DEVELOPMENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY FOR DIPRIFUSOR TCI SYSTEMS

The availability of fast-acting intravenous drugs for anaesthesia has encouraged anaesthetists to gain a practical understanding of the phar macodynamics and pharmacokinetics of these drugs to optimise their adm inistration. 'Diprifusor' technology uses pharmacokinetic modelling to control the infusion rate of a pump, providing the anaesthetist with direct control of the blood concentration rather than indirect control by the infusion rate. The 'Diprifusor' electronics module is a dual m icroprocessor component that can be incorporated into an infusion pump to provide this mode of administration. This paper describes the modu le's infusion control system, prefilled syringe recognition system and the safety aspects addressed by the design.