# A Lightweight Neural Architecture Search Model for Medical Image Classification Source: [A Lightweight Neural Architecture Search Model for Medical Image Classification]() Collection index: [llms.txt]() Data updated: 2025-10-26T02:43:27.234Z Authors: Lunchen Xie, Eugenio Lomurno, Matteo Gambella, Danilo Ardagna, Manuel Roveri, Matteo Matteucci, Qingjiang Shi Published: 2024-05-06T13:33:38.000Z ## Abstract Accurate classification of medical images is essential for modern diagnostics. Deep learning advancements led clinicians to increasingly use sophisticated models to make faster and more accurate decisions, sometimes replacing human judgment. However, model development is costly and repetitive. Neural Architecture Search (NAS) provides solutions by automating the design of deep learning architectures. This paper presents ZO-DARTS+, a differentiable NAS algorithm that improves search efficiency through a novel method of generating sparse probabilities by bi-level optimization. Experiments on five public medical datasets show that ZO-DARTS+ matches the accuracy of state-of-the-art solutions while reducing search times by up to three times. ## Recorded benchmark results A research result applies to its stated dataset, split, metric and evaluation configuration. Compare like-for-like settings, preserve the metric's unit and direction, and distinguish paper-reported results from independent reproduction. The best result recorded here is not a claim of exhaustive, current global coverage. ## Original sources and implementation [Original paper]() [PDF]()