Internal (faculty, staff, TA)
BME
2025-2026
Fall
Winter
Spring

RapInject

RapInject

Summary

RapInject

Redesigning epinephrine delivery for faster emergency

 

About Our Project

A safer and more intuitive epinephrine auto-injector redesign

Anaphylaxis is a life‑threatening emergency, and epinephrine auto‑injectors are the only proven first‑line treatment. Yet despite their importance, they’re often not used when they’re needed most. With 1 in 20 Americans experiencing anaphylaxis and early epinephrine shown to reduce hospitalizations by 26%, it’s deeply concerning that 62% of patients never receive the injection during the reaction. At the same time, more than 6,800 accidental injuries occur each year due to confusing device orientation, difficulty knowing when the injection is complete, and limited safety features that leave users exposed to needles. These issues highlight a critical gap: epinephrine auto‑injectors can only save lives if people can use them safely, confidently, and correctly.

Unmet Need Statement

Current epinephrine auto-injectors are difficult to use under stress, leading to delayed or incorrect administration during life-threatening allergic reactions. Users often struggle with orientation, safety locks, and confirmation of dose completion. These usability barriers reduce the likelihood of timely epinephrine delivery, even when the device is available. Our product provides a way to address improper and unsafe use of epinephrine auto-injectors for caregivers and bystanders without medical training.

Technical Approach/Methodology

Our Solution

Our goal is to create a more intuitive, foolproof auto-injector that prioritizes both safety and ease-of-use. RapInject features a side-mounted release button to guide proper grip, a clear end-of-dose auditory cue to help time the injection, and an automatic needle cover to prevent accidental injury. At the end of the day, our goal is simple: to give people the confidence to act rapidly and, more importantly, save lives.

Prototype

  • Project Highlights

    RapInject focuses on usability, safety, and rapid response in emergency epinephrine delivery.

     

  • Side-Mounted Activation Button

    The side-mounted activation button guides user's hands away from the needle end.

     

  • End-of-Dose Click

    The autoinjector "clicks" when injection finishes, reducing insufficient dosage errors.

     

  • Automatic Needle Guard

    The needle guard deploys when the injection is finished, reducing injuries post-use.

Outcomes

Competitor Analysis

The epinephrine auto-injector (EAI) market is led by EpiPen, which costs about $700 per two-pack and is widely recognized but has an outdated design that can lead to user error, including accidental thumb injections due to its symmetric shape. Lower-cost generics like Teva’s EpiPen ($176) and Adrenaclick ($172) improve affordability but still have usability issues, such as Adrenaclick’s two-cap system and need for manual recapping. Auvi-Q offers better usability with voice instructions and a safer design but is more expensive at around $600 due to electronic components. Symjepi requires manual injection, and Neffy provides a needle-free nasal spray option but costs over $900 and is less familiar in emergencies. In comparison, RapInject addresses usability and safety concerns through a side-mounted safety lock that promotes correct orientation, an automatic needle cover to prevent needlestick injuries, and a simple mechanical design comparable in cost to existing spring-based devices. Its familiar operation minimizes training barriers, making it suitable for children, caregivers, first responders, and individuals with severe allergies, while reducing the risk of user error during emergency use.

Market Strategy

The RapInject auto-injector is designed for caregivers and child-focused systems, including parents of children with severe allergies, schools, and pediatric healthcare providers. These groups understand the daily burden and high-stakes nature of managing life-threatening allergies, making them especially receptive to solutions that prioritize simplicity, reliability, and ease of use during emergencies. By focusing on intuitive, panic-resistant design, RapInject directly addresses the real-world challenges these users face.

In addition to individual caregivers, our strategy targets institutions such as schools and public spaces, where the need for accessible and dependable emergency response tools is critical. These environments place a strong emphasis on safety, risk reduction, and staff preparedness. RapInject aligns with these priorities by supporting school safety initiatives, minimizing accidental injury risk, simplifying training requirements, reducing liability concerns, and increasing staff confidence when responding to allergic emergencies.

Our go-to-market strategy focuses on FDA-compliant medical device approval pathways, partnerships with allergy advocacy organizations, and institutional bulk purchasing agreements with schools, hospitals, and pharmacies. We also plan to advertise directly to consumers, develop subscription replacement programs for recurring customers, and expand into public-access emergency auto-injector programs. Since most RapInject components can be mass-produced through automation and injection molding, the estimated manufacturing cost is approximately $30 per unit, allowing a competitive retail price of about $175 per two-pack while maintaining strong profit potential.