At the Salesi hospital in Ancona 'robot therapy' with Sally

(ANSA) - ANCONA, 08 JUN - The new humanoid robot of the onlus OspedaleSalesi Foundation, which uses artificial intelligence to adapt to the emotional reactions of children, will be fully operational in a few weeks at the Salesi maternal and child hospital.

Robot therapy, which was introduced at the Ancona hospital for about four years with the humanoid Nao Estrabot to be used in collaboration with medical teams in order to promote a state of relaxation in young patients, is now enhanced with the new robot that , after an initial phase of programming, is now concluding the test phase in contact with children, before being used in a stable and intensive manner in the Pediatric Surgery and Anesthesia and Resuscitation departments.

In just a few weeks, Sally will help children in the pre-operative phase to calm down and overcome anxieties and fears related to medical therapies, the administration of anesthesia and entering the operating room, with beneficial implications also for families, reassured by seeing their children involved by robots in such complex moments of their lives.

"The Salesi Foundation - explains Antonello Maraldo, president of the Foundation and administrative director of the Azienda Ospedali Riuniti of Ancona - has equipped itself with humanoid duerobot, Nao Estrabot and Pepper, renamed Sally by a small patient, to improve the reception path for children in the hospital and also to distract them in some moments with particular tension during the hospital stay.

   Given the appreciation by children, families and medical equipments, the Salese Foundation intends to "enhance its future use also in support of health personnel in their care path".

Sally will be used by two operators of the Salesi Foundation, specially trained in clown therapy and computer skills for the use of robot therapy.

   (HANDLE).