Object-oriented biomedical system modeling - The Rationale

A short tutorial and a rationale for Object-Oriented Biomedical (Continuous ) System Modelling (OOBSM) are given. The paper investigates and defines wh at is needed in order to make the work with complex bio-medical and pathoph ysiological models easier, less error prone and conceptually clearer than i s possible by using the existing modelling techniques. It also contains a s pecification of what is required in order to make such models and correspon ding knowledge communicable among different research groups and in order to use such models as components in even more complex models. The work shows that hitherto available continuous system modelling languages and tools are less suitable for the construction of complex, interdisciplinary, multilev el, hierarchical models and model components and that those modelling langu ages do not allow for easy exchange and communication of the model knowledg e between different research groups and sites. It concludes that object-ori ented and distributed objects methodologies are both feasible and suitable for such modelling. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reser ved.