TY - JOUR A1 - Maerkl, Raphaela A1 - Rueckert, Tobias A1 - Rauber, David A1 - Gutbrod, Max A1 - Weber Nunes, Danilo A1 - Palm, Christoph T1 - Enhancing generalization in zero-shot multi-label endoscopic instrument classification JF - International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery N2 - Purpose Recognizing previously unseen classes with neural networks is a significant challenge due to their limited generalization capabilities. This issue is particularly critical in safety-critical domains such as medical applications, where accurate classification is essential for reliability and patient safety. Zero-shot learning methods address this challenge by utilizing additional semantic data, with their performance relying heavily on the quality of the generated embeddings. Methods This work investigates the use of full descriptive sentences, generated by a Sentence-BERT model, as class representations, compared to simpler category-based word embeddings derived from a BERT model. Additionally, the impact of z-score normalization as a post-processing step on these embeddings is explored. The proposed approach is evaluated on a multi-label generalized zero-shot learning task, focusing on the recognition of surgical instruments in endoscopic images from minimally invasive cholecystectomies. Results The results demonstrate that combining sentence embeddings and z-score normalization significantly improves model performance. For unseen classes, the AUROC improves from 43.9% to 64.9%, and the multi-label accuracy from 26.1% to 79.5%. Overall performance measured across both seen and unseen classes improves from 49.3% to 64.9% in AUROC and from 37.3% to 65.1% in multi-label accuracy, highlighting the effectiveness of our approach. Conclusion These findings demonstrate that sentence embeddings and z-score normalization can substantially enhance the generalization performance of zero-shot learning models. However, as the study is based on a single dataset, future work should validate the method across diverse datasets and application domains to establish its robustness and broader applicability. KW - Generalized zero-shot learning KW - Sentence embeddings KW - Z-score normalization KW - Multi-label classification KW - Surgical instruments Y1 - 2025 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-85674 N1 - Corresponding author der OTH Regensburg: Raphaela Maerkl VL - 20 SP - 1577 EP - 1587 PB - Springer Nature ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weiherer, Maximilian A1 - Eigenberger, Andreas A1 - Egger, Bernhard A1 - Brébant, Vanessa A1 - Prantl, Lukas A1 - Palm, Christoph T1 - Learning the shape of female breasts: an open-access 3D statistical shape model of the female breast built from 110 breast scans JF - The Visual Computer N2 - We present the Regensburg Breast Shape Model (RBSM)—a 3D statistical shape model of the female breast built from 110 breast scans acquired in a standing position, and the first publicly available. Together with the model, a fully automated, pairwise surface registration pipeline used to establish dense correspondence among 3D breast scans is introduced. Our method is computationally efficient and requires only four landmarks to guide the registration process. A major challenge when modeling female breasts from surface-only 3D breast scans is the non-separability of breast and thorax. In order to weaken the strong coupling between breast and surrounding areas, we propose to minimize the variance outside the breast region as much as possible. To achieve this goal, a novel concept called breast probability masks (BPMs) is introduced. A BPM assigns probabilities to each point of a 3D breast scan, telling how likely it is that a particular point belongs to the breast area. During registration, we use BPMs to align the template to the target as accurately as possible inside the breast region and only roughly outside. This simple yet effective strategy significantly reduces the unwanted variance outside the breast region, leading to better statistical shape models in which breast shapes are quite well decoupled from the thorax. The RBSM is thus able to produce a variety of different breast shapes as independently as possible from the shape of the thorax. Our systematic experimental evaluation reveals a generalization ability of 0.17 mm and a specificity of 2.8 mm. To underline the expressiveness of the proposed model, we finally demonstrate in two showcase applications how the RBSM can be used for surgical outcome simulation and the prediction of a missing breast from the remaining one. Our model is available at https://www.rbsm.re-mic.de/. KW - Statistical shape model KW - Non-rigid surface registration KW - Breast imaging