SimBioSys (pronounced symbiosis) is an advanced physiological simulation program for the PC. It is quite complete and yet easy to use. The SimBioSys manual (available for checkout at the EECS Technical Support Center in S350) is very good and the program offers extensive online help. This document is intended to supplement these resources, not replace them.

SimBioSys uses a virtual patient metaphor. It models the response of a virtual patient to various disease states and clinical interventions. The real time simulation focuses on cardiopulmonary responses, but also includes renal, autonomic and endocrine aspects. The user can select what information is displayed using Viewers and interact with the simulated patient using virtual Clinical Tools (both described later in this document).

Accessing and Exiting SimBioSys

SimBioSys has been installed on the PC network in the Anatomy and Physiology Computer Laboratory (S260). To run SimBioSys, log onto any PC in this lab using the username Guest. The guest accounts do not require passwords. Next, open the SimBioSys program group (folder) and double click on the SimBioSys Simulation icon to run the simulation. To end a SimBioSys session, choose Exit from the File menu or double click on the SimBioSys main window close button.

Learning to Use SimBioSys

One of the quickest ways to learn to use SimBioSys is to go through its Guided Tour. To access the guided tour, start the SimBioSys program and select Guided Tour from the Help menu. The guided tour should take five to ten minutes to complete.

Sections II (Pictorial Introduction to SimBioSys) and III (A SimBioSys Tutorial) of the SimBioSys manual provide additional introductory information on using the program.

Getting Help in SimBioSys

SimBioSys contains two types of context sensitive help information. The first type provides help on the SimBioSys user interface and is accessed by selecting Interface Help from the Help menu or the clicking on the “?” icon on the tool bar. The second type provides help on the physiological aspects of SimBioSys and is accessed by selecting Physiological Help from the Help menu or clicking on the “Book” icon on the tool bar.

SimBioSys User Interface

The SimBioSys user interface consists of the following key components:

Menu Bar

Like nearly all Windows based programs, SimBioSys has a Menu Bar. Selections on the menu bar include: File for saving and loading cases (the physiological states of virtual patients) and desktops (collections of viewers that display selected physiological information), Simulation for controlling the operation of the simulation and some other things, Viewers for controlling the display of patient physiological data, Windows for arranging windows and Help for help with the program.

Viewers

Viewers provide access to the physiological values used and calculated by the simulation. There are four types of viewers: Data Sheets (for numerical display of slowly changing values such as heart rate), Trend Plots (for graphical display of slowly changing values), Waveforms (for graphical display of rapidly changing values such as the ECG) and Static Curves (for graphical display of relationships between coupled variables such as ventricular volume and pressure).

Tool Bar

The tool bar is used to modify various desktop items. Selections on the tool bar include: add an item (+), remove an item (-), change the appearance of an item (spectacles), set plot modes (separate time series, overlapping time series, separate x-y, overlapping x-y), adjust and reset values (VCR type buttons <<, <, >, >> and ×), interface help (?) and physiological information (book).

Clinical Tools

The clinical tools are used to interact with the virtual patient. The clinical tools include a mechanical ventilator, a singledose infuser, a continuous Infuser and a blood products infuser.

SimBioSys Exercise

Load the E1 desktop and case files using the File menu choices. Standard cases and desktops are stored in the k:\sbsphys directory on the network. You can save your work (as cases and desktops) on the a: or c: drives.

Select the PVR item in the Pulmonary Arteries viewer and remove it by selecting the (-) button on the tool bar. Select the Pulmonary Arteries viewer and add Pulmonary Arteriolar Resistance to it by selecting the (+) button on the tool bar and then selecting the Cardiovascular variables group followed by the Pulmonary Arteries subgroup and finally Pulm Arteriolar Resist. To learn more about the physiological significance of this variable you can select the information “book” button.

Select the Pulm Arteriolar Resist item and use the VCR type buttons to increase its value from 0.030 to about 0.300 while watching for changes in the mean pulmonary artery pressure. Return the value to normal by selecting the “×” button on the tool bar.