Digital Twins in Critical Care: What, When, How, Where, Why?

Abstract

Healthcare and intensive care unit (ICU) medicine in particular, are facing a devastating tsunami of rising demand multiplied by increasing chronic disease and aging demographics, which is unmatched by society’s ability to pay. Digital technologies and automation have brought significant productivity gains to many industries, and manufacturing in particular, but not yet to medicine. In manufacturing, digital twins, model-based optimisation of manufacturing systems and equipment, are a rapidly growing means of further enhancing productivity and quality. This concept intersects well with the model-based decision support and control just beginning to emerge into clinical use, offering the opportunity to personalise care, and improve its quality and productivity. This article presents digital twins in a manufacturing concept and translates it into clinical practice, and then reviews the state of the art in key areas of ICU medicine.