DeepThink AI and Fudan University Cancer Hospital Unveil Cervical Cancer Screening System at WAIC 2019

From August 29 to 31, 2019, the 2019 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2019), approved by the State Council and co-hosted by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and other ministries and commissions, together with the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, was grandly held in Shanghai.

Artificial intelligence scientists, academic leaders, industry pioneers, and government officials from around the world have gathered here. The cutting-edge new technologies, products, applications, and concepts on display have been dazzling, while AI’s comprehensive empowerment of sectors such as education, healthcare, transportation, government services, and finance has given attendees a profound sense of the future envisioned by “Intelligently Connecting the World, Unlocking Infinite Possibilities.” iDeepWise, in collaboration with Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, made its debut by comprehensively showcasing its implemented AI+Healthcare solutions, including the AI-Assisted Cervical Cancer Screening System, demonstrating the transformative power of AI in revolutionizing the healthcare industry.

In March 2019, the National Health Commission issued the “Assessment Standards for Hospital Smart Service Grading” regarding smart diagnosis and treatment, clarifying the definition and connotation of smart hospitals. In April of the same year, Shanghai officially unveiled its first batch of pilot application scenarios for artificial intelligence. Twelve specific scenarios were selected, covering areas such as schools, hospitals, communities, industrial parks, transportation, government services, and finance. Shanghai took the lead in China in implementing deep AI applications, with Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center being one of the selected institutions.

Shanghai’s First “AI and Big Data Laboratory” for Healthcare Established at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. Leveraging artificial intelligence and big data technologies, the laboratory has implemented specific applications across ten scenarios, including the development of clinical research platforms and early cancer screening for high-risk populations. The healthcare industry is experiencing renewed vitality through the iterative upgrading of medical equipment and the dynamic allocation of medical services and resources.

At the 2019 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, President Guo of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center explained the application scenarios of AI in healthcare: As one of the first pilot sites for artificial intelligence applications in Shanghai, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center has introduced AI technologies, “partnering” with artificial intelligence in areas such as patient follow-up, early cancer screening, and clinical trial information dissemination, thereby empowering medical research with new energy through intelligent technologies.

Artificial intelligence is a tool that can alleviate the shortage of medical personnel and improve doctors’ work efficiency. It is reported that AI healthcare products are widely deployed across various clinical scenarios at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. In the Department of Pathology, cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological tumors. The iDeepWise AI-powered Cervical Cancer Auxiliary Screening System has been in use for over six months, effectively assisting physicians in making diagnoses.

On the opening day, the main venue of the conference was bustling with attendees. iDeepWise showcased its prominent applications in the field of smart healthcare. The on-site experience scenarios were designed based on the reading habits of pathologists, offering industry-representative solutions that address practical pain points in auxiliary screening for cervical cancer.

In addition to its million-scale high-quality database, iDeepWise has achieved significant core-level algorithmic innovations, supported by a robust team of artificial intelligence algorithm experts. By integrating AI technologies such as deep learning, image instance segmentation, and transfer learning with medical image analysis techniques, the system adapts to various slide preparation methods and scanning devices to enable fully automated auxiliary screening for cervical cytology. The iDeepWise CIAS (Cervical Cancer Cell Image Analysis System) can interpret liquid-based cytology slides prepared using TCT (membrane-based), LCT (sedimentation), and TLT (centrifugation) methods, providing reliable test results.

Validated through extensive clinical samples, the iDeepWise.AI-Qiaosi Robot (featured on CCTV-1’s “Super Intelligence”) CIAS system significantly improves the detection sensitivity for ASCUS and higher-grade lesions, markedly reduces the false-negative rate, and greatly minimizes missed diagnoses. Specifically, it achieves a sensitivity of 99.4% and specificity of 98.9% for squamous epithelial cell lesions; for glandular cell abnormalities, the sensitivity is approximately 97.9% and specificity approximately 93.4%, with a negative exclusion rate of 81.19%.

To watch the full program video, please click the link:https://www.iqiyi.com/v_19rtlnv99c.html

As of August 2019, iDeepWise’s CIAS image analysis system provided primary cervical cancer screening services to the pathology and obstetrics/gynecology departments of more than 30 Grade A tertiary hospitals, as well as to third-party testing institutions. It is reported that iDeepWise is also working to build a big data platform for cervical cancer screening to enable information sharing, with the ultimate goal of realizing a fully automated computer-aided cervical cancer screening system. This initiative aims to establish data channels for cervical cancer screening, create a big data center for cervical cancer screening, develop an intelligent annotation platform for cervical cytopathology, and launch an intelligent slide reading platform for cervical cytopathology, thereby forming a three-tier diagnosis and treatment system for cervical cancer auxiliary screening and consultation that spans from community-level primary healthcare institutions to comprehensive Grade A tertiary oncology hospitals.

As a highly significant application scenario for artificial intelligence, the integration and innovation of AI within the healthcare industry are garnering increasing attention. To drive transformation in the healthcare sector and promote the deep integration of big data technologies with health and medical services, “AI + Healthcare” has become a focal point of societal interest.

At the conference, the most authoritative perspectives, cutting-edge technologies, and advanced products will converge to comprehensively demonstrate how AI technology empowers healthcare. In the future, as the “AI + Healthcare” industry becomes more deeply implemented, China’s medical sector will advance toward higher standards and greater sophistication. iDeepWise has consistently remained at the forefront of medical artificial intelligence development, providing comprehensive assistance to physicians.