Model-based pharmacokinetic regulation in computer-assisted anesthesia an interactive system: CARIN

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Pharmacology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Continuous infusion of anesthetic and analgesic drugs presents challenges in maintaining precise therapeutic levels.
• Existing methods lack the precision required for optimal patient management during anesthesia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Computer Assisted Regulation of an INtravenous INjection (CARIN) system for precise control of intravenous drug infusions.
• To demonstrate the CARIN system's capability in establishing and maintaining target plasma drug concentrations with high accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Development of the CARIN system, a computer-assisted infusion management system.
• Utilizing a mathematical model to simulate drug pharmacokinetics (2- or 3-compartment models) in the absence of real-time plasma concentration monitoring.
• Implementing user-interactive features for adjusting infusion rates, bolus injections, and temporary suspensions.

Main Results:

• The CARIN system achieves precise control of plasma drug concentrations, maintaining them within 1% of the target value.
• The system supports dynamic adjustments of plasma concentration, including rapid or gradual changes.
• CARIN allows for individualized drug administration based on patient-specific pharmacokinetic models and provides interactive feedback to anesthesiologists.

Conclusions:

• The CARIN system offers a significant advancement in intravenous infusion management for anesthetics and analgesics.
• Its precision and interactive features address critical needs in maintaining therapeutic drug levels and improving patient care.
• The system's model-based approach and adaptability make it suitable for a wide range of drugs and patient conditions.