JTW Digest, April 24, 2024

Author

Eldar Syzdykov
April 24, 2024

Okayama University and Ryobi Systems Develop AI System to Accurately Diagnose Early Gastric Cancer Invasion Depth

Okayama University and Ryobi Systems have jointly developed an innovative AI-based diagnostic system to accurately determine the depth of invasion in early gastric cancer cases. This groundbreaking "Early Gastric Cancer AI Diagnosis Support System" has received approval for manufacturing and sales from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, making it the first system of its kind in this field. The companies plan to commercialize the system by the end of 2024.

The AI system analyzes endoscopic images of early gastric cancer and provides a diagnosis on whether the cancer is intramucosal (M cancer) or invasive (SM cancer) within less than a minute. It also displays a confidence level and a heat map highlighting the areas the AI focused on for diagnosis, ensuring transparency and interpretability.

The system was trained using approximately 5,000 images from 500 patients at Okayama University Hospital, along with augmented images to account for various angles, colors, and endoscope manufacturers. This extensive training has enabled the AI to achieve an accuracy rate of approximately 82%, significantly higher than the 72% accuracy rate of highly qualified specialists.

Early and accurate diagnosis of gastric cancer invasion depth is crucial in determining the appropriate treatment approach, either endoscopic therapy or surgical removal of the stomach. This AI system aims to reduce the number of incorrect diagnoses, which can lead to unnecessary surgeries or missed opportunities for timely intervention.

Ryobi Systems plans to focus on the medical AI business, including this system, with the goal of contributing to a healthier society through technology. The companies anticipate that the market for diagnostic and medical support AI systems will grow from ¥2.5 billion in 2021 to over ¥16 billion in 2027.

Subaru and AMD Collaborate on Next-Generation EyeSight with Advanced AI and Stereo Camera Integration

Subaru Corporation has announced a collaboration with AMD to develop an optimized System-on-Chip (SoC) that combines stereo camera recognition processing and AI inference processing. This joint effort aims to achieve cutting-edge AI inference performance and ultra-low-latency computation at a low cost, ultimately contributing to Subaru's goal of zero fatal accidents by 2030.

The collaboration will leverage AMD's "Versal AI Edge Series Gen 2" processing engine, enabling Subaru to design an ideal SoC for the future. By integrating Subaru's expertise in stereo camera recognition with advanced AI inference capabilities, the companies aim to significantly enhance the performance of Subaru's renowned EyeSight driver-assist system.

The next-generation EyeSight, expected to debut in the late 2020s, will feature an optimized processing engine with up to 10 times more CPU processing performance compared to the current system. This improvement will enable more accurate and efficient stereo camera recognition and AI inference processing, leading to better decision-making and improved safety features.

Subaru's comprehensive safety philosophy encompasses active safety, connected safety, zero-order safety, driving safety, and collision safety. By strengthening these focus areas through the integration of advanced AI and stereo camera technologies, the company aims to achieve its ambitious goal of zero fatal traffic accidents by the year 2030.

e-Mobility Power Introduces 400kW "Red Multi" Quick Charger to Combat Charging Congestion

e-Mobility Power Co., Ltd. (eMP), Japan's largest EV/PHEV quick charging network operator, has announced plans to introduce a new ultra-fast charging station called the "Red Multi" to address the growing issue of charging congestion. Starting from this year, eMP will begin installing these 400kW class multi-connector quick chargers across its charging network.

The "Red Multi" is a jointly developed charger with Nichicon Corporation, featuring a total output of 400kW and capable of delivering up to 150kW per unit. This high-power charging capability will significantly reduce charging times and alleviate congestion at charging stations.

Additionally, eMP will also refurbish its existing "Blue Multi" chargers installed at expressway SA/PA locations. These upgrades will improve the power sharing function, increasing the maximum charging rate from 20kW to 60kW for EVs/PHEVs that do not support output control functions.

Furthermore, by expanding the power supply panel of the existing "Blue Multi" chargers, eMP aims to enable 400kW operation, similar to the new "Red Multi" chargers.

These initiatives are in line with the "Guidelines for Promoting Charging Infrastructure Development" announced by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in October 2023. The goal is to improve charging infrastructure to meet the growing demand for EVs/PHEVs and eliminate charging congestion.

With the introduction of the high-power "Red Multi" chargers and the refurbishment of existing infrastructure, eMP is taking proactive steps to ensure a smooth and efficient charging experience for EV/PHEV owners across Japan.

Major Companies Achieve 100Gbps Ultra-High-Speed Wireless Transmission for 6G with Sub-Terahertz Devices

In a significant milestone for 6G technology, NTT Docomo, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), NEC, and Fujitsu have jointly developed a wireless device compatible with sub-terahertz bands and demonstrated ultra-high-speed wireless transmission of 100Gbps over a distance of 100 meters.

The companies conducted wireless transmission experiments using the developed device in the 100GHz and 300GHz sub-terahertz bands. The achieved transmission speed of 100Gbps is approximately 20 times faster than the maximum 4.9Gbps speed of 5G networks.

Through this collaborative research and development effort, NTT Docomo has built a wireless system capable of transmitting at 100Gbps over a 100-meter distance in the 100GHz band. NTT has developed a wireless device that can transmit at 100Gbps per channel over 100 meters in the 300GHz band, a previously unattained feat.

NEC contributed by developing a multi-element active phased array antenna (APAA) consisting of over 100 elements, while Fujitsu investigated compound semiconductor technology to achieve high output and efficient signal amplification, enabling high power efficiency in a high-output amplifier.

The sub-terahertz band, ranging from 100GHz to 300GHz, is a higher frequency band compared to the millimeter-wave bands used in 5G. Overcoming the challenges of developing new devices capable of meeting the required performance for mobile communication systems in this band is a critical step towards the global standardization and practical application of 6G technology.

The four companies plan to continue advancing their research and development efforts, paving the way for the realization of 6G and contributing to its global standardization.

Breakthrough in Urinary Stone Prevention: Researchers Reproduce Stone Breakdown Using iPS Cells

In a groundbreaking study, researchers at Nagoya City University have successfully reproduced the process of how white blood cells actively consume and break down the main component of urinary stones, calcium oxalate, using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). This achievement, published in an international scientific journal, opens up new avenues for the development of preventive drugs for urinary tract stones.

Urinary stones, caused by the hardening of crystals like calcium oxalate in the kidneys and ureter, are a painful and recurring condition affecting approximately 10% of people in Japan. Previously, the researchers discovered that a type of white blood cell called M2-type macrophages, which suppress inflammation, play a role in the spontaneous disappearance of urinary stones in mice.

By creating M2-type macrophages from human iPS cells and introducing calcium oxalate, the main component of stones, the team confirmed that these cells actively engulfed and broke down the substance. The advantage of using iPS cells lies in their ability to be produced artificially and repeatedly, enabling continued research and drug discovery.

Moving forward, the researchers plan to conduct experiments by adding various existing drugs to the M2-type macrophages derived from iPS cells, with the aim of identifying compounds that can further promote stone disassembly. This breakthrough holds the potential to develop innovative preventive methods and new treatments for urinary tract stones, a condition that has seen little progress in prevention for a long time.