AMID THIS CRISIS , A REVOLUTIONARY SOLUTION IS EMERGING – VIRTUAL PATIENTS .
H E A L T H I N S I G H T S been founded to drive the use of synthetic patients for use in ISTs . Recent advances in technology are now enabling the creation of fully synthetic virtual patients that combine characteristics from multiple real patients , which adsilico calls virtual ‘ chimeras .’ This novel approach enables the creation of much larger , truly diverse virtual populations that better reflect the full spectrum of future users of a given medical device .
The scale possible with this advanced synthetic patient approach is unprecedented . In the cardiovascular domain alone , a UK academic group processed 40,000 patient MRI images across 50 timepoints of the cardiac cycle , creating 2 million image volumes that serve as the foundation for building diverse virtual synthetic populations . This massive dataset allows for testing of devices across a wide range of anatomical variations , helping identify potential complications in previously underrepresented populations before devices reach real patients .
AMID THIS CRISIS , A REVOLUTIONARY SOLUTION IS EMERGING – VIRTUAL PATIENTS .
Moving forward
While digital twins offer some benefits , the future lies in more advanced synthetic data techniques that can generate unlimited , diverse patient populations efficiently and ethically . These new approaches enable early identification of design flaws that might affect specific populations . They allow systematic exploration of anatomical and physiological variations , ethical testing of high-risk scenarios without putting patients at risk , rapid evaluation of device performance in rare patient populations , and cost-effective testing across multiple demographic groups – all without the risk of direct patient harm .
Industry forecasts predict that by 2025 , 50 % of new medical devices will utilise in silico methods in their development process , with the global market for in silico-developed medical products reaching almost £ 90 billion . This isn ’ t just a trend , it ’ s a transformation in how we ensure medical devices are safe and effective for everyone who needs them .
We must do better Just because current approaches are considered “ gold-standard ”, it doesn ’ t mean that they are without limitations . Virtual patients , particularly through advanced approaches that can generate diverse , synthetic populations at scale , offers a path to more inclusive , comprehensive device testing that could save lives and prevent untold suffering .
It ’ s time for device manufacturers , regulators and healthcare stakeholders to embrace this technological revolution . By combining traditional clinical trials with advanced virtual patient approaches , we can ensure that the next generation of medical devices is truly tested for and effective in all populations they serve . �
Anthony Holmes , Chief Product Officer at adsilico
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