Engineering Digital Twins To Transform Diagnosis And Treatment For Gi Disorders

For galore people, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are chronic and life-altering conditions. Yet contempt their prevalence, doctors are often challenged by patients experiencing persistent symptoms pinch nary measurement to accurately place and diagnose diseases.

Kennesaw State University's Lei Shi, an adjunct professor of mechanical engineering successful the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SPCEET), is moving to alteration that. Supported by a caller National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, Shi is starring a investigation task that could change really GI disorders are diagnosed and treated utilizing virtual replicas of a quality stomach.

This investigation is individual for me. I've knowledgeable tummy issues myself, and I cognize really disruptive they tin be. Many group consciousness discomfort, nausea, aliases digestive problems, but aft an endoscopy aliases imaging, they're told everything looks normal. We want to understand what's going connected astatine a deeper level."

Lei Shi, adjunct professor of mechanical engineering, Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Kennesaw State University

Shi's attack is based connected 2 cardinal assumptions. First, microscopic changes successful nan stomach's mechanical properties tin beryllium moreover erstwhile nan organ appears normal. Second, that disruptions successful nan stomach's earthy electrical signaling patterns tin change really it contracts and moves food. By combining precocious aesculapian imaging, biomechanics testing, and computational modeling, his squad is processing patient-specific "digital twins." These twins are virtual models of a person's tummy that simulate some its beingness building and its electrical activity.

The investigation involves collaboration pinch 2 physicians astatine Emory University, who supply Shi pinch data, including CT scans, endoscopy images, and a specialized measurement called manometry, which records unit changes and deformation successful nan tummy and esophagus. In his Intelligent Biomechanics lab on KSU's Marietta Campus, Shi and his squad merge this information into 3D models, past tally biomechanical tests specified arsenic tensile and biaxial testing to find nan tissue's stiffness and elasticity.

"Two stomachs whitethorn look nan same, but 1 mightiness beryllium stiff while nan different is soft. That quality affects really it moves," Shi said. "By combining mechanical properties pinch electrical activity patterns, we tin create a exemplary that behaves conscionable for illustration nan existent organ."

These integer twins could person far-reaching implications. Not only could they thief observe subtle changes successful nan tummy that existent devices miss, but they could besides service arsenic a testbed for curen planning.

"Dr. Shi's innovative investigation demonstrates nan powerfulness of collaboration to create a amended life for all." SPCEET Dean Lawrence Whitman said. "By merging engineering, machine science, and medicine, his activity has nan imaginable to toggle shape some technological knowing and diligent care."

Shi's imagination does not extremity astatine nan stomach. His goals see expanding nan modeling to nan full GI tract from nan esophagus to nan intestines and studying its relationship pinch different systems, specified arsenic nan brain-gut axis. He besides plans to incorporated instrumentality learning to velocity up study and prediction. By applying lessons learned from his erstwhile activity modeling nan heart, uterus, and cervix, Shi hopes to accelerate advancement and create a virtual level for studying digestive function.

Students are besides playing an important domiciled successful this effort. Shi presently has a Ph.D. student moving connected nan task and is recruiting an further doctoral interrogator to subordinate nan team. With specified a ample scope and entree to precocious laboratory equipment, nan task provides valuable hands-on acquisition for early engineers and researchers.

"What excites maine astir is that nan activity goes beyond coding and simulations," said Yue Li, a Ph.D. student moving pinch Shi. "I person nan opportunity to study mechanical experiments firsthand and lend information that helps validate our models, which makes nan investigation genuinely meaningful."