The safety of intravenous drug administration would be improved if a device could warn the anesthesiologist when the wrong drug is given, when a drug is given in an incorrect dose, or when a combination of drugs is given that is dangerous. The warning device would help avoid the consezauences of a mistake by halting drug delivery until the choice of drug is verified by the anesthesiologist. An argon laser (488 nm) will be used to identify the major Raman scattering peaks for 41 common perianesthetic drugs. A classification techniqwlle will be developed to uniquely identify each drugt in clinical concentrations, according to the features in its Raman spectrum. A flowmeter will be developed for use with the Raman system to measure intravenous flow rates (0.1 to 60 mltmin, 10-per,cent accuracy) so that the amount of drug injectee1 can be calculated. The accuracy of the flowmetter will be tested using rapid and slow syringe injvections. The system will be tested simulating a clinical environment where 41 drugs are injected in typical dilutions and at typical flow rates. The results will document the accuracy of drug identification and the measurement error for the amount of drug infused. Results will lead to a portable Raman analyzer where the sample cuvette and flowmeter are placed in the intravenous line going to the patient.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:A system is needed to monitor intravenous drug delivery, so that mistakes can be avoided and drug delivery halted before a dangerous drug is delivered to the patient. A portable Raman analyzer has considerable commercial potential to enhance patient monitoring during anesthesia and critical care. Because a comparable device does not exist, there is tremendous market potential.National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
