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The calcium-phosphorus metabolism expert system module: a program developed in the ALEX Smalltalk/V shell
E L Kinney1, R J Wright, J W Caldwell
1Reed Institute, Miami, Florida 33140-0603.
Journal of Medical Systems
|April 1, 1989
Summary
This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the Smalltalk/V object-oriented model for developing a medical expert system for diagnosing calcium-phosphorus metabolism abnormalities. The ALEX expert system shell achieved accurate diagnoses in 60% of cases tested.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Computer Science
Background:
- Calcium-phosphorus metabolism abnormalities require accurate diagnostic tools.
- Expert systems offer a potential solution for complex medical diagnoses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the suitability of the Smalltalk/V object-oriented computing model for building a medical expert system.
- To develop and test an expert system for diagnosing calcium-phosphorus metabolism abnormalities.
Main Methods:
- The expert system was implemented using the ALEX expert system shell, written in Smalltalk/V.
- The system was designed to view diseases as self-contained, active entities.
- The system's performance was evaluated using 60 clinical case reports.
Main Results:
- The expert system achieved complete agreement with clinicians in 30 out of 60 cases (50%).
- The system provided appropriate responses for 12 cases involving unknown diseases.
- In 18 cases, the system generated plausible diagnostic results.
Conclusions:
- The object-oriented Smalltalk/V model is well-suited for creating medical expert systems.
- The ALEX expert system demonstrates potential in diagnosing calcium-phosphorus metabolism disorders.
- Further development and testing are warranted to enhance diagnostic accuracy.