US-12620495-B2 - System and method for configuring data collection for a digital twin

US12620495B2US 12620495 B2US12620495 B2US 12620495B2US-12620495-B2

Abstract

A system ( 10 ) for configuring data collection for provision to a digital twin for generating a desired set of output information (e.g. physiological or anatomical parameter estimations) from the digital twin. The system is configured to detect available sources ( 56 ) of physical sensor data ( 58 ) pertaining to a patient, and to compare these with determined input data requirements of a digital twin ( 32 ) of the patient for computing a particular defined set of required output information. Depending on the result, a virtual sensing module ( 28 ) can be used to generate supplementary ‘virtual’ sensor data to compensate for any insufficiencies in the available physical sensor data or augment the physical sensor data, and the system can re-configure operating settings of the available physical sensors ( 56 ) to optimally meet the input data requirements of the digital model.

Inventors

Murtaza Bulut
LIEKE GERTRUDA ELISABETH COX
Cornelis Petrus HENDRIKS
VALENTINA LAVEZZO

Assignees

KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20201217
Priority Date: 20200106

Claims (14)

1 . A system, comprising: a processor arrangement communicatively coupled to a data storage arrangement storing a digital model of at least part of an anatomy of a patient, the digital model being configured for simulating a physical state of said at least part of the anatomy based on adjustment of a set of one or more model input parameters, and the digital model being operable to provide output information related to the simulated physical state of the anatomy; the processor arrangement being communicatively couplable in use with one or more physical sensors to receive physical patient sensor data; the processor arrangement including a virtual sensing module configured in use for generating supplementary data; and the processor arrangement being configured in use to: execute an initial phase in which only a subset of available physical sensors are activated for data collection; determine information indicative of currently available physical patient sensor data from the one or more physical sensors; determine from the digital model a required set of input information for providing to the digital model in order to obtain, from the digital model, a particular defined set of output information from the model; perform a comparison of the required set of input information and the available physical patient sensor data; based on a result of the comparison, use the virtual sensing module to generate supplementary data to supplement or replace the physical patient sensor data: based on a result of the comparison, adjust one or more operation settings of the one or more physical sensors, for improving a match between the available physical patient sensor data and the required set of input information; and execute a further phase in which, based on performing a further comparison between resultant output information from the digital model using the currently available physical patient sensor data and said particular defined set of output information, activate a modified subset of the physical sensors.
2 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the processor arrangement is further configured to generate output information from the digital model using one or more of the physical patient sensor data or the supplementary data as input information to the digital model.
3 . The system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the processor arrangement is further configured to perform a further comparison between the generated output information and said particular defined set of output information, to make adjustments to the supplementary data that is generated and the operation settings of the physical sensors.
4 . The system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the processor arrangement is further configured to determine based on one or more of the comparison of claim 3 , the digital mode or on-feedback from the virtual sensing module, an alternative or modified set of input information formed by the available physical patient sensor data and the supplementary data which may be provided to the digital model, in order to obtain said output information.
5 . The system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein a feedback loop is implemented between one or more of the result of the comparison, the virtual sensing module, the digital model, or the further comparison of claim 3 in order to iteratively or recursively adjust one or more of the supplementary data generated by the virtual sensing module, and the operation settings of one or more of the physical sensors.
6 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the processor arrangement is configured to perform a further comparison between a combination of acquired physical patient sensor data after any adjustment of settings and any generated supplementary data, and the required input information, to make adjustments to the supplementary data that is generated and the operation settings of the physical sensors.
7 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the defined set of output information is received by the processor arrangement from a user interface device.
8 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of physical sensors communicatively couplable in use with the processor arrangement for supplying said physical patient sensor data.
9 . A computer-implemented method, comprising: accessing a digital model of at least part of an anatomy of a patient, the digital model being configured for simulating a physical state of said at least part of the anatomy based on adjustment of a set of one or more model input parameters, and the model being operable to provide output information related to the simulated physical state of the anatomy; executing an initial phase in which only a subset of available physical patient sensors are activated for data collection: determining from the digital model a required set of input information for providing to the digital model in order to obtain, from the digital model, a particular defined set of output information from the model; determining an indication of currently available physical sensor data from the physical patient sensors; performing a comparison of the required set of input information and the available physical sensor data; based on a result of the comparison, generating supplementary data to supplement or replace the available physical sensor data, based on a result of the comparison, adjusting one or more operation settings of the physical patient sensors, for improving a match between the available physical sensor data and the required set of input information; and executing a further phase in which, based on performing a further comparison between resultant output information from the digital model using the currently available physical patient sensor data and said particular defined set of output information, activating a modified subset of the physical patient sensors.
10 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising generating output information from the digital model using the physical sensor data or supplementary data as input information to the digital model.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising performing a further comparison between the generated output information and the particular defined set of output information.
