The objective of this research programme is the development of a comprehensive mathematical model of the patient - artificial kidney machine system consisting of several interconnected subsystems of the human organism. The model is based on current general physiological knowledge, but can be tailored to simulate individual patients by adjusting model parameters. Model parameters for individual patients may be obtained by using a parameter identification technique and available past data of the patient. The model is designed to be used in an interactive mode by the renal clinician. Using the model as a predictive instrument, the clinician would be aided in the selection of optimal therapeutic procedures for individual patients. The model can also be used to represent the renal - body fluid system of a normal, healthy human. As such, it may be used as a vehicle with which to test hypotheses concerning the functioning of the complex and poorly understood control mechanisms of this system. Validation of the model was performed using pattern recognition feature comparison and classical least squares techniques.
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