Force Map-Enhanced Segmentation of a Lightweight Model for the Early Detection of Cervical Cancer

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Accurate and efficient segmentation of cervical cells is crucial for the early detection of cervical cancer, enabling timely intervention and treatment. Existing segmentation models face challenges with complex cellular arrangements, such as overlapping cells and indistinct boundaries, and are often computationally intensive, which limits their deployment in resource-constrained settings. <b>Methods:</b> In this study, we introduce a lightweight and efficient segmentation model specifically designed for cervical cell analysis. The model employs a MobileNetV2 architecture for feature extraction, ensuring a minimal parameter count conducive to real-time processing. To enhance boundary delineation, we propose a novel force map approach that drives pixel adjustments inward toward the centers of cells, thus improving cell separation in densely packed areas. Additionally, we integrate extreme point supervision to refine segmentation outcomes using minimal boundary annotations, rather than full pixel-wise labels. <b>Results:</b> Our model was rigorously trained and evaluated on a comprehensive dataset of cervical cell images. It achieved a Dice Coefficient of 0.87 and a Boundary F1 Score of 0.84, performances that are comparable to those of advanced models but with considerably lower inference times. The optimized model operates at approximately 50 frames per second on standard low-power hardware. <b>Conclusions:</b> By effectively balancing segmentation accuracy with computational efficiency, our model addresses critical barriers to the widespread adoption of automated cervical cell segmentation tools. Its ability to perform in real time on low-cost devices makes it an ideal candidate for clinical applications and deployment in low-resource environments. This advancement holds significant potential for enhancing access to cervical cancer screening and diagnostics worldwide, thereby supporting broader healthcare initiatives.