A C++ framework for developing Medical Logic Modules and an Arden Syntax compiler

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) often utilize knowledge bases expressed in Arden Syntax.
• Efficient translation of Arden Syntax into executable modules is crucial for CDSS development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an alternative approach for generating executable modules from Arden Syntax knowledge bases.
• To present a method for developing a code generator for an Arden Syntax compiler.

Main Methods:

• Arden Syntax knowledge is translated into an intermediate pseudo-Arden language.
• The pseudo-Arden language is defined using C++ class libraries and preprocessor macros.
• The intermediate language is then compiled and linked to create the executable module.

Main Results:

• The proposed approach offers a viable alternative for creating Arden Syntax compilers.
• The use of a pseudo-Arden intermediate language simplifies the code generation process.

Conclusions:

• This method provides a robust pathway for translating Arden Syntax into executable code for CDSS.
• The C++ based pseudo-Arden language facilitates the development of Arden Syntax compilers.