PONE-D-24-13285A Novel Flexible NearInfrared Endoscopic Device that Enables Realtime Artificial Intelligence Fluorescence Tissue CharacterizationPLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Cahill,

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PLOS ONE

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“Professor Ronan A Cahill is named on patents filed in relation to processes for visual determination of tissue biology including AI algorithmic methods and receives speaker fees from Stryker Corp and Ethicon/J&J, consultancy fees from Arthrex, Astellas, Diagnostic Green and Touch Surgery (Medtronic), research funding from Intuitive Corp and Medtronic as well as recently from the Irish Government (DTIF) in collaboration with IBM Research in Ireland, and from EU Horizon 2020 in collaboration with Palliare and, currently, from Horizon Europe in collaboration with Arctur.”

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Reviewer #1: Partly

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: N/A

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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4. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English?

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: Dear Authors,

I read you article presenting your new colonoscope-compatible flexible imaging probe for NIR visualization with its AI algorithm for ICG quantification.

It raised my interest as well as some concerns over its structure. I listed them as follows:

- the structure of the article is not clear in my mind. It is a research article but it seems more of a leaflet presenting a new instrument. Actually it is not an ex-vivo study investigating the application of the instrument, nor it is a clinical article. Hence, what's the aim of the study?

- overall, the flow of the article should be increased. There are too many parenthesis, making it difficult to read.

- Methods section should be deeply revised in its structure. Please describe the design of the study and insert subsections, more than you did (i.e., description of the instrument)

- It seems like the clinical testing section of the results is halved or has a missing part

- Please discuss the potential clinical application of AI for the detection of ICG in different settings, still evaluating the bowel (i.e., perfusion, PMID: 33352315)

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Reviewer #1: No

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A Novel Flexible NearInfrared Endoscopic Device that Enables Realtime Artificial Intelligence Fluorescence Tissue Characterization

PONE-D-24-13285R1

Dear Dr. Cahill,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication.

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Kind regards,

Diego Raimondo

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE