Wearable technology to prevent medication errors in anesthesia
Official title: Intelligent wearable system for preventing medication errors in anesthesiology
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11067829 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a smart wearable device that helps doctors and nurses give the right medications during surgery, making sure they can easily identify the correct syringes and vials to keep patients safe.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $210,483 |
| NIH project number | 5K08GM153069-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11067829 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing surgical procedures that require anesthesia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing surgery or do not require anesthesia will likely not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing an intelligent wearable system that helps anesthesia providers avoid medication errors during procedures. By utilizing real-time auditory and visual feedback, the system aims to assist clinicians in accurately identifying syringes and vials before administering drugs. The approach involves capturing high-resolution video footage of the provider's actions and applying machine learning algorithms to ensure correct medication delivery. This innovative technology seeks to enhance patient safety by reducing the risk of drug administration errors in the operating room.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce medication errors in anesthesia, leading to improved patient safety and outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using technology and machine learning to enhance medication safety, indicating a potential for success with this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Michaelsen, Kelly — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Michaelsen, Kelly
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.