Modeling and Model Checking of a Clinical Diagnostic Algorithm

This paper proposes a framework to ensure the correctness of safety critical systems through formally modeling and model checking a clinical diagnostic algorithm. Petri nets are chosen to model the algorithm, and model checker NuSMV is used to verify the properties. The graphic notation of the framework provides a convenient way to facilitate the communication between algorithm designers and software developers. The mathematic foundation of the framework supports precise specification and formal analysis of the algorithm. In addition, the model checking tool provides an automatic approach to guarantees the correctness of the algorithm. The approach in this paper can be easily generalized to accommodate other systems.