The Advent of Domain Adaptation into Artificial Intelligence for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Medical Imaging

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a subfield of computer science that aims to implement computer systems that perform tasks that generally require human learning, reasoning, and perceptual abilities. AI is widely used in the medical field. The interpretation of medical images requires considerable effort, time, and skill. AI-aided interpretations, such as automated abnormal lesion detection and image classification, are promising areas of AI. However, when images with different characteristics are extracted, depending on the manufacturer and imaging environment, a so-called domain shift problem occurs in which the developed AI has a poor versatility. Domain adaptation is used to address this problem. Domain adaptation is a tool that generates a newly converted image which is suitable for other domains. It has also shown promise in reducing the differences in appearance among the images collected from different devices. Domain adaptation is expected to improve the reading accuracy of AI for heterogeneous image distributions in gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and medical image analyses. In this paper, we review the history and basic characteristics of domain shift and domain adaptation. We also address their use in gastrointestinal endoscopy and the medical field more generally through published examples, perspectives, and future directions.

The Role of Specialized Instruments for Advanced Endoscopic Resections in Gastrointestinal Disease

“…Future innovations regarding instruments for advanced endoscopic procedures may involve robotic technology. The advantage of the robotic technique is the optimal maneuverability of instrument tips in a small space [52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59]. At first sight, this seems to fit excellently with the small intraluminal space in the gut, which may limit instrument action.…”

“…However, endoscopists do use the advantage of the small space by using the narrow gut wall for guidance and to stabilize the position of the scope, which is also important. More clinical experience and technical developments are emerging with the robot systems used in flexible endoscopy [52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59].…”