Wearable technology to prevent medication errors in anesthesia

Intelligent wearable system for preventing medication errors in anesthesiology

NIH-funded research University of Washington · NIH-11067829

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 typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Washington NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Seattle, United States)
Project IDNIH-11067829 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing surgical procedures that require anesthesia.

Not a fit: Patients who are not undergoing surgery or do not require anesthesia will likely not benefit from this research.

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 performed: 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

Seattle, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.