be commercialised.”

Key Takeaways:

As we conclude our discussion with Christopher, we’re excited to see how NaloxGuard evolves and potentially transforms opioid overdose prevention. His journey is an inspiring example of how innovative thinking can address critical healthcare challenges.

For those intrigued by healthcare innovation, the HSE’s Spark Innovation Programme offers resources, scholarships, networking opportunities, and workshops to students and healthcare professionals. To explore how this initiative could fuel your healthcare innovation journey, visit their official website and check out this video on how the product works!