The complex research in objectivation and automation of the diagnostic techniques of Tibetan medicine was first begun at the Laboratory of Radiobiophysics (LRBPh) of the BINS of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) in 1983 under the leadership of Doctor Ch.Ts.Tsydypov and has the priority character. The distinctive feature of the approach which is being developed at the LRBPh is its clear inter-science character. This approach suggests the solution of mathematic and technical problems for constructing the diagnostic complex as well as the profound investigation of Tibetan original texts, in the theory of Tibetan pulse diagnostics in particular. This is because the Tibetan medical literature describing various types of pulse, supplied with their graphical depictions, which is at cur disposal, presents the Tibetan pulse diagnostics as an elaborate diagnostic method which is based on the comparison of data obtained at different parts of the body. The frequency of pulse, the strength of pulse beating, the degree of pulse filling, the character of the interchange of strong and weak tones, the character of the rhythm breaks all these must be taken into account and all these can be registered with the help of modern equipment. Thus, registering pulse signals and the subsequent processing and deciphering them will make it possible to translate the objective contents of the Tibetan texts into the language of modern science, which will permit correlating this or that type of pulse with a certain dysfunction of the organism or with a certain disease according to the classification of modern European medicine.

    Now a number of problems concerning the development of the devise registering pulse waves at the six zones on the radial arteries of human wrists, the methods of processing pulsograms and the ways of their interpretation are partially solved. That is why in the near future we plan only to perfect the diagnostic complex, the techniques of processing and interpreting pulse waves, i.e. further broadening diagnostic capacity of the complex.

    This level of solving the problem of the Tibetan pulse diagnostics permits the diagnostic complex to work effectively in the clinic conditions. However the physical and physiological nature of pulsation and the ways of interpreting it in Tibetan medicine remain insufficiently investigated. Understanding its sense is a key to mastering pulse diagnostics as well as the theory and practice of Tibetan medicine as a whole system.

    This problem comes back to the depth of the Buddhist world outlook where the primary "bricks" of the Universe are "the great elements" (mahabhutas): "earth", "water", "fire", "air" and "space". Combinations of these elements determine the pulsation in a human organism, and form in it what is called, from the view point of Tibetan medicine, energetic levels or essences. That is why the problem of investigating the features of pulsations and of the "great elements" as well as the study of their outer and inner interrelations and interconnections is, in our opinion, of fundamental nature. The solution of this problem will be a greatest contribution to the development of our physical and philosophic concepts of nature and the characteristics of the Universe and will become the basis for true comprehension of the real application of the achievements of Tibetan medicine on scientific basis in the fields of diagnostics and treatment. It will be a valuable contribution to our understanding of a different (Buddhist and Indian) culture.

    We have plenty of information at our disposal which is contained in Tibetan medical treatises. This information presents very specific material difficult for a contemporary European. It requires more effective and convenient forms of presenting the knowledge contained in it. For the theoretical analysis and the practical application of the knowledge information of the Tibetan original medical texts (especially for the objectivisation of the main diagnostic methods of Tibetan medicine — questioning and physical observation) an expert system is being developed. This expert system is able to make diagnosis and to give advice about the treatment on the basis of the information of Tibetan medicine.

    Objectivation and the subsequent automation of the third diagnostic method (feeling the pulse) also has difficulties associated with the necessity to create mathematic models of the pulse wave, methods of its processing and reading. The movement of blood in the vessels is a case of a complicated hydrodynamic process the study of which is impossible without mathematic modelling.

    The effectiveness of computer application in medical diagnostic systems depends on how adequate the mathematic models are to the biological systems (MMBS), because the state of health of a patient is estimated in the values of the parameters of these modelled. The difficulty of this problem is in insufficient development of the techniques of the MMBS projecting and of the criteria of their adequacy level. That is why the major part of the MMBS, due to the low adequacy level, find no use, like the models based on the linear theory of the pulse wave transmission in the artery.

