Modeling and simulation of the short-term arterial pressure control system using an object oriented approach

Object-oriented modeling is spreading in current simulation environments through the use of the individual components of the model and its interconnections to define the underlying dynamic equations. In this paper we describe the use of the SIMSCAPE simulation environment in the object-oriented modeling of the short-term arterial pressure control system when is applied to patients undergoing different situations as hemorrhage, liquid uptake or hemodialysis treatment. Results show the effectiveness of the baroreceptor control mechanism to compensate for the hypotension induced by the hemodialysis treatment. The described approach represents a valuable tool in the teaching of physiology for graduate medical and biomedical engineering students when facing to alternate hemodialysis treatment.