KW - Surgical outcome simulation KW - Breast reconstruction surgery Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-30506 N1 - Corresponding author: Christoph Palm N1 - Zugehörige arXiv-Publikation: https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-oth-regensburg/frontdoor/index/index/docId/2023 VL - 39 IS - 4 SP - 1597 EP - 1616 PB - Springer Nature ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Maier, Johannes A1 - Weiherer, Maximilian A1 - Huber, Michaela A1 - Palm, Christoph T1 - Imitating human soft tissue on basis of a dual-material 3D print using a support-filled metamaterial to provide bimanual haptic for a hand surgery training system JF - Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery N2 - Background: Currently, it is common practice to use three-dimensional (3D) printers not only for rapid prototyping in the industry, but also in the medical area to create medical applications for training inexperienced surgeons. In a clinical training simulator for minimally invasive bone drilling to fix hand fractures with Kirschner-wires (K-wires), a 3D-printed hand phantom must not only be geometrically but also haptically correct. Due to a limited view during an operation, surgeons need to perfectly localize underlying risk structures only by feeling of specific bony protrusions of the human hand. Methods: The goal of this experiment is to imitate human soft tissue with its haptic and elasticity for a realistic hand phantom fabrication, using only a dual-material 3D printer and support-material-filled metamaterial between skin and bone. We present our workflow to generate lattice structures between hard bone and soft skin with iterative cube edge (CE) or cube face (CF) unit cells. Cuboid and finger shaped sample prints with and without inner hard bone in different lattice thickness are constructed and 3D printed. Results: The most elastic available rubber-like material is too firm to imitate soft tissue. By reducing the amount of rubber in the inner volume through support material (SUP), objects become significantly softer. Without metamaterial, after disintegration, the SUP can be shifted through the volume and thus the body loses its original shape. Although the CE design increases the elasticity, it cannot restore the fabric form. In contrast to CE, the CF design increases not only the elasticity but also guarantees a local limitation of the SUP. Therefore, the body retains its shape and internal bones remain in its intended place. Various unit cell sizes, lattice thickening and skin thickness regulate the rubber material and SUP ratio. Test prints with higher SUP and lower rubber material percentage appear softer and vice versa. This was confirmed by an expert surgeon evaluation. Subjects adjudged pure rubber-like material as too firm and samples only filled with SUP or lattice structure in CE design as not suitable for imitating tissue. 3D-printed finger samples in CF design were rated as realistic compared to the haptic of human tissue with a good palpable bone structure. Conclusions: We developed a new dual-material 3D print technique to imitate soft tissue of the human hand with its haptic properties. Blowy SUP is trapped within a lattice structure to soften rubber-like 3D print material, which makes it possible to reproduce a realistic replica of human hand soft tissue. KW - Dual-material 3D printing KW - Hand surgery training KW - Metamaterial KW - Support material KW - Tissue-imitating hand phantom KW - Handchirurgie KW - 3D-Druck KW - Biomaterial KW - Lernprogramm Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-979 N1 - Corresponding author: Christoph Palm VL - 9 IS - 1 SP - 30 EP - 42 PB - AME Publishing Company ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Maier, Johannes A1 - Weiherer, Maximilian A1 - Huber, Michaela A1 - Palm, Christoph T1 - Optically tracked and 3D printed haptic phantom hand for surgical training system JF - Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery N2 - Background: For surgical fixation of bone fractures of the human hand, so-called Kirschner-wires (K-wires) are drilled through bone fragments. Due to the minimally invasive drilling procedures without a view of risk structures like vessels and nerves, a thorough training of young surgeons is necessary. For the development of a virtual reality (VR) based training system, a three-dimensional (3D) printed phantom hand is required. To ensure an intuitive operation, this phantom hand has to be realistic in both, its position relative to the driller as well as in its haptic features. The softest 3D printing material available on the market, however, is too hard to imitate human soft tissue. Therefore, a support-material (SUP) filled