Application of multivariable feedback methods to intravenous anesthetic pharmacodynamics

Continuous infusions of intravenous anesthetics are becoming increasingly popular during surgical procedures, largely because relatively precise, consistent control of anesthetic depth is possible over intravenous injection techniques. In this paper we investigate the main issues involved with the development of automatic intravenous anesthesia delivery systems in the context of robust multivariable control. We present a pharmacodynamic model that may be suitable for closed-loop control, and discuss clinical data collected from human subjects during actual surgical conditions with the anesthetic propofol.