https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101810.html

Contact Reality (CR) is the reproduction of contact between people in a virtual space, which takes into account not only the information obtained by touch but also the psychological effects that occur when people touch each other. It can be used to realize a palpation system focused on pain and abnormal joint diagnosis of the forearm and wrist in the orthopedic field, where palpation is essential for proper diagnosis (tennis arm).

Nagoya University and Toyoda Gosei have been working on developing a remote palpation system by realizing CR.

They have built a system that allows doctors to accurately perform remote palpation  by using a tactile transmission actuator (e-Rubber, a sensor placed between rubber layers)

The material properties are similar to human skin, and a palpation manipulator that can touch patients appropriately based on the doctor’s palpation intention. The fingertip sensor  integrates six ultra-small 6-axis force sensors and an e-Rubber sensor into a fingertip-sized sensor that can measure delicate tactile pressure. A Haptic I/O Doll can measure the doctor’s palpation intention, and a transparent display ncreases the doctor’s presence.

After obtaining approval from the Bioethics Committee of the Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, a demonstration test was started by doctors at the Nagoya University Hospital in November 2024. They demonstrated that the system can adequately diagnose pain and joint diseases in the forearm and wrist, such as tennis elbow. Further demonstration tests will be conducted between Nagoya and Singapore. T

Nagoya University aims to introduce the remote palpation system into actual clinical settings and promote the value of the new technology internationally. It also aims to contribute to the creation of new medical services in local cities and the growth of the region.