metamaterial is used to soften the raw material. Realistic haptic features are important to palpate protrusions of the bone to determine the drilling starting point and angle. An optical real-time tracking is used to transfer position and rotation to the training system. Methods: A metamaterial already developed in previous work is further improved by use of a new unit cell. Thus, the amount of SUP within the volume can be increased and the tissue is softened further. In addition, the human anatomy is transferred to the entire hand model. A subcutaneous fat layer and penetration of air through pores into the volume simulate shiftability of skin layers. For optical tracking, a rotationally symmetrical marker attached to the phantom hand with corresponding reference marker is developed. In order to ensure trouble-free position transmission, various types of marker point applications are tested. Results: Several cuboid and forearm sample prints lead to a final 30 centimeter long hand model. The whole haptic phantom could be printed faultless within about 17 hours. The metamaterial consisting of the new unit cell results in an increased SUP share of 4.32%. Validated by an expert surgeon study, this allows in combination with a displacement of the uppermost skin layer a good palpability of the bones. Tracking of the hand marker in dodecahedron design works trouble-free in conjunction with a reference marker attached to the worktop of the training system. Conclusions: In this work, an optically tracked and haptically correct phantom hand was developed using dual-material 3D printing, which can be easily integrated into a surgical training system. KW - Handchirurgie KW - 3D-Druck KW - Lernprogramm KW - Zielverfolgung KW - HaptiVisT KW - Dual-material 3D printing KW - hand surgery training KW - metamaterial KW - tissue imitating phantom hand Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.21037/qims.2019.12.03 N1 - Corresponding author: Christoph Palm VL - 10 IS - 02 SP - 340 EP - 455 PB - AME Publishing Company CY - Hong Kong, China ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ebigbo, Alanna A1 - Mendel, Robert A1 - Probst, Andreas A1 - Manzeneder, Johannes A1 - Souza Jr., Luis Antonio de A1 - Papa, João Paulo A1 - Palm, Christoph A1 - Messmann, Helmut T1 - Computer-aided diagnosis using deep learning in the evaluation of early oesophageal adenocarcinoma JF - GuT N2 - Computer-aided diagnosis using deep learning (CAD-DL) may be an instrument to improve endoscopic assessment of Barrett’s oesophagus (BE) and early oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Based on still images from two databases, the diagnosis of EAC by CAD-DL reached sensitivities/specificities of 97%/88% (Augsburg data) and 92%/100% (Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention [MICCAI] data) for white light (WL) images and 94%/80% for narrow band images (NBI) (Augsburg data), respectively. Tumour margins delineated by experts into images were detected satisfactorily with a Dice coefficient (D) of 0.72. This could be a first step towards CAD-DL for BE assessment. If developed further, it could become a useful adjunctive tool for patient management. KW - Speiseröhrenkrebs KW - Diagnose KW - Computerunterstütztes Verfahren KW - Maschinelles Lernen Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-68 N1 - Corresponding authors: Alanna Ebigbo and Christoph Palm VL - 68 IS - 7 SP - 1143 EP - 1145 PB - British Society of Gastroenterology ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wöhl, Rebecca A1 - Maier, Johannes A1 - Gehmert, Sebastian A1 - Palm, Christoph A1 - Riebschläger, Birgit A1 - Nerlich, Michael A1 - Huber, Michaela T1 - 3D Analysis of Osteosyntheses Material using semi-automated CT Segmentation BT - a case series of a 4 corner fusion plate JF - BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders N2 - Backround Scaphoidectomy and midcarpal fusion can be performed using traditional fixation methods like K-wires, staples, screws or different dorsal (non)locking arthrodesis systems. The aim of this study is to test the Aptus four corner locking plate and to compare the clinical findings to the data revealed by CT scans and semi-automated segmentation. Methods: This is a retrospective review of eleven patients suffering from scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) or scaphoid non-union advanced collapse (SNAC) wrist, who received a four corner fusion between August 2011 and July 2014. The clinical evaluation consisted of measuring the range of motion (ROM), strength and pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Additionally, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) and the Mayo Wrist Score were assessed. A