Artificial neural networks applications in dialysis

Abstract

Artificial Neural Networks are mathematical models resembling the brain behavior. They have the ability to learn from the environment and produce responses as a consequence of this learning process. They were broadly used in medicine both as a classification model as well as a prediction tool. In hemodialysis they were used for molecular modeling in the estimation of equilibrated urea concentration, as a monitoring strategy for online treatment analysis and also for bed side models for hemodialysis adequacy evaluation. In this chapter the basic concepts of artificial neural models are introduced and a complete application in equilibrated urea estimation in hemodialized patients is presented. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.