Optimal equidose inputs and role of measurement error for estimating the parameters of a compartmental model of glucose kinetics from continuous- and discrete-time optimal samples.

The optimal input design for estimating all the parameters of a two-compartment model of glucose kinetics is studied. The problem is solved by simulation for the class of equidose rectangular-shaped inputs with both continuous- and discrete-time optimal samples. The important role of the measurement error in determining the optimal input is analyzed by examining four error structures. With continuous-time measurements the optimal input depends on the measurement error, but rather efficient suboptimal inputs can be obtained with small infusion periods. The impulse input is optimal among the considered error structures with discrete-time optimal samples.