1.Dental Training Robot “SHOWA HANAKO 2”

Simulate Real Dental Treatment Experience

Orient Industry’s craftsmanship is involved in more than just love dolls.

“SHOWA HANAKO 2” is a dental patient robot primarily used for clinical training at university hospitals. It was developed by Showa University and Tmsuk Co., Ltd., with Orient Industry responsible for its sculpting and modeling. In April 2011, the School of Dentistry at Showa University became the first institution in the world to introduce a dental patient robot into its clinical training curriculum.

Dental students learn a wide range of knowledge and skills, but they have limited opportunities to interact with actual patients. As a result, they rarely experience real treatment situations during their training. However, real patients move and may react involuntarily through reflexes and responses beyond their conscious control. These factors can potentially contribute to medical accidents.

By conducting clinical training with a dental patient robot that responds similarly to a living person, students can simulate real treatment experiences and develop the ability to prevent medical accidents.

Pursuing Realism Creates an Immersive Experience.

The appearance of SHOWA HANAKO 2 is so realistic that it is hard to believe it is a robot. Lying on the dental treatment unit, she looks just like a young woman. The reason the robot was designed as a female model is also to encourage awareness of issues such as physical contact with a patient’s chest area during treatment.

Professor Kotaro Nezu of the School of Dentistry at Showa University stated:

“Some people may think that the robot’s face is irrelevant, but the sense of realism created by its appearance is extremely important. It allows doctors and students to practice with the same level of tension and awareness as they would have when treating a living person.”

With a typical robot-like appearance, students would only be able to practice interacting with a machine. By pursuing realism to the highest degree, students are able to conduct training while perceiving the robot more like an actual human patient.

This sense of realism — as if they were treating a real patient — is what ultimately leads to the improvement of true dental skills.

Recreating Patient Responses!

SHOWA HANAKO 2 is capable of producing a wide range of responses through advanced robotic technology.

Before treatment, she can say things like, “Please don’t make it hurt too much.” When instructed to open her mouth, she responds by opening it. Once treatment begins, her tongue may move involuntarily. At times, she may frown and say, “It hurts.” When instruments are inserted deep into the throat, she may reflexively turn her head to avoid them or experience a gag reflex (the reaction of retching when a foreign object enters the back of the throat). She can cough or sneeze during treatment, raise her left hand in response to pain, blink at regular intervals, and even experience jaw fatigue from keeping her mouth open for an extended period.

These are precisely the kinds of realistic reactions seen in actual patients during treatment. Even dentists who are highly familiar with real patient behavior were impressed by the level of realism.

The robot can also have its pulse measured at the wrist. This function is designed for situations where a patient feels unwell during treatment, allowing practitioners to check the pulse and provide appropriate care.

These reactions and movements can be controlled by an instructor through a touch panel.

Compared with its predecessor, SHOWA HANAKO, the second-generation model has been made lighter and brought closer to the proportions of a real woman, with a height of 160 cm and a weight of 56 kg. In addition to improving the realism of its appearance and robotic performance, efforts have also been made to enhance replaceable components, maintainability, and durability.

Since its launch, SHOWA HANAKO 2 has attracted attention not only in Japan but also internationally. Universities and medical manufacturers from around the world have visited to observe the robot, and its adoption has continued to expand globally.

2.Elderly Care Training Doll “Tome-san”

Proposed for Caregiving Training Use

Japan has entered a super-aging society. As people grow older, the reality is that many will eventually need assistance from others in order to live independently. Supporting this aging society are the people working in the caregiving industry. The number of individuals pursuing national qualifications such as certified care workers continues to increase each year.

With the goal of supporting professionals in the medical and caregiving fields, Orient Industry created “Tome-san,” an elderly care training doll designed for practicing elderly care techniques and practical skills.

A High-Function Doll with a Realistic Elderly Appearance

Unlike ordinary dolls, Tome-san is characterized by its elderly facial features and naturally sculpted body form.

The body is made of soft silicone, recreating the texture of human skin. In addition, the internal skeleton system developed by Orient Industry enables a variety of natural poses and movements. It can be used for practical caregiving training, including assistance with lifting and repositioning, moving a person from a bed to a wheelchair, transferring from a wheelchair to a bathing unit, changing bed sheets, and other mobility support exercises.

Because it has a realistic weight, it allows trainees to perform simulations that closely resemble actual caregiving situations.

It is also highly effective as a demonstration dummy for wheelchairs and elderly bathing equipment at welfare-related events.

Since the body is molded as a single silicone structure, it is water-resistant and can be used with soap and detergents during bathing assistance training.

With its built-in toileting mechanism, trainees can also practice tasks such as cleaning after elimination and changing diapers as part of toileting care training.

A Sense of Compassion is Born.

What is most important in caregiving is understanding the feelings of those receiving care and interacting with them with compassion and kindness. As with the previously mentioned “SHOWA HANAKO 2,” a sense of realism is essential in caregiving training as well.

When facing Tome-san, it feels as though a real elderly woman is present. Just as when interacting with an actual elderly person, a natural desire to care for and support the other person begins to emerge.

By using a realistic doll rather than a simple mannequin, trainees can experience a more lifelike and meaningful caregiving practice.