Digital Twin Technology in Healthcare: Transforming Patient Care and Operational Efficiency

By Henry Duah

Digital twins are poised to revolutionise healthcare through their various applications. This innovative technology offers a dynamic approach to monitoring, managing, and optimising patient care and operational efficiency. At its core, a digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical entity, be it a patient, medical equipment, or healthcare facility, continually updated with real-time data. It holds the promise of personalised medicine, remote patient monitoring, and streamlined hospital operations. Imagine a virtual mirror image of a physical entity, constantly updated with real-time data and insights – that’s the essence of a digital twin. From manufacturing to transportation, digital twins are set to transform traditional processes and unlock new possibilities.

Leading companies and startups in the healthcare industry actively leverage digital twin technology to drive positive outcomes. From personalised medicine solutions to virtual simulations of patient anatomies, these organisations are at the forefront of transforming healthcare delivery. By harnessing the power of digital twins, they aim to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and ultimately revolutionise how healthcare is delivered.

In this snapshot, we will delve into four innovative startups worldwide that are harnessing the power of digital twin technology to revolutionise healthcare delivery. 

PrediSurge 

PrediSurge, a 2017 French startup, is pioneering patient anatomy simulations in healthcare. Focused primarily on cardiovascular surgeries, PrediSurge addresses the challenge of ensuring precise treatment outcomes by offering simulation technology dedicated to creating digital twins of patient anatomies. PrediSurge generates highly detailed 3D models specific to each patient’s anatomy by leveraging medical images. Surgeons can then use these digital models to simulate various interventions, particularly those involving medical implants such as stent grafts. Through automated numerical simulations, surgeons can predict the course of interventions and potential outcomes more accurately.

Predictiv

Predictiv, a 2020 US-based startup, is at the forefront of leveraging DNA-based digital twins to anticipate the occurrence of severe genetic disorders in individuals. By collecting fingernail samples from individuals and extracting their DNA, Predictiv constructs personalised digital twins. These digital twins serve as a virtual representation of an individual’s health, enabling Predictiv to compile genetic risk assessment reports and formulate personalised preventive healthcare plans. The digital twin platform provided by Predictiv allows individuals to explore their genetic risk for diseases and collaborate with healthcare providers to find the most suitable medications and doses.

AIBODY

AIBody, a 2020 UK-based startup, provides digital physiology software for healthcare, specialising in creating comprehensive digital twins of the human body. Their innovative approach involves digitally simulating human physiology, covering biochemical and biomechanical transformations at various levels, from subcellular to complete organism functions. One of their flagship products, Nova Heart, developed in collaboration with the German Heart Center at Charite (DHZC), is a cardiology-centric digital twinning solution. Nova Heart creates dynamic digital twins of patients’ hearts using 2-D transthoracic echocardiogram data, allowing real-time computation of heart chamber volumes, pressures, and cardiac output. Besides clinical applications, Nova Heart is an immersive learning platform that enables medical professionals and students to simulate cardiac pathologies, modify physiological parameters, and interact with virtual patients.

Blynksolve 

Blynksolve, founded in 2022 in Ireland, is pioneering digital solutions tailored for pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. Recognising the industry’s challenges in maintaining clarity, minimising errors, and optimising efficiency, Blynksolve has developed a suite of tools to streamline and clarify complex pharma processes. Their flagship product, the Digital Knowledge Twin©, offers a comprehensive platform for designing, de-risking, and collaborating on pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. By providing a clear, single source of truth for manufacturing processes, Blynksolve empowers pharmaceutical manufacturers to reduce the time for process start-up, lower the risk of deviations and contaminations, and boost overall efficiency. 

The rise of digital twin technology indicates a new era of possibilities in healthcare. Startups like PrediSurge, Predictiv, AIBODY, and Blynksolve showcase innovations that prove the potential applications of digital twins in health are vast and promising. As healthcare systems strive for greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness, digital twins can optimise hospital operations, supply chain management, and resource allocation, improving patient care and reducing healthcare costs globally. As technology advances and innovators push the boundaries of possibility, we can expect digital twins to play an increasingly integral role in shaping the future of healthcare.

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