Retrieval of Additional Doses of Epinephrine From the New Teva Epinephrine Autoinjector Pen

Abstract

Epinephrine autoinjectors are commonly used in urban environments for anaphylaxis. In remote environments, the effects of a single dose of epinephrine may diminish before one can access higher medical care. By retrieving additional epinephrine from common autoinjectors, a medical provider may be able to treat or delay decompensation of anaphylaxis in the field during evacuation. The new Teva epinephrine autoinjectors were obtained. The design of the mechanism was researched by studying patents and disassembling trainers and medication-containing autoinjectors. Multiple methods of access were tried to find the quickest, most reliable method that required minimal tools or equipment. A quick, reliable method of removing the injection syringe from the autoinjector using a knife was determined, as outlined in this article. The syringe plunger had a security design to prevent dispensing further doses from the syringe, so a long narrow object is also required to dispense additional doses. There are 4 additional doses of approximately 0.3-mg epinephrine in these Teva autoinjectors. Prior knowledge of epinephrine equipment and the devices that may be encountered in the field is important for providing life-saving medical care. The ability to retrieve additional doses of epinephrine from a used autoinjector can provide additional life-saving medication while evacuating to a higher level of medical care. This method does carry risks to rescuers and patients; however, it can potentially be life saving.