Digital twins in healthcare: State of the art and potential use cases in a hospital setting

Abstract

The field of modeling and simulation including digital twins (DT) is getting a lot of traction in the health sector, with various benefits being outlined. Indeed, DT are designed to support the transformation of healthcare, ranging from the medical act itself to the organization of healthcare systems and hospitals, also including medical research. However, the technology is still in its infancy and needs to be evaluated according to medical standards. First and foremost, their clinical value remains to be assessed, taking into account the limits associated with AI tools. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the use cases being tested in hospital settings. We go back to the definition of the DT concept and provide a summary of current studies. Finally, we outline the challenges to be taken into account in order to provide a framework for the deployment of DT tools, guaranteeing the trust and safety of those involved, especially of patients.