Comparison of prediction models for a dual-hormone artificial pancreas

In this paper we compare the performance of five different continuous time transfer function models used in closed-loop model predictive control (MPC). These models describe the glucose-insulin and glucose-glucagon dynamics. They are discretized into a state-space description and used as prediction models in the MPC algorithm. We simulate a scenario including meals and daily variations in the model parameters. The numerical results do not show significant changes in the glucose traces for any of the models, excepted for the first order model. From the present study, we can conclude that the second order model without delay should provide the best trade-off between sensitivity to uncertainties and practical usability for in vivo clinical studies.