12 . The method according to claim 11 further comprising determining, based on the comparison of claim 11 and using the digital model, an alternative or modified set of input information formed by the available physical sensor data and the supplementary data which may be provided to the digital model, in order to obtain said output information.
13 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising performing a further comparison between: a combination of available physical sensor data after any adjustment of settings and any generated supplementary data, and the required set of input information.
14 . A non-transitory computer program product comprising code means configured, when run on a processor, to perform a method, the processor being communicatively coupled with a data storage arrangement storing a digital model of at least part of an anatomy of a patient, the digital model being configured for simulating a physical state of said at least part of the anatomy based on adjustment of a set of one or more model input parameters, and the model operable to provide output information related to the simulated physical state of the anatomy, the method comprising: accessing a digital model of at least part of an anatomy of a patient, the digital model being configured for simulating a physical state of said at least part of the anatomy based on adjustment of a set of one or more model input parameters, and the model being operable to provide output information related to the simulated physical state of the anatomy; executing an initial phase in which only a subset of available physical patient sensors are activated for data collection; determining from the digital model a required set of input information for providing to the digital model in order to obtain, from the digital model, a particular defined set of output information from the model; determining an indication of currently available physical sensor data from physical patient sensors; performing a comparison of the required set of input information and the available physical sensor data; based on a result of the comparison, generating supplementary data to supplement or replace the available physical sensor data, based on a result of the comparison, adjusting one or more operation settings of the physical patient sensors, for improving a match between the available physical sensor data and the required set of input information; and executing a further phase in which, based on performing a further comparison between resultant output information from the digital model using the currently available physical patient sensor data and said particular defined set of output information, activating a modified subset of the physical patient sensors.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2020/086860, filed on Dec. 17, 2020, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/949,465, filed Dec. 18, 2019 and European Patent Application No. 20150333.1, filed on Jan. 6, 2020, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of personal digital models (digital twins) and in particular to a system and method for configuring data collection for supplying to a digital model to obtain a set of output information from the model. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A recent development in technology is the so-called digital twin concept. In this concept, a digital representation (the digital twin) of a physical system is provided and connected to its physical counterpart, for example through the Internet of things as explained in US 2017/286572 A1. Through this connection, the digital twin typically receives data pertaining to the state of the physical system, such as sensor readings or the like, based on which the digital twin can predict the actual or future status of the physical system, e.g. through simulation, as well as analyze or interpret a status history of the physical twin. In case of electromechanical systems, this for example may be used to predict the end-of-life of components of the system, thereby reducing the risk of component failure as timely replacement of the component may be arranged based on its end-of-life as estimated by the digital twin. Such digital twin technology is also becoming of interest in the medical field, as it provides an approach to more efficient medical care provision. For example, the digital twin may be built using imaging data of the patient, e.g. a patient suffering from a diagnosed medical condition as captured in the imaging data, as for instance is explained by Dr Vanessa Diaz in https://www.wareable.com/health-and-wellbeing/doctor-virtual-twin-digital-patient-ucl-887 as retrieved from the Internet on 22 Oct. 2019. Such a digital twin may serve a number of purposes. Firstly, the digital twin rather than the patient may be subjected to a number of virtual tests, e.g. treatment plans, to determine which treatment plan is most likely to be successful to the patient. This therefore reduces the number of tests that physically need to be performed on the actual patient. The digital twin of the patient for instance further may be used to predict the onset, treatment or development of such medical conditions of the patient using a patient-derived digital model, e.g. a digital model that has been derived from medical image data of the patient. In this manner, the medical status of a patient may be monitored without the routine involvement of a medical practitioner, e.g. thus avoiding periodic routine physical checks of the patient. Instead, only when the digital twin predicts a medical status of the patient indicative of the patient requiring medical attention based on the received sensor readings may the digital twin arrange for an appointment to see a medical practitioner to be made for the patient. This typically leads to an improvement in the medical care of the patient, as the onset of certain diseases or medical conditions may be predicted with the digital twin, such that the patient can be treated accordingly at an early stage, which not only is beneficial to the patient but can also reduce (treatment) costs. Moreover, major medical incidents that the patient may be about to suffer may be predicted by the digital twin based on the monitoring of the patient's sensor readings, thereby reducing the risk of such incidents actually occurring. Such prevention avoids the need for the provision of substantial aftercare following such a major medical incident, which also alleviates the pressure on a healthcare system otherwise providing such aftercare. A digital model may be derived based at least in part on medical image data for the patient. The digital model may additionally or alternatively be derived based on physiological sensor data (including e.g. vital signs such as heart rate, respiration rate, skin temperature) and/or from psychological patient data inferred or computed from sensor data and/or medical history data. Medical history data may also include for instance subjective patient data, for example collected by means of a questionnaire, or patient feedback. A digital twin may be used to simulate a new physical situation or state in a patient using input physical sensor data, for example each time new information or data becomes available, e.g. when a parameter has changed as detected with a sensor or user input. The result is a new output variable field or distribution in a set of output parameters. In some applications it may be useful to update a digital twin in real time or intermittently based for example on sensor data s