A healthcare robot with a ‘Sense of touch’ could reduce the spread of infection
Touchlab, the new tenant at the National Robotarium, the world’s leading centre for robotics and AI, has launched a robot that allows clinicians to \”feel\” patients remotely. The robot was developed as part of an extensive hospital pilot in Finland.
The Valkky Telerobot, controlled by an operator wearing an electronic glove (e-skin), is equipped with the latest electronic skin technology to transfer the sense of touch to its users. E-skin is an electronic material that is composed of multiple or single ultra-thin sensors. It transmits tactile sensations such as pressure, vibration, or motion in real time.
A team of specially-trained nurses will explore robotics systems in the 3-month Laakso Hospital pilot project, which is taking place in Helsinki, Finland. The aim of this experiment is to see how robots can be used to deliver care, reduce work and prevent diseases or infections from spreading. Forum Virium Helsinki is the innovation company that coordinates the pilot at Laakso Hospital. The research is part a larger EUR7 billion project to develop the most advanced hospital of Europe. It will be completed by 2028.
Source:
https://www.azorobotics.com/News.aspx?newsID=14059
