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Japanese Dental Students Use a Robot Patient

by Leila Brillson on July 8, 2009 at 08:25 AM

No one likes going to the dentist, so imagine the discomfort of being a patient for a dentist-in-training. So, in order to avoid pain, damage, and deep dental trauma, BBC reports that a professor at the Nippon Dental University Hospital in Tokyo has developed an interesting solution.

A sensor-laden, blinking and gurgling robot named Simroid acts as feedback, documenting and alerting the trainee when he or she has dug too deep or accidentally touched the robot inappropriately. The entire session is recorded to be later reviewed by professors or students.

Just like a real patient, the bot blinks, grunts, and shows responses to discomfort and fear. The robot's creator, Dr. Naotake Shibui, says it's essential, and helpful, to treat the simulator as a real person -- just subtract the blood, drool, and constant whining. [From: BBC.co.uk]

Tags: dentist, health, medicine, robot, robots, top, training

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