Algorithm for optimal linear model-based control with application to pharmacokinetic model-driven drug delivery

Computerized pharmacokinetic model-driven administration of intravenous anesthetic agents has been implemented using a variety of algorithms to control the drug infusion regimen. All such algorithms are similar to the extent that they use a linear pharmacokinetic model of the drug being administered to determine drug infusion rates to theoretically achieve and maintain plasma drug concentrations (setpoints) specified by the physician. Since the behavior of the pharmacokinetic model can be computed for any input, it should be possible to achieve regulation of the drug infusion rates that is flexible (i.e., the physician can interactively adjust the setpoint), practical, and analytically optimized; these objectives are realized by the algorithm described in this communication.