computerized tomography (CT) of the wrist was obtained six weeks postoperatively. After semi-automated segmentation of the CT scans, the models were post processed and surveyed. Results During the six-month follow-up mean range of motion (ROM) of the operated wrist was 60°, consisting of 30° extension and 30° flexion. While pain levels decreased significantly, 54% of grip strength and 89% of pinch strength were preserved compared to the contralateral healthy wrist. Union could be detected in all CT scans of the wrist. While X-ray pictures obtained postoperatively revealed no pathology, two user related technical complications were found through the 3D analysis, which correlated to the clinical outcome. Conclusion Due to semi-automated segmentation and 3D analysis it has been proved that the plate design can keep up to the manufacturers’ promises. Over all, this case series confirmed that the plate can compete with the coexisting techniques concerning clinical outcome, union and complication rate. KW - Handchirurgie KW - Osteosynthese KW - Arthrodese KW - 4FC KW - SLAC wrist KW - SNAC wrist KW - Semi-automated segmentation KW - 3D analysis KW - Computertomographie KW - Bildsegmentierung KW - Dreidimensionale Bildverarbeitung Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-018-1975-0 VL - 19 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Springer Nature ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Souza Jr., Luis Antonio de A1 - Passos, Leandro A. A1 - Santana, Marcos Cleison S. A1 - Mendel, Robert A1 - Rauber, David A1 - Ebigbo, Alanna A1 - Probst, Andreas A1 - Messmann, Helmut A1 - Papa, João Paulo A1 - Palm, Christoph T1 - Layer-selective deep representation to improve esophageal cancer classification JF - Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing N2 - Even though artificial intelligence and machine learning have demonstrated remarkable performances in medical image computing, their accountability and transparency level must be improved to transfer this success into clinical practice. The reliability of machine learning decisions must be explained and interpreted, especially for supporting the medical diagnosis.For this task, the deep learning techniques’ black-box nature must somehow be lightened up to clarify its promising results. Hence, we aim to investigate the impact of the ResNet-50 deep convolutional design for Barrett’s esophagus and adenocarcinoma classification. For such a task, and aiming at proposing a two-step learning technique, the output of each convolutional layer that composes the ResNet-50 architecture was trained and classified for further definition of layers that would provide more impact in the architecture. We showed that local information and high-dimensional features are essential to improve the classification for our task. Besides, we observed a significant improvement when the most discriminative layers expressed more impact in the training and classification of ResNet-50 for Barrett’s esophagus and adenocarcinoma classification, demonstrating that both human knowledge and computational processing may influence the correct learning of such a problem. KW - Multistep training KW - Barrett’s esophagus detection KW - Convolutional neural networks KW - Deep learning Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-024-03142-8 VL - 62 SP - 3355 EP - 3372 PB - Springer Nature CY - Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ebigbo, Alanna A1 - Mendel, Robert A1 - Probst, Andreas A1 - Meinikheim, Michael A1 - Byrne, Michael F. A1 - Messmann, Helmut A1 - Palm, Christoph T1 - Multimodal imaging for detection and segmentation of Barrett’s esophagus-related neoplasia using artificial intelligence JF - Endoscopy N2 - The early diagnosis of cancer in Barrett’s esophagus is crucial for improving the prognosis. However, identifying Barrett’s esophagus-related neoplasia (BERN) is challenging, even for experts [1]. Four-quadrant biopsies may improve the detection of neoplasia, but they can be associated with sampling errors. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) to the assessment of Barrett’s esophagus could improve the diagnosis of BERN, and this has been demonstrated in both preclinical and clinical studies [2] [3]. In this video demonstration, we show the accurate detection and delineation of BERN in two patients ([Video 1]). In part 1, the AI system detects a mucosal cancer about 20 mm in size and accurately delineates the lesion in both white-light and narrow-band imaging. In part 2, a small island of BERN with high-grade dysplasia is detected and delineated in white-light, narrow-band, and texture and color enhancement imaging. The video shows the results using a transparent overlay of the mucosal cancer in real time as well as a full segmentation preview. Additionally, the optical flow allows for the assessment of endoscope movement, something which is inversely related to the reliability of the AI prediction. We demonstrate that multimodal imaging can be applied to the AI-assisted detection and segmentation of even small focal lesions in real time. KW - Video KW - Artificial Intelligence KW - Multimodal Imaging Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1704-7885 VL - 54 IS - 10 PB - Georg Thieme Verlag CY - Stuttgart ET - E-Video ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kolev, Kalin A1 - Kirchgeßner, Norbert A1 - Houben, Sebastian A1 - Csiszár, Agnes A1 - Rubner, Wolfgang A1 - Palm, Christoph A1 - Eiben, Björn A1 - Merkel, Rudolf A1 - Cremers, Daniel T1 - A variational approach to vesicle membrane reconstruction from fluorescence imaging JF - Pattern Recognition N2 - Biological applications like vesicle membrane analysis involve the precise segmentation of 3D structures in noisy volumetric data, obtained by techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or laser scanning microscopy (LSM). Dealing with such data is a challenging task and requires robust and accurate segmentation methods. In this article, we propose a novel energy model for 3D segmentation fusing various cues like regional intensity subdivision, edge alignment and orientation information. The uniqueness of the approach consists in the definition of a new anisotropic regularizer, which accounts for the unbalanced slicing of the measured volume data, and the generalization of an efficient numerical scheme for solving the arising minimization problem, based on linearization and fixed-point iteration. We show how the proposed energy model can be optimized globally by making use of recent continuous convex relaxation techniques. The accuracy and robustness of the presented approach are demonstrated by evaluating it on multiple real data sets and comparing it to alternative segmentation methods based on level sets. Although the proposed model is designed with focus on the particular application at hand, it is general enough to be applied to a variety of different segmentation tasks. KW - 3D segmentation KW - Convex optimization KW - Vesicle membrane analysis KW - Fluorescence imaging KW - Dreidimensionale Bildverarbeitung KW - Bildsegmentierung KW - Konvexe Optimierung Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.patcog.2011.04.019 VL - 44 IS - 12 SP - 2944 EP - 2958 PB - Elsevier ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Scheppach, Markus W. A1 - Mendel, Robert A1 - Probst, Andreas A1 - Meinikheim, Michael A1 - Palm, Christoph A1 - Messmann, Helmut A1 - Ebigbo, Alanna T1 - ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) – ASSISTED VESSEL AND TISSUE RECOGNITION IN THIRD-SPACE ENDOSCOPY JF - Endoscopy N2 - Aims Third-space endoscopy procedures such as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) are complex interventions with elevated risk of operator-dependent adverse events, such as intra-procedural bleeding and perforation. We aimed to design an artificial intelligence clinical decision support solution (AI-CDSS, “Smart ESD”) for the detection and delineation of vessels, tissue structures, and instruments during third-space endoscopy procedures. Methods Twelve full-length third-space endoscopy videos were extracted from the Augsburg University Hospital database. 1686 frames were annotated for the following categories: Submucosal layer, blood vessels, electrosurgical knife and endoscopic instrument. A DeepLabv3+neural network with a 101-layer ResNet backbone was trained and validated internally. Finally, the ability of the AI system to detect visible vessels during ESD and POEM was determined on 24 separate video clips of 7 to 46 seconds duration and showing 33 predefined vessels. These video clips were also assessed by an expert in third-space endoscopy. Results Smart ESD showed a vessel detection rate (VDR) of 93.94%, while an average of 1.87 false positive signals were recorded per minute. VDR of the expert endoscopist was 90.1% with no false positive findings. On the internal validation data set using still images, the AI system demonstrated an Intersection over Union (IoU), mean Dice score and pixel accuracy of 63.47%, 76.18% and 86.61%, respectively. Conclusions This is the first AI-CDSS aiming to mitigate operator-dependent limitations during third-space endoscopy. Further clinical trials are underway to better understand the role of AI in such procedures. KW - Artificial Intelligence KW - Third-Space Endoscopy KW - Smart ESD Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1745037 VL - 54 IS - S01 SP - S175 PB - Thieme ER -