    Another problem is finding the physical and physiological mechanism of Interconnection of palpation zones on the radial artery with the inner organs of a patient.

    We also work at the problem of objectivation the biologically active points (BAP) of Tibetan and Mongolian medicine (TMM) for the electrometric diagnostic method. The matter is that these points do not coincide with the BAP of Chinese medicine. Tibetan and Mongolian medicine does not speak of the meridians and its diagnostic methods differ. It is necessary to find the connections between the BAP and the inner organs or functional systems of the organism.

    Thus, the aims of the research are the following:

1. to determine the sense of the main concepts of Tibetan medicine: "wind", "bile" and "phlegm";
2. to develop mathematic models of the pulse wave and methods of deciphering it;
3. to create the pulse catalogue;
4. to make clear the nature of the connections between the palpation zones, BAP and the inner organs;
5. to create, in this basis, an integral diagnostic computer complex of Tibetan medicine.

    Nowadays in France, Southern Korea, ChPR, Japan, Taiwan and Russia work at objectivation and automation of diagnostic methods of Oriental medicine (of pulse diagnostic in particular) is being actively carried on. In all this research the main attention is devoted to the technical problems, first of all to the development of pulse sensors.

    The diagnostic computer complex which is being developed, whose methodological basis consists in diagnostic methods of Tibetan medicine, has no analogues in the world.

    The research is being and will be carried out in three directions:

1. the development of information and expert systems of Tibetan and Mongolian medicine;
2. the objectivation and automation of pulse diagnostics of Tibetan and Mongolian medicine;
3. the objectivation of biologically active points of Tibetan and Mongolian medicine and the development, an their basis, the methods of diagnosing diseases.

    The realization of the project can be done within 5 years.

    The research will be done with the help of linguistic, mathematic and experimental methods using our computer pulse diagnostic complex of Tibetan medicine, the expert system "Emchi" and doctors-specialists in pulse diagnostics — all this will be done together with the Republican Hospital of the War Invalids of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Buryatia.

    The expected scientific results:

1. Philosophic, medical and physical interpretation of the mahabhutas and the three principles will be suggested;
2. A version of the expert system for diagnosing diseases will be developed. It will include the method of questioning and the method of physical observation of Tibetan medicine. The new approach to the comprehension of the basic text "rYyud bZhi" will allow to create a flexible, self-developing diagnostic system;
3. A mathematic model of the pulse wave will be developed, 2 or 4 types of pulse will be deciphered, the pulse catalogue will start to be created, the physical mechanism of the connection of palpation zones with the inner organs and/or functional systems;
4. 2 or 3 groups of the biologically active points of the TMM will be objectivated. Electropunctural diagnostic methods of the corresponding diseases will be suggested.

Main Publications

1. Пупышев В.Н. Тибетская медицина: язык, теория и практика. — Новосибирск: Наука. Сиб. отд., 140 с.
2. Пульсовая диагностика тибетской медицины / Сб. статей под ред. д.ф.-м.н., проф. Ч.Ц.Цыдыпова. — Новосибирск: Наука. Сиб. отд., 1988. 134 с.
3. Бороноев В.В., Шабанова Е.В. Численное дифференцирование сфигмограмм лучевой артерии методом регуляризации Тихонова. — Измерительная техника, 1994, N 11, с. 60-62.
4. Жамбалдагбаев Н.Ц., Занданова Г.И. Экспертные медицинские системы тибетской медицины: состояние и перспективы / Тибетская медицина: состояние исследований. — Улан-Удэ, 1994, с. 101-107.

    The authors have published 4 monographs and about 30 articles in the central and local press.

1. Name of the device

2. The characteristics of the device (the aim, field of application, advantage over analogs)

3. The presence of a patent and "know-how"

4. The practical realization of the complex (laboratory or experimental sample, pilot or industry device, serial issue etc.)

5. Probable users

6. You may connect to: V.V.Boronoyev, root@bien.buriatia.su or call (30122)35694.