Two-time Olympian Des Linden, who recently set a new American master’s record in the marathon, was the inaugural recipient of a state-of-the-art digital twin heart. Is this medical advancement the future of running safely and well?
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We asked Dr Srinivasan Jayaraman, head of the Digital Biotwin programme at the TCS Life Sciences and Health Care research unit, what a digital heart is and how it works. He says: “A digital twin heart is a real-time, virtual replica of a person’s heart, offering precise data on its function, efficiency and response to varying conditions.”
The digital twin heart represents a significant leap forward in the integration of technology, sports science and healthcare. Dr Srini explains: “TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) has created a digital heart of a number of data sets, including an MRI. With the data from an MRI alongside various historical and speculative data sets, a functioning heart is modelled in a virtual environment.”
By applying artifical intelligence, machine learning and other analysis, users can see the impact of different conditions and situations on their heart, such as beginning a long-term exercise programme or starting a new medication.
In Des Linden’s case, it gives her insights into her cardiac health throughout her training, but will it work for recreational and club runners too? “While we’ve created a digital heart for Des, we believe this technology will not only be used to safely improve athletic performance but to improve overall health,” Dr Srini says. “This technology is set to transform how athletes train while showcasing the power of personalised health and wellness plans now available to them.”
Digital twins have the potential to transform healthcare beyond the benefits for runners. “Digital biotwins – digital versions of human organs – give doctors, researchers and surgeons new and highly advanced ways to test the effectiveness of different treatments,” says Dr Srini.
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