Object-oriented biomedical system modelling - the language

The paper describes a new object-oriented biomedical continuous system mode lling language (OOBSML). It is fully object-oriented and supports model inh eritance, encapsulation, and model component instantiation and behaviour po lymorphism. Besides the traditional differential and algebraic equation exp ressions the language includes also formal expressions for documenting mode ls and defining model quantity types and quantity units. It supports explic it definition of model input-, output- and state quantities, model componen ts and component connections. The OOBSML model compiler produces self-conta ined, independent, executable model components that can be instantiated and used within other OOBSML models and/or stored within model and model compo nent libraries. In this way complex models can be structured as multilevel, multi-component model hierarchies. Technically the model components produc ed by the OOBSML compiler are executable computer code objects based on dis tributed object and object request broker technology. This paper includes b oth the language tutorial and the formal language syntax and semantic descr iption. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.