Configurable bio-transport system simulator

Abstract

A method of simulating a bio-transport system comprising: (a) characterizing one or more elements to represent a bio-transport system of an organism or a portion thereof; (b) constructing one or more mathematical representations that model one or more bio-transport dynamics for each element based on the characterization of the elements to form a configured simulation model; (c) initializing the configured simulation model; (d) executing the configured simulation model to obtain bio-transport dynamics data for one or more elements; and (e) outputting information to a user based on at least a portion of the bio-transport dynamics data.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of simulating a bio-transport system comprising: 
 characterizing one or more elements to represent a bio-transport system of an organism or a portion thereof;    constructing one or more mathematical representations that model one or more bio-transport dynamics for each element based on the characterization of said elements to form a configured simulation model;    initializing said configured simulation model;    executing said configured simulation model to obtain bio-transport dynamics data for one or more elements; and    outputting information to a user based on at least a portion of said bio-transport dynamics data.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein characterizing one or more elements is performed using data obtained from imaging equipment.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 exchanging bio-transport dynamics data between one or more organ models.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein bio-transport dynamics data is exchanged between two or more organ models via said configured simulation model.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein one or more organ models are interfaced to said configured simulation model via a telecommunication link.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an element is characterized as an organ.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said bio-transport system is a subsystem of an organ and said configured simulation model is an object in an organ model modeling said organ.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said bio-transport system is a subsystem of a cell and said simulation model is an object in a cell simulation model modeling said cell.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one bio-transport dynamic is the flow of fluid within the bio-transport system.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein additional bio-transport dynamics are selected from the group consisting of mass transport and/or reactions of entities in the fluid; heat transport in the fluid; external dynamical and mechanical effects on the fluid; effects at a distance; and combinations of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein effects at a distance are simulated using a relations processing engine.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said user-specified characteristics is a condition of state.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of elements are characterized to model multilevel branching.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein initializing said simulation model comprises entering prime mover data and/or input/output conditions of said bio-transport system.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein prime mover data represents a function of time and state.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein one bio-transport dynamic is fluid flow which is a function of an element's position relative to said prime mover and the state condition of said prime mover.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each element is an object in object-oriented programming environment.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said bio-transport system is a circulatory system  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said information is used for diagnostic purposes.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said information is used for determining drug dissemination in a circulatory system as a function of time and position within a circulatory system.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said configured simulation model incorporates conditions of state relationships in an overall set of relationships to be solved during execution of the configured simulation model.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mathematical relationships of one or more bio-transport dynamics are interrelated such that the output of one relationship is used as the input to at least another relationship.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said configured simulation model comprises at least two simulation models.  
     
     
         24 . A method of simulating a transport system comprising: 
 providing a constructed simulation model comprising: 
 one or more elements characterized to represent a bio-transport system or a portion thereof;  
 at least one model having one or more mathematical representations of one or more bio-transport dynamics for each element, said mathematical representation being constructed based on the characterization of said elements;  
   initializing said constructed simulation model;    executing said constructed simulation model to obtain bio-transport dynamics data for each element; and    outputting information to a user based on at least a portion of said bio-transport dynamics data.    
     
     
         25 . A computer system for simulating a transport system comprising: 
 a processor;    a user interface operatively connected to the processor for receiving input from and conveying output to a user; and    memory operatively connected to the processor and containing instructions for constructing and/or executing the simulation model; 
 wherein constructing said simulation model comprises (a) receiving construction data characterizing one or more elements to represent a bio-transport system or a portion thereof; (b) constructing one or more mathematical representations that model one or more bio-transport dynamics for each element based on the data characterizing said elements to form a configured simulation model; and  
 wherein executing said simulation model comprises (a) initialing said configured simulation model; and (b) executing said configured simulation model to obtain bio-transport dynamic data for each element.  
   
     
     
         26 . A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for enabling a computer-based system to construct and/or execute the simulation model; 
 wherein constructing said simulation model comprises (a) receiving data characterizing one or more elements to represent a bio-transport system or a portion thereof; (b) constructing one or more mathematical representations that model one or more bio-transport dynamics for each element based on the data characterizing said elements to form a configured simulation model; and    wherein executing said simulation model comprises (a) initialing said configured simulation model; and (b) executing said configured simulation model to obtain bio-transport dynamic data for each element.    
     
     
         27 . A process for simulating on a computer system a circulatory system, said process comprising the steps of: 
 inputting an ordered selection of channel elements and fluid characteristics into a computer system;    inputting data of initial and boundary conditions;    configuring a circulatory model resident within said computer system according to said selection to form a configured circulatory model, said configured circulatory model having at least one mathematical representation corresponding to said selection;    applying said data to the configured circulatory model; and    displaying on a user interface of said computer the results of applying data to said configured circulatory model.    
     
     
         28 . A method of simulating the interaction of two or more organs over a circutlatory system, said method comprising: 
 constructing a matrix of one or more relationships between at least a first organ and a second organ over a circulatory system;    providing data relating to said first organ's interaction with said circulatory system;    applying said data to said matrix and solving to generate at least one solution corresponding to the effect of said first organ on said second organ over said circulatory system; and    outputting said solution.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said data is provided by at least a first organ model modeling said first organ, and said solution is outputted to a second model modeling said second organ.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said one or more solutions is generated by a relations processing engine.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said relationships comprise a time delay to account for spacial separation effects between said first and second organs.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein one of said first or second organ is a heart.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein one of said first or second organ is a kidney.