A new generic approach to model reduction for complex physiologically based drug models

Abstract This paper explores the identification problem when dealing with physiological models relating to anaesthetic drugs such as fentanyl. The Mapleson model for drug concentration, which will be the focus of this study, is described by algebraic equations, which are derived from the laws of physics and chemistry, and there are some limitations in its system's analysis, i.e. in the study of its relevant dynamics, and its exploitation from a control design viewpoint. Hence, we propose to represent this model via dynamic differential equations with a reduced number of variables using MATLAB–SIMULINK. Using Mapleson's approach for modelling, the input–output data for each organ can be obtained under a particular drug regimen which in turn can be used to obtain a continuous time-transfer function fit for each of these organs.