Biosensor and Controller for Closed Loop Anesthesia Delivery System

A sensor for rapidly and reliably measuring the blood concentration level of an intravenously administered analgesic/anesthetic medication is proposed, providing a key feedback element for closed loop target controlled infusion analgesia/anesthesia (TCIA) systems. The addition of direct measurement of analgesic/anesthetic concentration to existing physiological/neurological feedback will address FDA concerns regarding closed loop TCIA systems and thereby facilitate approval. In the context of forward surgical care and medical evacuation of injured solders, the potential benefits of closed loop TCI are greatly multiplied, where medical personnel are stretched thin, conditions are hostile, and rapid changes in patient status are frequent. The proposed sensor achieves high signal to noise ratios, when measuring propofol, nalbuphine, and other phenolic compounds (e.g., opioids), thereby enabling accurate measurement of analgesia/anesthesia concentration with minute volumes of blood. Moreover, it is inherently small, suggesting that it can be designed for deployment for forward or EnRoute care, where size, weight and power are key considerations. Accordingly, Phase I will include (1) proof-of-principle testing in the laboratory, (2) planning and preparation for Phase II testing of prototype sensors in which sensor performance will be verified, and (3) development of a sensor design that is suitable for military deployment.