Japanese & Danish Research Network on Telehealth/Telerehabilitation and Welfare Technologies
KnL 
On Wednesday, October 21st, the next new LOVOT project in Denmark will kick off. The social robots, LOVOT, will be tested at four nursing homes in Aarhus Municipality.
The purpose of the test is to explore how social robots can be used as a communication tool in challenging everyday situations, in group sessions, and as a part of daily life for elderly residents in Aarhus nursing homes.
His Majesty King Frederik of Denmark is today visiting Juntendo University Hospital in Tokyo, Japan, together with Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister for Industry Morten Bødskov, and Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Jacob Jensen.
Aalborg University (AAU) has been collorating with Juntendo University Hospital for years and the King and the Danish delegation has been presented for some of our joint research: Artificial intelligence & sleep sensor for heart patients.
Dr Kasei (cardiologist) and Dr Daida (cardiologist) have worked to develop a sleep sensor (Nemuri) for a bed (together with the company Paramount Bed in Japan) that can detect sleep apnea in patients with severe heart failure. Mathushan Gunasegaram, who is a civil engineer in health technology and working at AAU has helped analyze data during a study stay at Juntendo University, which showed via machine learning (artificial intelligence) and analysis of data such as respiration, pulse and movement (from the sleep sensor), that there were signs of heart failure 4 days before hospitalization.
In this way, the sleep sensor can help prevent hospitalizations in this patient group, which typically has a high readmission rate and can be expensive for the healthcare system. AAU also work with sleep sensors and heart failure patients in their Future Patient study in Viborg, and have a close research collaboration.
The King and the Danish delegation was also presented for the social robot LOVOT developed by Groove X. LOVOT is a social robot with artificial intelligence . LOVOT is designed to bring happiness, which it does with its evolving personality and person recognition. With its eyes and body language, LOVOT can show emotions. In addition, it can become warm like a living being – and an internal warmth of 37° celsius – and make noises. It features over 50 sensors that mimic the behaviour of pets like dogs or cats, a 360° camera with a microphone, the ability to distinguish humans from objects.
We have previously tested LOVOT with residents with dementia, living in care centers in Aalborg, Viborg or Skive municipality, who are lonely, have high arousal or have introverted behaviour. The conclusion was that LOVOT has a positive impact on the mood of the tested individuals and that the staff felt that the artificial behavior came across as natural and that LOVOT was user-friendly.
In May AAU will start a new trial with 10 LOVOT robots at 4 nursing homes in Aarhus Municipality. We are looking forward to this collaboration.
Photos: Thomas Højlund Christensen, Royal Danish Embassy in Tokyo & Groove X
Juntendo University from Tokyo visited AAU SUND to discuss increased collaboration. We have been working together since 2019 within digital health and cardiology, and joint research is already underway in this field.
Over the course of two days, professional presentations have been held on neural engineering, regenerative medicine, digital health, sports medicine, and musculoskeletal health. It has been a couple of productive days, and we now aim to take the great ideas and put them into practice to strengthen international collaboration.
On the occasion of International Dementia Day, Professor Birthe Dinesen was interviewed by the newspaper “Asahi Shinbun News Paper” from Tokyo, Japan, about our research on the use of social robots for citizens with dementia. It turned into a fine article, so if you want to practice your Japanese, click on this link.
The results from our research are published here:
Dinesen B, Hansen HK, Grønborg GB, Dyrvig AK, Leisted SD, Stenstrup H, Skov Schacksen C, Oestergaard C.
Use of a Social Robot (LOVOT) for Persons With Dementia: Exploratory Study.
JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol 2022;9(3)
Juntendo University in Tokyo has had its 4 th Annual JUHS International Symposium May 18 2024 for students and faculty within health science and technology. A total of 300 participated in the event.
President Dr Daida was hosting the event: “Cutting Edge of Health Science”.
Dr. Suh-Fang Jeng from National Taiwan University gave a lecture on how to develop an application of AI for infant motor asseessment. It was not an easy task.
Dr. Jin Sung Kim from Yonsei University in Korea gave an lecture on AI in radiation oncology. AI is widely used within radiation but Dr Kim highlighted that we still need to trust more in AI.
Dr. Chiung-Wen Kuo from Yuanpei University of Medical Technology in Taiwan gave a lecture on recent trends in breast imaging techniques for detecting breast cancer. AI is certanly in use within this field.
Dr. Birthe Dinesen gave a lecture on digital health in Denmark and “The digital Heart: The Path to Telerehabilitation for atrial fibrillation in Denmark” (photos).
During the afternoon the international guests were introduced to Master projects and we gave feedback on their work. There were many interesting projects. Jutendo University is very advanced in research and implementation of new technologies in clinical practice.
