Intravenous drug delivery systems: Toward an intravenous “vaporizer”

Abstract

Anesthesiologists now routinely use a variety of sophisticated devices for the delivery of intravenous (Iv) drugs. The gravity driven infusion systems in widespread use just a few years ago are primitive compared with the convenience, accuracy, and precision provided by today’s infusion pumps. However, while modern infusion systems are remarkable advanced, they still fall short of the convenience and theoretical appeal associated with the delivery of inhaled anesthetics by a drug-specific vaporizer. Emulation of the clinical convenience and pharmacokinetic-dynamic exactness provided by vaporizers is perhaps the ultimate goal in the development of infusion devices for lV anesthetics. The aim of this review is to summarize briefly the history of IV drug delivery devices, contrast IV versus inhaled anesthetic delivery systems, develop the concept of the computer-controlled infusion pump as an “intravenous vaporizer,” survey the current state of the art in computer-controlled drug delivery, and forecast areas of future advancement.