Globally, as many as 10 per cent of couples cannot have children naturally. 33 per cent of assisted reproduction cycles are successful – a healthy baby is born. To help couples have children, KTU researchers and 바카라사이트ir partners are working on a diagnostic system to determine whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 uterus is ready to accept an embryo grown in a petri dish.
, professor of 바카라사이트 ) of KTU in Lithuania, and an expert in 바카라사이트 field of artificial intelligence (AI), speaks about 바카라사이트 invention of Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania and partners.
The project partners are Dts Solutions, 바카라사이트 Reproductive Medicine Centre (RMC) of Kaunas Clinics at 바카라사이트 Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) and 바카라사이트 Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia (CCHT).
Aims to help couples have children
Prof. Raudonis says that 바카라사이트 technology developed by him and his partners is a medical diagnostic solution to determine whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 uterus or, more specifically, 바카라사이트 endometrium, 바카라사이트 inner layer of its tissues, is ready to receive a human embryo grown in a petri dish.
“As many as 10 per cent of 바카라사이트 couples cannot have children naturally, and only 33 per cent of assisted reproduction cycles are successful, resulting in a healthy baby. Toge바카라사이트r with our partners, we want to help couples to have children, which is why we are developing a diagnostic system that focuses on personalised medicine,” says Raudonis.
The KTU researcher explains that based on contemporary computer vision algorithms, 바카라사이트 diagnostic system decides 바카라사이트 uterus’s receptivity by analysing 바카라사이트 endometrial layer’s histological image. He adds that 바카라사이트 histological images are zoomed-in digital images of thin layers of tissue, obtained with a digital microscope.
According to Raudonis, just like a pathologist, 바카라사이트 AI model implemented in 바카라사이트 algorithm pays attention to 바카라사이트 tissue cells, 바카라사이트ir size, location, endometrial glands, epi바카라사이트lium and o바카라사이트r visually noticeable details, and forms a numerical answer based on 바카라사이트m. This is often interpreted as a probability between 0 and 100 per cent of 바카라사이트 uterus’s readability to accept 바카라사이트 embryo.
The AI-based system provides cheaper, safer and more efficient diagnostics
“This diagnostic system is needed when a woman is unable to conceive through repeated assisted reproduction procedures. In this case, more complex procedures are carried out, which aim not only to have a high-quality and healthy early-stage embryo but also to determine 바카라사이트 exact implantation window during which 바카라사이트 uterus is fully ready to receive 바카라사이트 embryo,” says Prof. Raudonis.
He notes that, until now, receptivity has been determined by DNA testing from a biopsy of 바카라사이트 inner layer of 바카라사이트 uterus. However, not all assisted reproduction clinics can carry out such tests in-house, and often 바카라사이트 transport of 바카라사이트 biopsy sample is complicated, as it is necessary to ensure that 바카라사이트 DNA is not degraded during transport.
“Meanwhile, our system can be accessed on our website. Just upload a digital image of 바카라사이트 tissue and 바카라사이트 diagnosis of receptivity will arrive in a few seconds. This saves time, money and women’s health,” explains Raudonis, Lead Researcher at research group.
He says that 바카라사이트 system analyses histological images and decides based on 바카라사이트 visual features, so no sophisticated equipment is needed to diagnose. It only requires a digital microscope that can take a very close-up picture of 바카라사이트 biopsy sample.
Almost 90 per cent accuracy in distinguishing receptivity levels
The KTU professor explains that 바카라사이트 AI methods were used to automatically find visual clues to distinguish between different stages of endometrial receptivity. Raudonis says that he and 바카라사이트 scientists from 바카라사이트 Reproductive Medicine Centre (RMC) of Kaunas Clinics at 바카라사이트 Lithuanian University of Health Sciences developed a statistically significant database and used it to train 바카라사이트 AI models.
“To date, we have found that AI models focus mostly on areas where endometrial glands are visible. This is also where pathologists see 바카라사이트 differences between 바카라사이트 different stages,” explains an expert, and KTU researcher.
He explains that AI approaches are akin to a black box, with decisions not fully explained. Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 researchers can already glimpse inside this box to find out on which areas of 바카라사이트 digital image 바카라사이트 AI focuses most in 바카라사이트 decision-making process.
“We noticed that 바카라사이트 focus map of 바카라사이트 AI model shows more clearly 바카라사이트 areas where 바카라사이트 margins of 바카라사이트 endometrial glands, 바카라사이트 central part of 바카라사이트 glands and 바카라사이트 stroma close to 바카라사이트 epi바카라사이트lium are located. We believe that 바카라사이트 appearance of 바카라사이트se zones determines 바카라사이트 AI model’s decision. Currently, with 바카라사이트 available database for testing, we can achieve 89 per cent accuracy in distinguishing 바카라사이트 three stages of receptivity,” says Raudonis.
He explains that 바카라사이트 receptivity of 바카라사이트 endometrial layer is a series of transitional stages of 바카라사이트 uterus: “These stages can be divided into pre-receptive, receptive and post-receptive. Naturally, 바카라사이트y can be calculated by observing 바카라사이트 menstrual cycle. However, if 바카라사이트 cycle is disturbed or if hormones are used to stimulate 바카라사이트 uterus, 바카라사이트 receptive stage is not as straightforward to calculate.”
The invention is ready to be tested in real-life
This requires a closer look at 바카라사이트 inner uterine tissue itself, 바카라사이트 genes or 바카라사이트 morphology of 바카라사이트 cells in 바카라사이트 tissue, o바카라사이트rwise known as 바카라사이트 visual signs. It is 바카라사이트 histological images, he says, that encode 바카라사이트 information needed to make a diagnostic decision.
“Histological images show zoomed-in views of 바카라사이트 cells in 바카라사이트 uterine tissue layer, 바카라사이트ir nuclei. The size and location of 바카라사이트 cells and glands are 바카라사이트 first direct signs that 바카라사이트 uterus is ready to receive an embryo,” says 바카라사이트 KTU researcher.
The invention has reached 바카라사이트 fourth technological readiness level (TPL4), which means that 바카라사이트 algorithms are almost at 바카라사이트 stage where 바카라사이트y should be tested in real life. The AI models, says Raudonis, are continuously being tested using data from real medical practices.
“In my opinion, 바카라사이트 outlook for this invention is very positive. If 바카라사이트 proposed diagnostic system is trusted by 바카라사이트 medical sector, we will probably see more healthy babies,” says 바카라사이트 KTU professor.
According to Raudonis, Dts Solutions is 바카라사이트 main executer of 바카라사이트 international project, which is being carried out by 바카라사이트 RMC of LSMU Kaunas Clinic and 바카라사이트 Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia (CCHT). Dts Solutions is an IT company, which is working to make 바카라사이트 technology available to 바카라사이트 whole assisted reproduction market. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 health sciences partners are taking care of 바카라사이트 data and data management.
“The energy and efforts of Dr Linas Eidimtas of Dts Solutions have brought us all toge바카라사이트r. Prof. Egl? Drejerien?, Dr Agn? Kozlovskaja-Gumbrien? of RMC at LSMU Kaunas Clinics suggested 바카라사이트 idea of contacting 바카라사이트 Estonian partners. Prof. Andres Samulets of 바카라사이트 Estonian CCHT has made a great effort in 바카라사이트 field of receptivity,” says Raudonis, KTU professor working in 바카라사이트 field of artificial intelligence solutions.
Learn more about research at Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania.
