Editorial methodology · Human approval
A visible process for separating evidence, interpretation, and possibility.
Operative Signal is designed to make Surgical AI legible without turning preliminary research into clinical claims.
Source hierarchy
We prefer original research papers, official dataset or model documentation, regulatory publications, reporting guidelines, and statements from responsible institutions. Secondary reporting can help identify a story, but it should not replace the primary source when the primary source is available.
What review checks
Review asks whether the title matches the study design; whether patients, procedures, centers, and devices are described; whether train and test units are independent; whether the reference standard is credible; whether metrics fit the task; and whether limitations, commercial origin, and evidence stage are visible.
Use of automation
Software may collect source metadata, identify possible duplicates, assign preliminary relevance scores, or prepare draft text. Automation does not approve or publish content. A human editor must review the source, revise the draft, and explicitly approve it before public publication.
Educational citations
Lessons and evergreen analysis cite sources where a scientific, clinical, regulatory, or governance claim needs support. Citations are links for verification, not a claim that every cited source directly validates every possible use of a technology.
Corrections and updates
Readers can report errors through the Community page contact form. Substantive corrections should be made promptly and preserved in editorial version history. Source links and catalog access conditions may change, so users should verify official terms before acting.
Standards used for orientation
Our review questions are informed by established reporting and governance work, including DECIDE-AI, TRIPOD+AI, STANDING Together, and the WHO guidance on ethics and governance of AI for health. These sources guide transparent reporting; they do not certify Operative Signal.