MAPLEWOOD, Minn. — A new and smaller Epinephrine device has been created by a Minnesota doctor in an effort to encourage more allergy sufferers to carry the lifesaving tool.
KSTP.com reported Dr. Doug McMahon was inspired to develop the device after realizing the EpiPen, the current most common method of delivering Epinephrine, was too bulky and nearly half of those who need it don’t carry it with them.
Oliver Balfour, a 13-year-old who has suffered from tree nut and peanut allergies since he was 18 months old, said EpiPens are “bigger and harder to carry around.”
As an allergy sufferer himself, Dr. McMahon decided to create a smaller device.
Dr. McMahon and a team of doctors came up with AllergyStop, an Epinephrine injector that is small enough to fit on a keychain. AllergyStop is currently awaiting FDA approval and is expected to be released by spring 2016.