Integrating Socially Assistive Robots into Japanese Nursing Care.

This paper presents experiences of integrating assistive robots in Japanese nursing care through semi-structured interviews and site observations at three nursing homes in Japan during the year 2019. The study looked at experiences with the robots Paro, Pepper, and Qoobo. The goal was to investigate and evaluate the current state of using robots within the nursing care context, which involved: firsthand experiences with intended and real users; and response from the elderly, and nursing staff. The qualitative analysis results pointed out user satisfaction, adjusted purpose, therapeutic and entertaining effects. The potentials of using robots to assist in elderly care has been evident. Limitations currently relate to the lack of ways to fully utilize and integrate robots.

Integrating Socially Assistive Robots into Japanese Nursing Care.

This paper presents experiences of integrating assistive robots in Japanese nursing care through semi-structured interviews and site observations at three nursing homes in Japan during the spring of 2019. The study looked at experiences with the robots Paro, Pepper, and Qoobo. The goal was to investigate and evaluate the current state of using robots in the nursing care context, firsthand experiences with intended and real use, as well as response from the elderly and nursing staff. The qualitative analysis results pointed out user satisfaction, adjusted purpose, therapeutic and entertaining effects. Potentials of robots to assist in elderly care is advantageous. Limitations currently relate to the lack of ways to fully utilized and integrate robots.

Stimulus outputs induced by subdural electrodes on the cervical spinal cord in monkeys.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal stimulation is a promising method for restoring the function of paralyzed limbs following neurological damage to descending pathways. The present study examined the forelimb movements and muscle responses evoked by subdural spinal stimulation of the cervical cord in sedated monkeys or during an arm-reaching task. APPROACH: We chronically implanted a platinum subdural electrode array with eight channels over the dorsal-lateral aspect of the cervical enlargement. The electrodes had a diameter of 1 mm and an inter-electrode center-to-center distance of 3 mm. Subdural spinal micro-stimulation was delivered at sites while the monkeys were sedated or performed arm-reaching movements. MAIN RESULTS: The evoked movements clearly showed the somatotopic map of the output sites; the electrodes located on the rostral cervical cord tended to induce movements of the proximal arm, whereas the caudal electrodes tended to induce movements of the distal joints, such as the wrist and digits. To document the muscle responses evoked by subdural spinal stimulation, stimulus-triggered averages of rectified electromyograms were compiled when the monkeys performed an arm-reaching task or were sedated. Under sedation, evoked facilitative muscle responses were observed in vicinity muscles. In contrast, during the task, stimulation evoked facilitative or suppressive responses in multiple muscles, including those located on proximal and distal joints, while somatotopy became blurred under sedation. Furthermore, stimulation during tasks activated synergistic muscle groups. For example, stimuli strongly facilitated finger extensor muscles, but suppressed the antagonist muscles. SIGNIFICANCE: These dynamic changes in muscle representation by subdural cervical spinal stimulation between sedated and awake states help our understanding of the nature of spinal circuits and will facilitate the development of neuroprosthetic technology to regain motor function after neural damage to the descending pathways.