It was a fruitfull symposium and thank you to Dr. Daida,professor Takahashi and team for beeing invited to this symposium. Looking forward to future collaboration.
On May 16th at 17.30-19.00 JST, Professor Birthe Dinesen from Aalborg University will give a lecture on how to do care innovation and come with examples of this.
Professor Birthe Dinesen has written a chapter on the research project: “Future Patient – telerehabilitation of patients with heart failure” in the Japanese book on “Telenursing – Theory and Practice”.
The chapter describe the project and results from an RCT study: Increased quality of life, increased motivation and empowerment of patients.
In late August, we embarked on an exciting journey from Denmark to Tokyo, Japan. This remarkable endeavor was made possible through JDTeleTech and a collaboration between the Laboratory for Welfare Technology – Digital Health & Rehabilitation in Denmark and Juntendo University Hospital in Japan. Our primary objective has been to conduct our research projects as part of our separate master’s programs at Aalborg University, Denmark.
Mathushan Gunasegaram, pursuing a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, has been working on a research project to predict Heart Failure events using a sleep sensor device.
Bertil Sivertsson is enrolled in a master’s program in Clinical Science and Technology and has undertaken a research project in collaboration with the ‘Future Patient – Telerehabilitation of Patients with Heart Failure’ project. His research delves into exploring the opportunities and barriers surrounding the implementation process of sleep sensor devices for heart failure patients.
Our stay has been generously accommodated by Juntendo University in the cozy Yushima neighborhood of Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo. Under the guidance of our esteemed supervisor at Juntendo University Hospital, Dr. Takatoshi Kasai, we have been granted access to invaluable resources within the department for our research. Additionally, Dr. Kasai has facilitated our participation in various conferences and seminars closely aligned with our areas of study. Furthermore, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dean Dr. Hiroyuki Daida, Dr. Tetsuya Takahashi, and the outstanding team members within our department for their warm and gracious welcome and helpfulness.
When we are not working on our research endeavors, we have seized the opportunity to explore the captivating landscapes and vibrant cities of Japan. When not in Tokyo, our adventures have taken us to breathtaking destinations such as Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Nikko. The beauty and culture of this country have left an unforgettable impression on us, and we are profoundly grateful for the chance to collaborate with such knowledgeable individuals and experience the spirit of Japan.
As our departure date approaches at the end of this month, we look forward to cherishing our final moments in Japan, hoping that they will be as memorable as the incredible journey we have had thus far.
A special thank you to the organizations and to the grants for their funding that made this journey possible: Obel Fonden, Dansk Tennis Fond, Knud Højgaards Fond, William Demant Fonden, Marie & M.B Richters Fond, Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation, Otto Mønsteds Fond, Aalborg Stiftstidendes Fond, and Edel og Wilhelm Daubenmerkls Almenvelgørende Fond.
Supported by the Royal Danish Embassy, Tokyo
Time: April 25, 2023 from 2.00pm to 4.30pm Japanese time / 07.00 – 09.30 Danish time
Place: Online (Zoom) and at Juntendo University, Bldg. 7, 13F, Ariyama Memorial Hall
The Japanese – Danish Research Network on Telehealth/Telerehabilitation and Welfare Technologies (JD TeleTech) is delighted to invite you to our upcoming seminar on: “Digital Health & Rehabilitation – Present and future collaboration between Denmark & Japan.”
As digital health and rehabilitation continue rapidly evolve, we believe that collaboration between countries is essential to driving research, innovation and improving patient outcomes. This seminar will explore the current state of digital health and rehabilitation in Denmark and Japan, present examples of current research collaboration as highlight opportunities for future collaboration. We are pleased to announce that expert speakers from both Denmark and Japan will attend and share their insights.
The target group for this seminar are researchers and healthcare professionals within digital health and rehabilitation, representatives from companies as well as Master or PhD students.
Download the full program here
It is free to participate in the event.
Please register at this link before Monday April 17, 2023 the latest.
We hope that you’ll be able to join us for this informative and engaging event.
Best Regards,
Dr. Hiroyuki Daida, Dean & Professor
Graduate School of Health Science,
Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
Email: daida@juntendo.ac.jp
&
Dr. Birthe Dinesen, Professor & Head of Laboratory for Welfare Technology – Digital Health & Rehabilitation, Sport Science – Performance and Technology,
Department of Health Science and Technology,
Aalborg University, Denmark
Email: bid@hst.aau.dk
IMASEN Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Aichi, Japan) visited us at Aalborg University as well as the Municipality of Aalborg.
Our mission: to help pre-frail seniors maintaining physical autonomy using the aLQ exoskeleton.
A research project headed by Sport Sciences – Performance and Technology research group in collaboration with IMASEN. This project is an example of how the JD TeleTech brings collaborators from Denmark and Japan together.
