A first course in computer-aided physiological modeling

Early experiences at Wisconsin with analog and analog-hybrid modeling of physiological systems (particularly cardiovascular systems) were successful in arousing student interest and led to later applications of modeling in research work by these students. Beginning in the early '80s, all-digital modeling was used in the senior-grad course ECE 620, using the ACSL language, and applications were included in compartment modeling of pharmacokinetics, modeling of cardiovascular and respiratory pressure-flow and transport, thermoregulation, and prosthetic systems. In this course initial model programs of some complexity (up to 30 differential equations, some of them nonlinear) were provided to the students so that they could easily begin to work with models of meaningful size. The use of module and "multiple model" schemes appear to make this approach successful, and extension to more advanced models is possible.