Closed-loop target-controlled infusion systems: stability and performance aspects

This article addresses the design of a robust autopilot for the delivery of intravenous anesthesia drugs.

A mathematical framework that expresses the pharmacological variability of a patient population into uncertainty bounds is proposed. These bounds can be effectively used to tune the parameters of a controller to ensure its stability, a key design aspect related to the safety of the overall system.

The proposed method is applied to the control of propofol, a powerful hypnotic agent used for sedation and anesthesia. Simulations show that the controller remains stable for all patients considered and that performance are clinically acceptable.

This methodology can be an important step forward in the design and regulatory approval of such systems.