Don’t underestimate the importance of your colon: It’s an essential organ that eliminates waste and harbors trillions of bacteria — the good kind that shield your gut and generate substances to maintain a healthy microbiome. The latter, in turn, helps to safeguard your body from infections and may even contribute to reducing the risk of colorectal cancer.
Yet, according to the World Health Organization, “colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, accounting for approximately 10% of all cancer cases and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.” Still, the American Cancer Society points out that there’s a 91% five-year relative survival rate if the disease is caught in a localized stage — meaning it hasn’t spread “outside of the colon or rectum.”
Harish K. Gagneja, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer, Austin Gastroenterology; Vice Chair, Board of Governors, American College of Gastroenterology
Harish K. Gagneja, M.D. — chief medical officer at Austin Gastroenterology and the vice chair of the Board of Governors at the American College of Gastroenterology — stresses how prevention is key when it comes to preserving a colon that functions properly. And what’s the best way to practice such prevention and detect precancerous lesions called polyps? Quite simply: a reliable colonoscopy.
For many physicians, colonoscopies are more than just a screening-method. “I’m in the business of preventing colorectal cancer,” Dr. Gagneja emphasized.
However, as a procedure, a colonoscopy can have its challenges.
An intelligent colonoscopy module
Ha Hong
Chief AI Officer, Endoscopy Division, Medtronic
“Colorectal cancer is, in many ways, a tragedy we know how to prevent,” said Ha Hong, the chief AI officer at Medtronic’s endoscopy division. “But, without the right tools, some early signs can be missed.”
Enter GI Genius™, Medtronic’s AI-fueled technology for colonoscopies.
“This tool represents an incredible potential for technology to enhance a doctor’s ability to save lives,” Hong explained. “It isn’t just ‘smart tech’ — it’s designed to amplify human capability, helping doctors to better catch polyps [small growths in the colon] before they have the chance to turn into something much worse. The potential here isn’t incremental improvement — it’s a new level of detection that could mean the difference between a routine procedure and a lifesaving one.”
A recent study out of Northwestern University found that doctors using GI Genius have been detecting polyps at a higher rate than those who are not using the tech. Furthermore, another study (published in the journal Gastroenterology) reported that AI can “detect colorectal polyps that have been missed due to perceptual pitfalls,” with a 50% reduction in miss-rate.
Currently, more than 3 million people worldwide are benefiting annually from a GI Genius colonoscopy. Think of it as a super-sharp-eyed second observer assisting your physician in finding suspected polyps, while automating quality metrics.
Dr. Gagneja has fully integrated GI Genius into his colonoscopy procedures, and added that he’s “interested in incorporating any new technology in [his] day-to-day practice that improves the outcome for [his] patients.”
His experience has shown that this neoteric technology has readily bolstered his ability to identify problematic issues in the colon. He also mentioned how easy it is to use: “There’s no steep learning-curve — it’s really a plug-and-play kind of technology. It is like having a third eye working for you.”
Alleviating AI fears
AI is now seemingly saturating all aspects of our lives, and it’s understandable to feel wary about some of its applications. But both Medtronic and the physicians who are using GI Genius underline how the technology isn’t there to replace doctors doing colonoscopies. Rather, it’s an extra tool to boost accuracy and efficacy by directing their attention to areas they may have missed — and hence guide them toward more informed decision-making and potentially better health outcomes.
“AI in healthcare may sound new and futuristic, but the motivation behind it is simple: to make
healthcare safer and more accurate for patients,” Hong said. “Patients are still getting the human touch, but with GI Genius, they’re also getting the added benefits of technology that’s acting like a digital safety net.”
In the end, the doctor still has the final say. This new tech can empower them (rather than compete with their skills). Or, as Dr. Gagneja pithily puts it: “Gastroenterologists who are not using AI in the future will be replaced by gastroenterologists who are indeed making use of advances in AI.”
To learn more, visit medtronic.com/genius
Dr. Gagneja is a consultant for Medtronic.
