title: Model-Based Design and Experimental Validation of Control Modules for Neuromodulation Devices.
abstract: The goal of this paper is to propose a model-based control design framework, adapted to the development of control modules for medical devices. A particular example is presented in which instantaneous heart rate is regulated in real-time, by modulating, in an adaptive manner, the current delivered to the vagus nerve by a neuromodulator.
  
  
  
  The proposed framework couples a control module, based on a classical PI controller, a mathematical model of the medical device, and a physiological model representing the cardiovascular responses to vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). In order to analyze and evaluate the behavior of the device, different control parameters are tested on a "virtual population," generated with the model, according to the Latin Hypercube sampling method. In particular, sensitivity analyses are applied for the identification of a domain of interest in the space of the control parameters. The obtained control parameter domain has been validated in an experimental evaluation on six sheep.
  
  
  
  A range of control parameters leading to accurate results was successfully estimated by the proposed model-based design method. Experimental evaluation of the control parameters inside such a domain led to the best compromise between accuracy and time response of the VNS control.
  
  
  
  The feasibility and usefulness of the proposed model-based design method were shown, leading to a functional, real-time closed-loop control of the VNS for the regulation of heart rate.
authors.forename: Hector M Romero
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ugalde
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ojeda
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Le Rolle
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andreu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guiraud
authors.forename: Jean-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bonnet
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karam
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hagege
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mabo
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carrault
authors.forename: Alfredo I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Hernandez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012756:Sheep; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D055536:Vagus Nerve Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods