Ren Kanehira

Development of an Acupuncture Training System Using Virtual Reality Technology

It is believed in oriental Chinese medicine that some special points called acu-points, and meridians connecting such acu-points, are existing in the human body. The acupuncture is accordingly such a medical treatment to cure the illness or to keep the human body healthy by stimulating related acu-points particularly those on a meridian. Acupuncture was originated from ancient China with the typical Chinese thinking and special philosophy, and recently has been accepted as a useful curing method, attracting quite much interest and being studied by many medical institutions worldwide. In this study, an acupuncture training system using virtual reality technology was developed. A virtual 3D human acu-points model was constructed on computer. The position and depth of acu-points are quantitatively indexed with the model. Acupuncture practices with quantitative targeting values and real-time true-false judgments are carried out.

Education and Training Environments for Skill Mastery

Computer-supported learning and training systems with highly advanced information and communication technology (ICT) have recently been paid more and more attention. In such a system, the skill training function by which a new kind of education and training system may be developed was paid particular attention. In this study, we proposed an education and training system for oriental acupuncture, emphasizing on how to train the use of tiny force and small movements. Research subjects were set to solve such problems as the measurement and presentation of small operation forces, and their training methods and the construction of training environment, towards the construction of an idea training system combining satisfactorily both knowledge learning and skill training. The acupuncture as one typical example of the traditional oriental medicine treatments has been more and more accepted by the world for its miraculous healing effect in recent years. It is mostly important in acupuncture to become highly skilled by training with repeated practice. However, such repeated practice can hardly be done on a real human body, which may always be accompanied with pain and misery. In this study, a computer training system for acupuncture with force feedback function was proposed. A human acu-points model with acu-point’s name, position, meridians, stinging techniques and healing functions was created within the computer, and devices with force feedback functions for skill training were used in the system. A trainee gets acupuncture experience not only by visual information, but also from sensing the force information with a true-false judgment of his movement being real-timely given during the exercise.

Insertion force of acupuncture for a computer training system

In this study, a training computer simulation system for acupuncture training was proposed for the purpose of a quantitative characterization of the traditional oriental technique. A system using a force measuring device was constructed to record and analyze the basic data of insertion force. The index of insertion force was decided, and fundamental data for the development of such a computer simulation system of acupuncture training was obtained.

A Training System for Operating Medical Equipment

There are continuously increased new possibilities for the application of computer-added learning-education systems as the result of highly developed information communication technology (ICT). In this study, a computer-added training system was proposed for the education of clinical engineers. As the first step, problems in operating medical equipment are made clear, and research subjects are focused accordingly with their solutions clarified.

Learning-Training System for Medical Equipment Operation

A clinical engineer has to do a lot of work including the management, the operation, and the maintenance of various medical equipments, requiring highly specialized techniques and up-to-date knowledge. However, it is very difficult for him to master such an enormous amount of knowledge within the limited time as university student, particularly the ability for trouble shooting to ensure safety. In order to solve these problems, this study presents an education system for clinical engineers with a representative education and training case for the operation of heart-lung machines. Although two contents, i.e., the basic operation and trouble shooting, respectively, should be included in such a training system, we pay more attention to the basic operation in this paper.

Computer-Supported Training System for Clinical Engineer

It is required for a clinic engineer to have highly professional knowledge as well as skills for the operation of medical machines. Such knowledge and skills are normally difficult to master only by teaching and practicing at universities with limited time. Therefore, it is expected to have new training system supported by advanced computer system using the information and communication technology (ICT). In this study, a training system with ICT for clinical engineer was constructed. With the system, several problems in operating medical machines were made clear, and solutions and proposals for such problems were given with examples.

Training System for Puncture Technique of Hemodialysis

It is required for a clinic engineer to have highly professional knowledge as well as operation skills for different medical machines. Such knowledge and skills are normally difficult to master by teaching and practicing only at universities within a limited time. In this study, a training system with the information communication technology for clinical engineer was constructed. With the system, several problems which may most probably happen in the operating of medical machines were made clear, and solutions for such problems were proposed. The training system for Hemodialysis Apparatus was taken as an example. In more detail, a simulation circuit and an arm model for dialysis were firstly constructed. Operation data from experienced clinical engineers were quantified and taken as indicators to evaluate the training effects in combination with video texts. With the system, students carried out practical punctures and repeated practices on techniques such as needle holding or puncturing angles, under real-time judgement feedback from the system. Good effect was confirmed by questionnaire upon trained students.

A medical training system for the operation of Heart-lung machine

It has been a strong tendency to use Information Communication Technology (ICT) to construct various education/training systems to help students or other learners master necessary skills more easily, among which such systems with operational practice are particularly welcome in addition to the conventional E-learning ones mainly for obtaining textbook-like knowledge only. In this study, we proposed a medical training system for the operation of Heart-lung machine. Two training contents, i.e., for the basic operations and trouble shooting, respectively, are considered in the system, with more attention paid to how to deal with trouble shooting.

Productivity Analysis of Closed-loop Manufacturing System Which Performs Maintenance Activities

This study deals with the evaluation of the productivity of closed-loop manufacturing system which performs maintenance. The authors proposed the method for evaluating a productivity of theoretical evaluation of the productivity, and showed the effectiveness of parts diversions by analyzing the relationship between each parameter. Moreover, a simulation method which can show clearly the result of theoretical evaluation and the fluctuation between the relations of each parameter was proposed.