To whom it may concern.

25, March 2010

SHOWA UNIVERSITY
Tmsuk Co., Ltd

Showa University introduces dental patient robot.

The first humanoid robot for medical examination in the world.

To give enough practical experiences to dental students

Showa University (1-5-8, Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Chairman, Mr. Katuji
Oguchi) introduces the dental patient robot which is produced by tmsuk co.,Ltd
(Munakata city, Fukuoka, CEO, Mr. Yoichi Takamoto).

Recently it is very important to keep the quality and safety of medical treatment
so that more advanced clinical ability has to be mastered and it is necessary to
evaluate clinical ability of medical student objectively.
So the department of Orthodontics, Showa University has developed the robot by
which students can earn the advanced clinical technique collaborating with Prof.
Takanishi, Department of Modern Mechanical Engineering, Waseda University and
with Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Kogakuin University while
applying simulation technology for over 10 years.

Now Showa University and tmsuk have just completed the third generation robot
for dental patient model cooperatively and the patient robot has been used for
ability examination in which the dental treatment was performed as in the actual
situation precisely.
All of 88 students have treated the patient robot which reacted as real human
patient and have studied how-to avoid fault operation and have competed for
accurate dental cure.
This is the first examination in the world as big scale as ever.
Attendants from foreign medical universities have admired the result of robotics
examination at the demonstration.
There may be the first practical use of humanoid robot in the world and it will boost
growing of robot industry by the proof of Showa University while contributing
advanced medical & dental training.

OSCE(Objective Structured Clinical Examination) is the

ability examination before clinical training to evaluate
student’s intelligence of how-to treat patient including
communication. Showa University assigns students
OSCE to understand the importance of medical
treatment for patient and of compassion for patient.

Why the dental patient robot is developed.

＊Existing clinical training to use patient model mannequin.

At the fundamental training for dental student

it is general to use a mannequin for simulative
learning. But it is very difficult to study the risk
of dental treatment and the concern to human
body and to oral soft tissue before the actual
patient treatment because the capacity of oral
cavity and angle of opening mouth are different
from mannequin and human and because it is
impossible to perform autonomous reaction as
human.

＊ The dental patient model robot developed with Waseda University and
Kogakuin University collaboratively.

Prof. Kotaro Maki, the department of Orthodontics,

Showa University and Prof. Atsuo Takanishi,
Department of Modern Mechanical Engineering,
Waseda University and Ass. Prof. Hideaki Takanobu,
Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering,
Kogakuin University are major members to develop
the dental patient model robot. At the first step they
developed the masticating robot to investigate the
cause of mastication impediment and to support recovery then they have
transferred to developed the dental patient model robot.
It is just proved that the patient model robot contributes to grow up clinical
technique including considering safety and to brush up dental students’ ability.
Specification of dental patient model robot “Ms Hanako Showa”.

Whole body model with 157cm tall. Surface of skin is soft special resin.
Female model is suitable to learn Soft tissue as tongue is silicon.
careful treatment as no touch of breast. Material is made of Kyoto Kagfaku.

The model robot puts on hair, clothes and accessories to be seemed in real situation
and for consideration not to drop fluid medicine and coloring materials on face,
head and upper body.

Free joints of the patient model robot.

③

⑤ ②
⑥
⑦
④ ⑧

Totally 8 free joints in Eyelid, eye,

①
chins, tongue and neck.

It is possible to control the move of It is possible to control all of autonomous

blinks, eyes and tongue on the action (physiological phenomenon) by
patient robot as autonomous action instructor using touch panel anytime easily.
of physiological phenomenon by And it is possible to make sudden neck turn,
original programming. sneeze and cough as if the patient robot feels
actual pain.
 The robot shows fatigue by opening Artificial saliva is secreted and accumulated
mouth at the dental treatment and inside of cheek mucous membrane.
she vomits if student touches her
uvula with sensor.

【Contact】

Ms Yoshioka Ms Ishikawa or Ms Sudo

Public Relation Section, Public Relation Section,
Showa University tmsuk
TEL:03-3784-8011 TEL 0940-38-7555
FAX:03-3784-8012 FAX 0940-38-7556
URL: http://www.showa-u.ac.jp/