Currently marketed epinephrine auto-injectors, designed for single-use in an allergic emergency, are prone to unintentional use errors (e.g., holding the device upside down, causing injury to the administrator and, more importantly, no dose for the patient). A simulated use study showed that two alternative designs for a new epinephrine auto-injector, developed using human factors engineering, can reduce such hazards and were significantly preferred by subjects in all age groups tested. Further clinical testing is required before such a pharmaceutical device can be introduced into the market.
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